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I have a load of antagonists with detailed backgrounds and depth to their characters who find themselves opposing the MC. Which is nice, but it is now making my MC and narrator feel overly understanding. It makes the world seem as if there aren't really any unkind or evil people. A bit like how there are no real monsters in Scooby-Doo. I suppose I want depth without an understandable motivation. Evil, but interesting...

Creature 7mo ago

There're aren't evil people in reality either. "Evil" and "good" are simplification labels we like to stick on things to make decision makimg shortcuts, because no one got time to psychoanalyse random humans.

Also, just because your antagonist or "bad guy" has a reason of why they do the thinfs they do or believe the things they believe, doesn't mean your protagonist has to care about it. That stuff is mostly for the reader. Protagonists are people too, liable to use the "good" & "evil" labels and not give it a secomd thought, just like any of us.

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Discussion

Lydia Vvinters 7mo ago

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I agree that the concept of good and evil only really exists as subjective classification. That's the problem. The world is portrayed in present tense, closed third. The backstories aren't just for the readers, the characters deal with the same information. So, either the narrator or the MC should have some sort of classification of good/evil. Since they're both characters who should not have unlimited empathy and understanding.

Creature 7mo ago

And they do. The classification criteria also doesn't have to be the same between the readee ans the MC. That actually gives MC more deapth and provides more layers and food for thought for the reader.

The reader can know and sympathize with the villain's reason for being the way they are. The MC doesn't need to know everything the reader does, or if they do, doesn't have to sympathise.

The only issue I see for providing deapth to every villain is the "unneeded info" that can distract from the story. But that goes for anything. Each member of a pack of goods that have one-page worth of scteentime tops doesn't need a their backstory or what kinds of milkshakes they like spelled out for the reader. But that only matters for stuff put down on the page. All that back history and taste in milkshakes can still be there and inform the writer as they are writing, even if they don't put it down on page.