Reflection 10

Villains are interesting to us because they develop both the protagonist of a novel, as well as the plot. You’ll be hard pressed to find a novel or a movie that completely lacks any conflict, and this is because some form of conflict—be it physical or otherwise—is an integral part of any piece of media, and omitting it would mean removing a plot’s ability to develop. No matter what kind of conflict is involved in a story, there are two sides: the protagonist, and his enemy, which can occasionally include himself in the case of internal conflict. A villain is essential to ensure that the plot will go somewhere, instead of remaining stagnant throughout the entire story. They present the protagonist with challenges that they have to overcome, and how the protagonist will chose to combat such obstacles is what will help pour more depth into who he is; they’re the ones who make a protagonist into what he is at the climax of a story. We need villains like we need heroes for these reasons, and we analyze and “rate” them based upon how profound of an effect they had on the plot.