How to Create a Villain Your Readers Will Hate

In the world of storytelling, the creation of a compelling and hated villain can significantly enhance the narrative. To achieve this, it's crucial to understand the psychological and emotional triggers that make a character loathable to the audience. Here, we will explore some strategies to make your villain so detestable that your readers will beg for their downfall.

Deep and Scant Moral Motivation

The key to making a villain hated is in their characterization. The villain should be morally astute, but with the slightest divergence from the hero. This moral differentiation doesn't have to be profound; it only needs to be subtle and superficial to create a stark contrast in the audience's minds. This separation creates a clear divide between the protagonist and the antagonist, enhancing the reader's ability to despise the villain while still perceiving them as a complex character.

Make the Villain Un-human

To truly incite the audience's loathing, the villain should be unlikeable and exhibit behaviors that are abhorrently vile. Show the villain committing sickening and evil deeds, ensuring that the audience can understand and comprehend their actions without necessarily sympathizing with them. By distancing the character from humanity, readers are more likely to form an inherent dislike for them. The villain's actions should be so despicable that the audience wants nothing more than to see them fail spectacularly.

Contrast and Harm to the Hero

One of the most effective ways to make a villain hated is to have them harm or threaten the protagonist or others the audience cares about deeply. If the audience hates what the villain is doing, they will naturally want the villain to be destroyed. This makes the villain's actions more personal and immediate, turning the audience's hatred into a personal quest for justice.

A classic example of this is in characters like Joffrey from "Game of Thrones." Joffrey was utterly evil because he enjoyed it, displaying a sadistic pleasure in causing pain and suffering. His unchecked cruelty and cowardice made him a detestable character, earning the audience's desire to see him brought to justice.

Evil for the Sake of Evil

Some of the most memorable villains are those who commit evil purely because they enjoy it. Unlike the more pitiable villains, who are driven by desperation, fear, or past trauma, these characters are driven by a profound, unchecked evil. They embrace their cruelty and wickedness, and this inherent enjoyment of evil makes them more admirable, in a twisted way, to those who love the deceit and chaos that they bring. These villains often appeal to the darker sides of humanity, creating a sense of dread and hopelessness.

Avoid Pity at Any Cost

Creating villains that are purely pitiable can actually backfire. Characters like Bruce Wayne, after witnessing the death of his parents, can evoke sympathy from the audience. This sympathy can prevent readers from genuinely hating the villain, as they might start to understand or even feel for the character. To ensure the villain remains an object of pure hatred, avoid giving them any redeeming qualities or pitiable pasts. Instead, depict them as inhuman, remorseless, and purely evil.

Conclusion: Keeping the Villain Alive

Even after the villain has been brought to justice, readers may still crave more. Consider making the villain nearly impossible to kill or defeat, ensuring they always find a way out, whether through cunning or sheer will. This keeps the audience invested in the story, constantly hoping for the villain's downfall. Remember the Klingon proverb: 'Revenge is a dish best served cold.' Keep the villain alive, ensure their inevitability and keep the audience in a state of suspense and hatred.

By following these guidelines, you can create a villain that is not only hated but also unforgettable. This will significantly enhance the narrative scope and emotional depth of your story, making it more engaging and memorable to your readers.