Every villain needs a motive, because here’s the secret: from their perspective they’re not the villain.
They have reasons for doing what they’re doing. We can’t just have vague “evil villains” being bad just for the sake of giving our heroes someone to fight.
Often a villain’s motivations can be remarkably similar to our heroes, which can raise interesting questions about right and wrong and shades of gray.
With that in mind, here are some potential motives for villains (or anyone, really!) to get some ideas going and inspire our stories. Because having a strong villain makes the entire story stronger and more interesting.
So take these ideas and run with them! Mix and match! Brainstorm and see where the ideas take you.
And may your villains be the very best they can be 🙂
7 Motives for Villains
1. Romance
Yes, villains can fall in love just like the rest of us.
And love can be a strong motivator in almost any situation. Love could inspire an individual to commit villainous acts in order to impress the object of affections, or a villain may start killing off their romantic rivals in order to keep their loved one at their side.
And if the romance is thwarted or broken off for any reason it can provide the spark that will grow into a revenge/justice/or personal betterment motive…
2. Revenge/Justice
Revenge can be an excellent motive for a villain- they have been hurt or slighted (whether intentional or not) and now their goal is to make the ones who have hurt them pay.
Note: When crafting villains we have to be careful that they aren’t slipping into two-dimensional, stereotypical characters who want revenge just because they are evil and it fits the plot. If they want revenge, do they feel this is a noble and just pursuit? Are they trying to protect others? Do they see this as enacting justice?
3. To Keep or Gain Acceptance
Trying to find a place to belong or wanting to cultivate a good relationship with our families is a relatable motive that can potentially lead to villainous activities in the right (or wrong) situations.
Is the villain acting to impress someone by hurting others? Do they have obligations that require them to engage in evil activities? Are they needing to remain in the good graces of higher-up villains to protect those they love? Are they seeking acceptance to a top club of villainy?
4. Fear
Fear is a powerful motivator and can take many forms.
If a villain is fearful for their family or someone they love, they may be led to engage in all sorts of harmful activities while seeing themselves as the hero. For example, trying to exterminate or imprison a certain population to prevent some imagined danger or stealing piles of money so that their family never has to be poor again.
5. Desperation
Is the villain’s daughter dying and the cure costs millions of dollars? Is their country about to be destroyed by an enemy nation? Desperate situations can motivate plenty of shady and reckless activity.
When characters are desperate they will do anything, which can produce interesting, sympathetic, and unusual villains.
6. Altruism
Yes, the villain could be altruistic.
Their motives could be very pure (saving the world, protecting the weak) but if their information or perspective is flawed it could lead to a villain that needs to be stopped.
7. The Chosen One
Prophesies don’t always have to be about the hero- having them influence and inform the villain could be a more interesting approach.
Bonus: Avoid This
Sometimes mental health is used as a motivation for a villain, as in “they’re just crazy” or “the voices in their head told them to.”
Please don’t do this.
Not only is this a very hurtful stereotype, it is also extremely inaccurate. The vast majority of individuals with mental health struggles are not any more violent than anyone else, they are in fact much more likely to be a victim of violence.
If you want to include portrayals of mental health in your story then that’s awesome, just make sure you do your research and be careful to be respectful and accurate.
For further reading:
Character Motivation: Two Questions to Ask – Bethany Henry
7 Tips for Creating Unforgettable Villains – Writer Emergency
15 Interesting Motivations for Villains and Heroes – Superhero Nation
To Build a Great Villain, Start With One of these 13 Motivations – Film School Rejects
