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Q&A Should my readers be able to identify with the bad guy?

I'm in the process of defining the characters for a novel. It is a crime fiction, with a really strong focus on the characters. I hope to construct really rich, complex and clearly defined characte...

1 answer  ·  posted 13y ago by Carl Seleborg‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T02:12:05Z (about 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/5022
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by user avatar Carl Seleborg‭ · 2019-12-08T02:12:05Z (about 5 years ago)
I'm in the process of defining the characters for a novel. It is a crime fiction, with a really strong focus on the characters. I hope to construct really rich, complex and clearly defined characters.

I know that I should, in principle, create characters the reader can identify with. I've got some conflicts for the good guys, with redemption, self-forgiveness and the usual goodness. But how about my bad guy, who is a ruthless, violent, ambitious and macho killer?

What are the pros and cons of creating bad guys the reader can identify and empathize with?

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2012-02-12T10:32:52Z (almost 13 years ago)
Original score: 11