Thoughtful Thursday: Heroes and Villains and the Line Between

It's the age-old tale of good versus evil. The endless battle between these two sides is at the center of every story. It's the glue that holds the whole thing together. I mean, would you read a story that didn't have a villain in it? Or a hero? One side wins all the time? No, thank you. I like heroes jumping through hurdles, I like it when the bad guy wins sometimes, I like the enmity. But most importantly, I love its symbiotic relationship. A hero cannot exist without his villain. Likewise, a villain cannot exist without his hero. Ex. Superman and Lex Luthor. Now that's one frenemy relationship that was fraught with great story arcs. Superman would not be as mythical, as great, without Lex Luthor pushing him to become better. Lex Luthor wouldn't be as awe-inspiring, as dastardly, without Superman. They build each other up. Their break each other down. And so it goes, on and on, each of them getting even more powerful. Rising to legend before our very eyes. That is the power of the two sides. That is the importance of the relationship between good and bad. They are two sides of the same coin. What makes a hero a hero? This archetype can be distinguished by certain characteristics: traumatic experiences, the journey to prove himself, a preordained calling, an innate goodness (often white knight syndrome) that provides a moral center for the character and for the audience. Heroes' journeys are the main aspect of any story. Getting from point A to B, often times with a lot of help, and struggling through the obstacles. Normally, there's an overall theme or question that the hero is dealing with throughout the story, and it is almost always about some moral issue. In many cases, heroes walk the edge between the light and dark. It's the fight that's enticing, that drive to be better that inspires the reader. The struggle to defeat that darkness, especially when it's inner darkness, is always a favorite plot arc. Heroes are meant to inspire. They exist to show humanity that their own battles are not in vain and that they too can be a hero. What makes a villain a villain? They have zero to no inhibitions. They like to put on a show. They have a tragic back story also. They represent the path the hero could have chosen. They allow us to explore our darkest selves. They have no remorse, they may be insane, that live in the shadows. They have a vast wealth, they are seductive and enchanting. Because that's what evil is. Tempting. They are cunning, clever, and know how to move pieces around a chessboard. And mainly? Their plans always fail. To some degree, these brilliant plans being unraveled by the hero is almost criminal. No pun intended. We love to hate the bad guy, but sometimes we're rooting for them to win. And that's when the likable villain comes into play. This villain/hero hybrid is always fun. He's wisecracking, maybe he's got a loose moral code, but he's got some morals, and he's definitely got some traumatic experiences. And more so than others, he walks the line between. The antihero. Not really a good guy. Or a bad one. Just a guy in between who does what he wants and is neither godlike nor mythic. He's the guy who may be in it for the money, or maybe for some deeper reason. Either retribution or justice. He's often a loner, an outcast, and like his hero/villain counterparts, has that same traumatic past. And it's watching him struggle back and forth that makes his journey all the more exciting. Which side will he choose? And he will most definitely choose a side. All in all, we need our heroes, our villains, and those characters who walk between. Their stories inspire us, stay with us, and teach us lessons about who we are. Without them, I don't know where I'd be. What do you think?