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So far this year, I've shone the spotlight on all sorts and conditions of villains, from those who're right out there in plain sight to the ones that hide in the shadows.
Today, I'd like to take a closer look at a unique class of villains, those that start out on the side of the light, as champions and exemplars, paladins and heroes, but fall or are turned to the dark side.
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| Anakin Skywalker |
Possibly the most well-known example in the genre pantheon is Anakin Skywalker, Jedi knight and ace star-pilot, who through ego, rage, and despair, turns to the dark side and becomes the arch nemesis, Darth Vader.
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| Darth Vader |
Saruman, in JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, is another champion that falls into evil. Saruman is the greatest of the wizard order sent into Middle Earth to oppose Sauron, and the leader of the council that also comprises Gandalf, Elrond, and Galadriel.
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| Saruman |
In his quest for ever greater power, coupled with pride in his own strength and knowledge, and through use of a compromised palantir (seeing stone) he gradually falls beneath Sauron's sway. In the end, Saruman is thoroughly corrupted, breeding an orc (uruk-hai) army and waging war upon Rohan and Gondor.
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| Uruk-hai |
In many ways, The Knights of Dark Renown charts familiar David Gemmell terrain with its account of a kingdom, Gabala, that has fallen into evil and where resistance falls upon a ragtag band of antiheroes and criminals.
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In order to do so they must learn to fight as knights themselves--but the twist comes when their opponents, the infamous Red Knights, turn out to be the realm's former paladins. Having ridden through a dark portal, they have been corrupted by the evil on its far side and returned to oppress the land they once defended.
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Yet not all fall because they have been exposed to external evil. Ged, in Ursula Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea, is in grave danger of being lost to evil because of a force summoned in jealousy and pride. Although he averts that fate--initially through the intervention of others and later by his own efforts-- it's a very close call.
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| The Amassia novels |
Similarly, in AK Wilder's Amassia series, the fall of Brogal, a master savant, is more tragic because he believes he is doing the right thing. The tipping point, from misapprehension and error, into villainy, comes when he chooses to compound and reinforce the initial error.
Perhaps the saddest fall is that of Tunstall in Tamora Pierce's Beka Cooper series. Tunstall is a long term "dog" (basically, a police officer) and Beka's partner ("dogs" aways work in pairs.) In Books 1 (Terrier) and 2 (Bloodhound) he is definitely one of the good guys.
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Yet in Mastiff, (Book 3), the ageing and much-injured Tunstall's fear of poverty and losing the woman he loves, who is of much higher social standing, leads him connive at the kidnapping and murder of a child. Ultimately, he also betrays Beka -- a steep and rocky fall for the Tunstall of the earlier books.
From Anakin to Tunstall, there is nothing sadder than a character's fall from good to evil. I know I've only captured a snapshot, though, so let me know in the comments if there's a hero-to-villain tale you feel is "the best."
© Helen Lowe
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About the Author
Helen Lowe is an award-winning novelist, poet, and lover of story. With four books published to date, she is currently completing the final instalment in The Wall Of Night series.
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Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog, monthly on the Supernatural Underground, and tweets @helenl0we.
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Previous “Year of the Villain” Posts:
January: Ushering in 2024 -- & the Year of the Villain
February: The Year of the Villain #1: The Lord of The Rings Pantheon
March: The Year of the Villain #2: Ursula Le Guin & “Earthsea”
April: The Year of the Villain #3: Tigana and Brandin of Ygrath
May: The Year of the Villain #4: Elidor and Formless Evil
June: The Year of the Villain #5: When the Hero Is Really A Villain
July: The Year of the Villain #6: When the Author Messes With Your Mind
August: The Year of the Villain #7: The Evilest Of Them All
September: The Year of the Villain #8: Secret Villains
1 comment:
Another great post, Helen! I so appreciate you including the Amassia series, and Master Brogal as an example. He has a convoluted history, and it 'aint over yet'!
I have noticed how much the 'Once were heroes' characters can be pivotal in moving the story forward. Darth, certainly! Noteworthy also from the Dragon Riders of Pern is Lord Fax – the greedy, aggressive, self-named "Lord of Seven Holds" in Anne McCaffrey's heart-felt series. He is there at the major turning point, 'making things happen' in his 'evil' way.
And of course, Smeagol the Gollum. He was just a quiet living, hobbit-like creature... until he wasn't! That darn ring!
Thank you! I'm enjoying this villain series so much!
:) Kim
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