When Doing Good Does Bad
The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, "I'm from the government and I'm here to help."
— Ronald Reagan
Giving a villain depth and complexity in their motives is usually a good thing-- greater tension, greater emotional conflict, and greater opportunities for unexpected plot twists. An under-rated way to do so is to have a gung-ho do-gooder as your main antagonist.
History has more than enough examples of sincere attempts at helping others that have caused all kinds of harm. The common thread is usually a misguided attempt to 'improve' the lives of people who were doing just fine. Whether it's bungling efforts to build shelters (which puts local workers out of a job, as well as leaving people with unstable housing), or missionary enterprises which spread germs, or attempts to 'civilise' a group at the expense of their social structure and cultural heritage (in my experience, most indigenous people agree with the Reagan quote up top), an enthusiastic round of misaimed charity can cause major havoc. Furthermore, the perpetrators are very hard to classify as villains-- after all, they are trying to help, even if they end up leaving destruction in their wake.
Writing a wannabe do-gooder who makes the protagonist's lives miserable through their charitable endeavours can create a complex conflict, and also is a refreshing change from a decidedly unpleasant villain with a Dark and Troubled Past that explains their behaviour. Better still, it allows you an avenue to explore the negative consequences of an attitude or belief system without demonising the people who are caught up in it.
— Ronald Reagan
Giving a villain depth and complexity in their motives is usually a good thing-- greater tension, greater emotional conflict, and greater opportunities for unexpected plot twists. An under-rated way to do so is to have a gung-ho do-gooder as your main antagonist.
History has more than enough examples of sincere attempts at helping others that have caused all kinds of harm. The common thread is usually a misguided attempt to 'improve' the lives of people who were doing just fine. Whether it's bungling efforts to build shelters (which puts local workers out of a job, as well as leaving people with unstable housing), or missionary enterprises which spread germs, or attempts to 'civilise' a group at the expense of their social structure and cultural heritage (in my experience, most indigenous people agree with the Reagan quote up top), an enthusiastic round of misaimed charity can cause major havoc. Furthermore, the perpetrators are very hard to classify as villains-- after all, they are trying to help, even if they end up leaving destruction in their wake.
Writing a wannabe do-gooder who makes the protagonist's lives miserable through their charitable endeavours can create a complex conflict, and also is a refreshing change from a decidedly unpleasant villain with a Dark and Troubled Past that explains their behaviour. Better still, it allows you an avenue to explore the negative consequences of an attitude or belief system without demonising the people who are caught up in it.
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