How To Create Heroes and Villains

When we think of a hero or villain, stereotypical images may arise in our minds. After all, we’re surrounded by media images of firefighters, soldiers, Superman, Batman, and others who model heroic greatness. Similarly, serial killers, mass murderers, and terrorists round out the picture for villains.

Although the above examples are fitting, many people with heroic and villainous qualities reside around us. Literature is no exception. Successful stories mirror real life. In believable plots, characters possess some of both personas. To explore this, let's dig deeper into the qualities of heroes and villains. 

What is a Hero? 

Dictionary.com describes a hero as “a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities,” as well as “the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.”

In addition to the main character being brave and noble, perhaps he will also be selfless and display his courage in a humble way. 

Click here for a detailed list of hero characteristics. 

As I alluded to, believable heroes also have flaws. No one is perfect, even in a fictitious world. A hero probably won't possess all ten qualities on the above list. For example, he could be impatient, which could lead to compromise and sidetracks his goals, at least temporarily. Despite a heroic personality, characters must have opportunity to grow from the first page to the last.  

What is a Villain? 

Dictionary.com describes a villain as “a cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime; scoundrel,” as well as “a character in a play, novel, or the like, who constitutes an important evil agency in the plot.”

As with heroes, villains are not entirely one character trait. In fact, to keep the reader guessing and perhaps make the plot more intricate, especially in suspense where the villain’s identity may not be revealed, an admirable quality the villain possesses will deepen the plot. 

During an interview, Ann Rule, author of “The Stranger Beside Me,” which retells her relationship with serial killer Ted Bundy, illustrates this beautifully. She discussed the difficulty of reconciling the Ted she knew—her co-worker on a suicide crisis hotline, kind, considerate, always available with a shoulder to lean on—with the Ted who brutally murdered women. His good qualities enabled him to fly under the radar of law enforcement and challenged the prosecution during trial. 

So whether you’re creating heroes or villains, believability is the most important quality a character can possess. 

Now, it’s your turn. Who is your favorite hero or villain in literature and why?

© Laura Hodges Poole

A Fireman's Life

Anderson County lost a volunteer firefighter as he responded to a call yesterday. He had served five decades as a volunteer, starting when he was a teenager. He also served 21 years as chief and two terms as county sheriff. This is a tribute to him and the men and women like him across our nation who give selflessly of their time and talent to protect and serve. Please read all the way to the end to get the full scope of firefighters' sacrifices.

A Fireman's Life

A fireman's life is one big surprise,

Usually he laughs, sometimes he cries.

There's always stress, toil and strife,

Hoping he's good enough to save just one life.

His wife (or mom) understands, when he misses dinner,

If he runs out of church, don't think he's a sinner.

Answering a call, is tops on his list,

Regretting each one he's ever missed.

He tries and tries, but can't make us see,

The happiest men, still work for free.

Jumping from bed, fighting the cold,

Knowing what to do, without being told.

He rushes to the station, jumps on a truck.

Depending on skill, never on luck.

Putting his life on the line, for an unknown friend,

Hoping and praying, it won't be the end.

"The Bravest Men in the World", the title is fitting,

They all do their best, never come close to quitting.

Next time you see them, all their lights blinking,

Take just a minute, to think what they're thinking.

It's a hard job, so show them you care,

And help them out, with a little prayer.

-- by Daniel S. Driscoll –

There were 1,148,850 firefighters in the United States in 2008. Of these, 321,700 (28%) were career and 827,150 (72%) were volunteer. Chances are good if you are in a fire or a car accident, the men and women of the fire department who respond have volunteered their time to do so. These emergency responders have made a conscious and weighted decision to serve, despite the fact they are not paid to do so.

Facts & figures

·         Most of the career firefighters (74%) are in communities that protect 25,000 or more people.

·         Most of the volunteer firefighters (94%) are in departments that protect fewer than 25,000 people, and more than half are located in small, rural departments protecting fewer than 2,500 people.

·         In 2008, a total of 104 firefighters were fatally injured while on duty. Of these, 42 were career, 54 were volunteer, and 8 were no-municipal (those not employed by local, public fire departments).

·         In 2008, 79,700 firefighters were injured in the line of duty. 36,595 of these injuries occurred on the fireground.

·         There were an estimated 14,950 collisions involving fire department emergency vehicles while responding to or returning from incidents. These collisions resulted in 670 firefighter injuries.

(Statistical Data compiled from: http://www.nfpa.org)