Activity

@writercatherine

Something else that could be used to find the “good” traits for a villain is to ask why they do something. For example, consider the following reasons the bad guy could shoot someone who’s running away:
– Personal entertainment? This means mercilessness is rooted in cruelty.
– To prevent the man from suffering further? This mercilessness is then rooted in a twisted form of mercy (and the villain in question may be a philosophical nihilist.)
– To prevent the man from telling his allies? Then the motive is pragmatism.

A following question would also be to ask “Does the villain fully anticipate/expect/accept to be dealt with in kind”? If so, then they would at the very least be seen as someone who is wholly committed to their motive/worldview.