Revision as of 22:28, 1 March 2007 editPeregrine Fisher (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers26,209 edits revert, do not remove villains that have citations proving they are tragic villains, add to the list if you want, but don't remove the only cited ones we have← Previous edit | Revision as of 22:32, 1 March 2007 edit undoKillerman2 (talk | contribs)1,563 editsNo edit summaryNext edit → | ||
Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
==Examples== | ==Examples== | ||
* ] from ]. | |||
* ] from ]' ]. | |||
* ] (as portrayed in some versions, such as '']'') | |||
* ] in the motion picture ] | |||
* ], especially as portrayed in the films ], and in the "]" trilogy when he is known as ]. | |||
* Daniel de Bosola in the play '']''. | |||
* ] in the television series '']''. | |||
* Many portrayals of the title character in ] as well as the ] he created. | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] as portrayed in '']'' | |||
* ], the child serie killer from '']'' | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ], not as she was in the original novel by ] but portrayed in the so-called ]. | |||
* ], the serial killer featured in ]' ] '']''. | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] as portrayed in some of the episodes of ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] as portrayed in the motion picture ]. | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] especially as portrayed in the Disney version of ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] in the novel '']'' | |||
* ] as portrayed in the '']'' | |||
* ], the Joker's totally devoted (and abused) girlfriend | |||
* ] (aka Harvey Dent) | |||
* ] as re-imagined for '']'' | |||
* ] as portrayed in '']'' | |||
* ] | |||
* ] on the television series '']'' | |||
* ] in the reimagined '']'' | |||
* ] in the series '']'' | |||
* Kevin Uxbridge in the '']'' episode ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.silverbulletcomics.com/news/story.php?a=2416 |title=The Tragic Villain in All-Star Superman #5 |accessdate=2007-02-15 |publisher=Silver Bullet}}</ref> | * ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.silverbulletcomics.com/news/story.php?a=2416 |title=The Tragic Villain in All-Star Superman #5 |accessdate=2007-02-15 |publisher=Silver Bullet}}</ref> | ||
* ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.drurywriting.com/john/Cassius.htm |title=Cassius: A Tragic Villain |accessdate=2007-02-15 }}</ref> | * ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.drurywriting.com/john/Cassius.htm |title=Cassius: A Tragic Villain |accessdate=2007-02-15 }}</ref> |
Revision as of 22:32, 1 March 2007
A tragic villain is a character, usually an antagonist, who does not truly intend to be a villain. They are perhaps misled or not entirely in control of their feelings and/or actions, or pursuing morally ambiguous logic. This archetype originates as an antithesis to the more classic tragic hero of Aristotelian tragedy which continued into use as a basis for Shakespearean plays. In modern comic books and graphic novels, the character is sometimes referred to as a sympathetic villain.
Examples
- Denzel Crocker from The Fairly OddParents.
- Magneto from Marvel Comics' X Men.
- Count Dracula (as portrayed in some versions, such as Bram Stoker's Dracula)
- The Operative in the motion picture Serenity
- Darth Vader, especially as portrayed in the films Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, and in the "prequel" trilogy when he is known as Anakin Skywalker.
- Daniel de Bosola in the play The Duchess of Malfi.
- Barnabas Collins in the television series Dark Shadows.
- Many portrayals of the title character in Frankenstein as well as the Creature he created.
- Gollum
- Jason Voorhees
- Norman Bates
- Michael Myers as portrayed in Halloween 5
- Hans Beckert, the child serie killer from M
- Dr. Phibes
- Akito Sohma
- Mitsuko Souma
- The Wolf Man
- The Phantom of the Opera
- Davy Jones
- Wicked Witch of the West, not as she was in the original novel by L. Frank Baum but portrayed in the so-called Wicked Cycle.
- Francis Dolarhyde, the serial killer featured in Thomas Harris' novel Red Dragon.
- Severus Snape
- Sephiroth
- Fat Bastard
- Mr. Burns as portrayed in some of the episodes of The Simpsons
- Nelson Muntz
- Ken Ichijouji
- Puppetmon
- Doctor Octopus as portrayed in the motion picture Spider-Man 2.
- Captain Nemo
- Gríma
- Londo Mollari
- Count Olaf
- Judge Claude Frollo especially as portrayed in the Disney version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- Xehanort
- Xemnas
- Heathcliff in the novel Wuthering Heights
- The Joker as portrayed in the Batman: The Killing Joke
- Harley Quinn, the Joker's totally devoted (and abused) girlfriend
- Two-Face (aka Harvey Dent)
- Mr. Freeze as re-imagined for Batman: The Animated Series
- Penguin as portrayed in Batman Returns
- Syndrome (The Incredibles)
- Callisto on the television series Xena: Warrior Princess
- Gaius Baltar in the reimagined Battlestar Galactica
- Omega in the series Doctor Who
- Kevin Uxbridge in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Survivors"
- Mithos Yggdrasill
- Ozymandias
- Light Yagami
- Lex Luthor
- Cassius
- Hannibal Lecter
- Khan Noonien Singh
- Macbeth
- Oedipus Rex
See Also
References
- "The Tragic Villain in All-Star Superman #5". Silver Bullet. Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- "Cassius: A Tragic Villain". Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- "Hannibal Lecter: From Supporting Character To....Romantic Hero?". Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- "Symphonic Star Trek". Retrieved 2007-02-15.
- ^ "Analysis of Medea as a Tragic Character". Retrieved 2007-02-15.