While We’re on the Subject of Villains

Last time, I shared a little about the villain from my third novel in the Flaugherty Twins Mysteries series, Lost on Black Mountain. His name is Rodrigo. In order to make him a more well-rounded character, I gave him a backstory that could make him appear more sympathetic. But, I don’t think it’s a good idea to ever make our villains too sympathetic, especially if we are writing for middle-graders.

In the middle grades, children are still forming ideas of who they are and how they fit into the world. To give them an evil character that they can empathize with, I believe, is a grave mistake. Children need to be taught the difference between good and evil, and they need to learn that evil acts have dire consequences. They need to be encouraged to choose the good.

I’ve noticed the trend in Hollywood recently bas been to “redeem” evil characters by giving them a backstory that tries to explain away the evil the characters have turned to. I think of Maleficent or Cruella De Vil, whose names fit their personas when they first appeared in the movies. But now, we are told that they are sympathetic characters, and the terrible circumstances of their younger lives have caused them to turn to evil. In other words, it’s not their fault.

And, of course, there is the Wicked phenomenon, a slickly produced movie with memorable songs and talented vocalists, telling us that the Wicked Witch from the Wizard of Oz story was simply misunderstood. And, of course, she was not accepted because of the color of her skin. I’m reminded of the Scripture from Romans which says, “they exchanged the truth of God for a lie.” And in Isaiah, where it says, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil.”

(I believe the film Oz The Great and Powerful from 2013 does a much better job of giving us a backstory that fits more with the original Wizard of Oz. It was not as glitzy as Wicked, but it was fairly imaginative for its time.)

One other interesting fact about today’s villains; both Cruella and Elphaba are not only the victims in their stories, but we find out that the evil people working against them are actually their parents!

Every discerning parent should be deeply concerned by the lessons Hollywood—and Disney—are teaching their children. Children need to know it’s not okay to choose evil, regardless of the terrible things that may have happened in the past. Children need to learn that they will be given choices throughout their lives, and they would be wise to choose good over evil, regardless of what might appear to be the circumstances. They may not be able to see the wisdom of a good choice until much later.

In Lost on Black Mountain I also have a character, 11-year-old Anto, who is given a very clear choice between good or evil. The evil is enticing and there is a clear deadline for when he must make the decision. Read the story to see how he decides, but I’m guessing you may already know, considering how I feel about these kinds of things.

*Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay