Creating Villains using the Star Wars method.

Star Wars is the perfect concoction for creating a villain or antagonist . I wrote about villains a while back and brushed on the topic, but now I want to fully explain how and why the star wars method for villains is perfect.

Remember when Yoda said: “Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to suffering.” This is the easiest way to create a villain’s motivation. This method combined with this post will help you make a strong antagonist.

Fear

I talked about your villains needing to fear something in order for them to have a strong goal. Fear is what drives him to the ‘Dark Side’. For any character, fear creates the goal and drives the motivation.

For example, Anakin was afraid that his wife Padme would die. He learned of a power on the dark side that could save her. That established both the fear and goal.

Then that fear will evolve into anger.

Anger

Anger will be what pushes you character off the edge. He needs to be angry. In my opinion all of your characters needs a reason to be angry, but for you villain this is what will make them weak to the temptations of the dark side.

For example, Anakin was already angry and confused about the Jedi counsel, this made him weaker to the lies of the dark side.

Hate

Now, that anger will boil into hate. Hatred for everything and everyone. This will be essential for your character’s lack of sympathy and motivation. With fear and hatred combined your villain’s motivation will be unstoppable.

For example, once Anakin became Darth Vader, because he turned to the dark side, he was filled with an uncontrollable hate towards the Jedi. Though this hatred was induced from the personal decision to turn to the dark side that doesn’t mean that will be how it happens in your story. For a more natural antagonist this anger will literally boil into hatred. It will start to grow and bubble until it consumes them.

Suffering

With great hatred for everything around you comes suffering. Anakin believed his friends had betrayed him and he killed his own wife. It’s situations like this where your villain might hid these memories and feelings behind hatred or pretending not to care, but really, deep down this eats them up inside. For most character’s this will be their weakness weather or not it is ever addressed in your story.

Thanks a bunch!

— Nerd