When you are getting into writing, sometimes you want to play with the character archetypes in order to then refine and find your own voice.
Among those types are two pillars of characters: the antihero and the villain (or antagonist).
Today, I want to go over the differences between the two and talk about how you can use them in your writing.
Sound good?
Let’s dive in.
What is an Antihero?
An antihero is a central character in a story, movie, or television show that lacks conventional heroic attributes you’d find in a traditional protagonist.
They are often defined by the traits they share with an antagonist. They use, at times, unsavory methods to get the job done. Their character arcs can soften them or harder them depending on the narrative.
Either way, when writing one of these people you need to make them feel like a real person. We need to identify with them and their cause, even if it goes against our value system.
This makes them interesting and relatable.
Antihero Traits
Antiheroes can be liars, vulgar, violent, angry, incredulous, and sarcastic.
An antihero is not your typical protagonist because their personality traits are much more complicated. For example, while a hero may show courage in the face of danger, antiheroes might run away. Like Han Solo does at the end of the first Star Wars movie. Though, he does come back.
This goes for opposites amongst physical traits too.
Antiheroes don’t have to be sexy or traditionally hot. They can be awkward, ugly, weird, or anything that defies convention.
What is a Villain?
It’s easy to think of villains are just the “bad guys” in lots of movies, but really what they’re there to do is apply pressure to the protagonists.
They’re not just the famous female villains and famous male villains, they’re usually the whole reason the story happens.
And sometimes they even win!
Villainous Traits
Villains can be conniving, murderous, and mean. But they can also be charming, esoteric, and brilliant.
When you’re writing the villain in your screenplay, you have to realize they are the hero of their own story.
That means you must imbue all the reasoning and traits you would the hero, you need to make them feel like a real person. Some part of us should understand why they’re doing what they’re doing, even if we don’t agree with it.
The Antihero vs. Villain
The distinction between an antihero and a villain hinges on their motivations and moral alignment in the story.
Villains’ actions are consistently harmful and destructive. They are on the “evil” side of the moral spectrum.
Antiheroes possess more complex and ambiguous motivations. They are heroes, but may bend the rules or do bad things in order to serve “good”.
This fundamental difference in intent, coupled with their respective roles as antagonists versus protagonists, is the main thing that separates these two.
Of course, writers can bend any of these details for plot twists and any fun narrative purposes.
Summing Up The Antihero vs. Villain
Now that you understand the distinction between the two of them, it’s time to put these lessons into your own writing.
Go out and craft the best versions of these people and make them pop off the page.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
Author: Jason Hellerman
This article comes from No Film School and can be read on the original site.
