I Sympathize With Villians
Not often, mind you.
Ultimately, I want the good guys and gals to win.
Yet sometimes I can’t help but feel a bit sorry for the villians. Are they simply misunderstood?
After all, villains are made, not born.
These three villians occasionally make me want to give them a hug.
1. Thomas from Downton Abbey- A homosexual in the early 20th century, life couldn’t have been easy for him. Sure, he can be a jerk, but he occasionally shows moments of vulnerability and frustration.
2. Miss Wade from Little Dorritt- Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Miss Wade was in love with Henry, then he up and married another woman! Who wouldn’t be wanting a bit of vengeance?
3. Caroline Bingley from Pride and Prejudice- For all her arrogance about her social position, Miss Bingley is part of the new rich. Her wish for Charles to make a good match is legitimate, he does need a good match in order to advance his social position. Thankfully, though, her plotting doesn’t succeed!
Pick your poison:
Comments
I thought they did an especially good job of making Thomas more sympathetic this second season, I really felt for him as well!
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See You In the Garden Reply:
March 7th, 2012 at 2:04 am
I agree. He was definantly not my favorite character at first, and I almost cheered when he got what was coming to him. However, I was then sad for him when the whole “selling rationed supplies” thing turned out to be a scam for him.
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I know what you mean, even though I don’t know any of those villians.
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In my opinion, the only really good villains are the ones you can sympathize with! That’s part of the reason I love George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, he does a good job of getting into heads on all sides, and you find yourself really identifying with and rooting for people you normally should/would despise.
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I’ve never read Pride and Prejudice, although it is in my Kindle to read one of these days. I’m afraid I don’t know any of the villians which you mention. I do agree with you though that villians are made, rather than born that way. No one is evil from birth. Thanks for sharing your perspective with us.
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Why are villains always the cutest guy when the book becomes a movie?
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Melanie Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
I’d never thought about that, but you’re right! Totally unfair to the good guys.
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Villains are all the rage lately. I think people just want a little more reality infused into their fantasy, right?
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I can’t help but root for the bad guy sometimes. depends on what situation went on that made them become bad. If they got screwed over, I’m more sympathetic than if they are just being evil for the sake of being evil!
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guess we all love a good villian lol I love downton Abbey its a fave. We always remember the villian also
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I’ve actually never read any of those books but at times I do feel bad for the villains. They need love too. :)
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Wow I love the design of your blog :O !
Thanks for your comment on my blog ! Yes I read The Woman in Black I wanted to read it before seeing the movie :).
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Now you make me want to go and review all the villains I’ve read about…How interesting :)
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Can’t think of any right now that I’d want to hug, but I know there are some. Don’t know any of yours tho.
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of the three books mentioned, I’ve only read Pride & Prejudice. I’ll be honest: I once fantasized about being actually “in” the book and slapping Caroline (putting a frog in her dress, pepper in her soup, you know, anything to annoy her — he he)
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Melanie Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
You evil person, you! That’s hilarious. I won’t pretend she didn’t deserve it once or twice.
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I usually prefer antagonistic characters over villainous ones. Ones who are in opposition to the main character, rather than downright nasty. However, it ultimately depends on how they are written/portrayed. If they have a certain wit or finesse, you can’t help but being drawn to them.
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Melanie Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 3:24 pm
I’ve never thought about it from your perspective, but I can see where you’re coming from. The intelligent villians, especially ones with tons of wisecracks, are hard to resist.
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I didn’t like the villian in Phantom of the Opera, though I usually can find something to sympathize with.
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Melanie Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 3:25 pm
I haven’t read/watched Phantom of the opera yet, but it’s on my list.
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I haven’t read the books you mention in this post. However, I do agree that sometimes you feel sorry for the villain, as there is usually a reason that they have turned out the way they have.
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i love villains as well. well, love-hate. but its very compelling to watch them!!
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I love Downton Abbey and P&P. I have yet to read Little Dorrit, but it’s on my list. I think tend to feel sorry for the villians more than root for them, but I think a well written novel gives us at least a glimpse into why the villians are the we they are.
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Scarlett O’Hara: Selfish, opinionated but totally delicious!
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Melanie Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 3:26 pm
I LOVE Scarlett. She’s amazing. Gone with the wind is one of my favorite books.
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I have not ready any of these books either but I do think villains are sexy and so much fun and I would like to date one at least one time as all bad boys are fun.
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I would add Kissing Kate to the list… not that she should be so evil— for sure— but I’d be ticked if someone shot the man I love- especially if it was for something like the color of his skin.
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I have never read any of those books, but I do know what you mean about sympathizing with villians. I tend to do it in real life too. Some of us are just suckers I guess. By the way, I really like your blog design and your writing style.
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Really? Thomas? Oh he’s so smug, I have no sympathy for him at all. Good for you though! At least you can see the good in people.
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i remember reading “Pride and Prejudice” as a kid…. :D
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I hate Thomas on Downton, and yet I’d be so sad if he left. So I totally get this post.
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I’ve never put much thought into it until I saw the musical, Wicked. It made me wonder how many modern-day, real-life villains have been manufactured by the media.
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I haven’t read any of these but do enjoy a good villain from time to time :)
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I like your perspective on this. Often I just love to hate the villain, not really giving a thought that they are people too. Occasionally I somewhat feel for them and wonder why they became a villain.
Will definitely keep this in mind when re-reading some stories. Thanks!
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I like to read series in which the villain in the opening books turns out to not be as bad as we thought and gets a happy ending. :-)
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I heart villains, I admit. Most media glorifies that role, and I fall for it.
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I do feel sorry for villians too sometimes :)
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Everyone needs a hug every once in a while. I have not read any of the books you mention, but now that you say you think they need a hug I am intrigued to know why you think that. Does their humanity show through to you? Or can you sympathize with them on a personal level and need a hug yourself? :-)
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Melanie Reply:
March 6th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
A bit of both, I’m afraid, Mrs. Accountability.
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I’ve only seen and read Pride and Prejudice. (Love it!) I like how you articulate your sympathies for each villain, though.
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You blog design is great and I love the pic- I may have to add these to my reading list!
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You’ll only understand villain when you learn his/her background.
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I haven’t read those books. I’ll choose and read Pride and & prejudice first.
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I am more of a non-fiction gal, so I have actually not read any of these. I need to diversify and step out into the fiction world! :)
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Ha! You’re right, villans are often just misunderstood or just living in the wrong era – another time or place the roles would be reversed and they would be the heros!
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Gotta have a villan in order to make the good guy look better. Simply part of the suspense…
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I sympathiz with villains as well! Some of them are quite misunderstood ;)
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I can see how some villians can be misunderstood. You really need to know a person fully before you judge them. Although actions do speak louder than words.
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I love Pride and Prejudice! My favorite book of all time!
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I am not real familiar with the villians you mention. I sometimes sympathasize with villians, but mostly I am a good guy kind of gal!
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I always sympathize with the villains in Michael Mann movies (Heat, Public Enemies) and I guess he does that on purpose.
-Viva recently posted Homemade Pizza Dough
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This is a great post. If my hubby was commenting, he’d say Darth Vader!
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I appreciate you helping us to see the viewpoint of the bad guy – after all, they have a story too! :)
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I’m always for the good guys. Cant say I have read these particular stories. I love you blog design. Have a beautiful day!!
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I can’t say I’ve ever felt that way about villains. Interesting perspective.
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Interesting point of view. Never really cared for the vilains.
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Interesting perspective! I’ve not read the books that you mentioned, but I imagine like most folks, a villian might have a good side.
thanks for sharing!
suzy
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Totally agree that the most worthwhile villains are the with some vulnerability. Otherwise they’re just cartoons.
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I know what you mean. Have you seen Dexter? I think that is why that series is so popular. He’s very relatable!
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I agree. I often find myself thinking that the bad guy will come around. That he’s really good at heart. It usually doesn’t happen and that’s when I get upset.
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I’ve never thought too much about Caroline Bingley, but that’s a good point. :-)
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Interesting thoughts. Is it only literary villains or real-life villains as well? Actually haven’t read any of these, but perhaps I will now. I definitely want to read Pride and Prejudice….how did I make it all these years without having read it?
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Sometimes the villains are some of the most dynamic characters!
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With you on Caroline Bingley. Also, I always thought Wiley Coyote got the short end of the stick trying to catch the Road Runner.
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I have to pick Pride and Predudice. It’s the only one I know about!
I do like the villain sometimes. They usually have at least some reason to do it and I love knowing the why.
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I’m not familiar with these, but I do know what you mean!
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I’ve never read those books. I actually have Pride & Prejudice on my shelf that I picked up to read it.
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I don’t know these particular villains, but I think if a story is written well, then characters shouldn’t be one dimensional and always have something going for them. Often there is a very clear cut line between the good ones and the bad ones. Which is kind of a pity.
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Life is what you make of it. Villains made their choice, and you have a choice as well.
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I like Nora Roberts books and read many of her trilogies over the years. I’m enjoying your blog and wont stop, I have come from Blogelinas 100 comment hop, and now continue to hop!! Now that we met come follow me…… on my….. GFC….Oh! My Heartsie
@Oh! My Heartsie
Karren
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I’ve only read Pride and Prejudice here, but I admit I find no sympathy for Caroline. There are other villains though that yeah, I just want to hug. It’s not their fault, something made them the way they are, right?!
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I’ve only read Pride & Prejudice, but I understand what you mean about feeling a bit sorry for the villain sometimes.
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I sympathize with villains in real life, lol. It’s easy to take someone under your wing when you see them upset with the world, but you know it’s just because something happened to THEM at some time that made them the way they are. If that makes sense. I can definitely empathize.
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I know what you mean. Especially when they learn from it, then you really have a heart for them.
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Hmm. Now that you mention it, I think you are on to something.
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I read so many factual books. When I think of villians I think of the cartoon villians like in Dispicable Me.
I like how those villians are redeemed.
:)
Lisa
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I hate to admit that I haven’t read/seen any of them. I really need to read Pride and Prejudice, but I just haven’t gotten around to it yet. Maybe I need to make it a goal so I can try to work towards it.
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The villains I always feel sorry for are zombies – they’re horrific creatures, but they didn’t ASK to become zombies! I can’t say I want to hug them, though. ;)
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I really need to watch Downton Abbey. I keep hearing about it and I am so behind the times. Thanks for sharing.
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I have a favorite villain. It’s Dexter. I totally root for him every time!
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I would say I def sympathize with the villain sometimes.
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I have never read any of those 3 but P&P is on my list in the future to read.
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I also feel bad for villians a lot of times. Especially when you see them start out good and things happen along the way that turn them into someone else. I felt bad for Silas in Heroes!
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I absolutely LOVE Downton Abby! Although Thomas isn’t the one I sympathized with. I’ve spaced her name now, but the lady he was always plotting with, she’s the one I give sympathy to now, after her grief with the loss off the baby boy.
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i have not read or seen any of these. but i do have to say that there are always three sides to a story. , his and hers and the truth. or whichever gender it maybe with the confluct
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