To Be a Hero... Can a Villain Apply?

Hero versus villain... protagonist versus antagonist... Seems rather cut and dried, doesn't it, but is it really? But can a villain actually become a hero?

Of course he can. It's all a matter of perception.

I've recently begun watching Wolf Hall on Masterpiece Theater. For those who aren't familiar with this drama, it's the story of Thomas Cromwell, and the part he played in the events of his times, that is during the reign of Henry VIII. Of humble birth, Cromwell was taken under the wing of the great Cardinal Wolsey, and nurtured. The Cardinal's unmakiing was Henry's failure to have a son by his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. His pride - and his nation - decreed he must have an heir. Of course, his becoming infatuated with a young girl named Anne Boleyn didn't help matters any. She had spent some time in the French court, and was smart enough to realize that if she gave in to Henry - ie sleep with him - she would quickly lose his favor. But she held out and kept her eye on the prize - becoming Queen of England. For that to happen, Henry needed his first wife annulled, which would also have made any children by that union bastards. He only had the one daughter, Mary, and he was willing to have that happen in order to gain a son.

I've read a number of stories and histories dealing with this time period, and almost invariably Thomas Cromwell is painted as a villain for his part in the fall of Wolsey, the divorce of Henry and Queen Catherine, and  breaking with the Pope and the formation of the Church of England. But here he is actually the hero, the center of the story. The man himself has not changed, of course, merely how we are to perceive him.

So what does that mean for a writer? Just that the person who is the center of your story can be a villain and still be the hero. Not only the virtuous need apply.

In this story, Anne Boleyn is painted as a villainess, but if you should read or watch Anne of the

Thousand Days, you'll have a whole different picture of the woman who became Henry's second wife, mother of the greatest queen in English history, and first of his wives to be beheaded. Whereas Wolf Hall makes her out to be a calculating schemer, who was in league with her family to acquire power and wealth, in Anne of the Thousand Days, she is a young girl who becomes enamored of a handsome, virile king and spends years waiting to make him hers.


One of my favorite villains cum heroes has to be Dr. Hannibal Lecter. I've read all the books, seen all the movies, and love them. Hannibal is a serial killer, and an unrepentant one at that. He makes no bones about what he's done. Granted, he has reasons, and how he became the way he is is well told in Hannibal Rising. But the fact remains he has done things which don't exactly make him hero material. And yet that is just what he is, for he is the center of every story, even when he is not onscreen, so to speak.

What does Hannibal have that makes him so interesting, even as a villain? He's intelligent, and very charming... and manipulative as hell. As a trained psychiatrist, he has insight into how people think, how they work, and he isn't afraid to use that knowledge for his own means. Whether you like him or not, there is no doubt that he is the hero of Thomas Harris' books.

Another example of the villain as hero can be found in John Milton's Paradise Lost. I only read this poem for the first time in the last couple of years, and was instantly mesmerized. It begins in the aftermath of the great Rebellion - the attempt by a third of the Chosen to overthrow God which resulted in their being cast down to the newly created Hell. Among them is their leader, of course, Lucifer. Since history is written by the victors, and since Lucifer did not win in his attempt to wrest power from God, ergo Lucifer is the villain. And yet he is the hero, for he shines more brightly than any other character in the book, and he is certainly the most interesting among them. Compared to him, Adam and Raphael are dull and annoying, whereas Lucifer reveals himself made of sterner stuff, and also shows God in a less than flattering light.



Lucifer is portrayed as highly intelligent and brave, and unafraid to take on someone who is as powerful as he is, if not more so. Even knowing that God is all-knowing, he takes a stand for what he believes in and fights for it. Is that not the definition of a hero? And yet he has been vilified for many years.

Lucifer also features as the hero/villain of a series of graphic novels written by one of my favorite

writers, Mike Carey. And once again, the angels do not come off well at all. In Carey's version, which actually found its origins in Neil Gaiman's Sandman, Lucifer is fed up with being in charge of Hell and he's gone up to Earth and opened up a piano bar called Lux in Los Angeles. The story opens as an angel approaches him, sent by God to deliver a message - God needs a favor. Once again, there is no doubt Lucifer is a villain, but he is still the hero of these volumes.

A good hero is not perfect. He has flaws and imperfections which make him human, and place him within the understanding of the readers who might be less than impressed with someone who is without fault. At the same time, a villain can have his good points and his virtues. And be interesting enough to fill the role of hero.

Wouldn't life be dull if every character was one way or the other? It's how you handle the flaws that sets your characters apart, for good or for bad. Who doesn't love a bad boy?

I think every writer needs to make a hero of a villain at least once in his or her career. I know I intend do.

You've met him already, and he too is a serial killer. You'll be seeing him again.

Follow Friday

Good morning and Happy Friday! The weather appears to be sunny and cold here. I'll know better when I actually step outside to run errands later on, something I've not done since last Sunday, when we went to see Gangster Squad. It's been a busy week! The good news is that I may be getting a temp job that will last for about two months and pays $12/hour! Also, I am almost done reworking Leonardo di Caprio is a Vampire, at which time I shall submit it to a new publisher!

Okay, so on to the question:

Q:  WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE VILLAIN FROM A BOOK?

That is a more complex question than one might imagine. Some people will automatically assume villain, as in antagonist. But in some books, the villain is the protagonist. So I suppose it depends on one's definition.

Villain as protagonist - undoubtedly Hannibal Lecter, followed closely by Count Dracula. I have never seen Dr. Lecter as truly evil, simply on a different plane of existence from the rest of the world, a more elevated plane. He is charming, cultivated, knowledgeable, interesting, and he does have his standards regarding those whom he kills. If he is a little offbeat, well, that is understandable if you read Hannibal Rising, which explores his roots and what led him to be the way he is. And thank you, Anthony Hopkins, for bringing him so deliciously to the big screen.

As for my own books, which is a different question, I know, I think my favorite villain would be Lucifer, from Revelations, although the whole good/bad thing gets blurred at times. As Lucifer likes to say, he and God are not as diametrically opposed as some would suppose. But he does admit to being the villain in the story, albeit a very charming and vain one.

How do I see Lucifer in my own mind? Sort of a naughty Lucius Malfoy, but with greater power.

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy your weekend!

Until next time, take care!

♥ Julie

PS Look for something special on Monday!

Serial Killers to Die For and Ghosts with the Most

Good morning and welcome to day two of the Howloween Blog Hop! Yesterday, I delved a bit into the world of Vampires and Werewolves. Today I'm going to talk about ghosts and serial killers and witches.

To my knowledge, I've never seen a ghost, but I find the subject fascinating. You find ghosts in the lore of many nations, many cultures. They can't all be wrong, right? I've been told by at least three people that they've seen the ghost of my first husband in my home. Who knows, maybe they did? They say people who meet violent ends sometimes linger, unable to rest, and he was murdered, so I guess it's possible. My daughter says she's also seen the ghost of a chef. Which brings up an early ghost film that I've seen (and which has been remade, too) - Thirteen Ghosts. The original William Castle film might seem a little hokey by today's standards, but I still like it. I also watch the remake on occasion, which has better special effects, but that isn't everything.

Another ghost story which was remade was House on Haunted Hill. The original featured St. Louis's own beloved Vincent Price as the host with the most, while the remake starred Geoffrey Rush, whom I adore. Once again, the older effects are primitive by today's standards, but hey, it's worth watching for sure.

Of course, there are ghost stories that are as romantic as they are scary, and the first one that comes to mind is an older film, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, starring Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney. It was later made into a TV show, with Edward Mulhare and Hope Lange. It concerns a sea captain, and the widow who can see him, and their unusual relationship. All I can say is this dead sea captain can haunt me any time!

On the other hand, this ghost is one whose visit I could do without. And if someone tells you they have a video they want you to watch - run!

Serial killers. Who doesn't love a good serial killer? I know I do. One that instantly springs to mind at this time of year is - who else? Michael Meyers, star of the Halloween series. You know what they say,  you can't keep a good man down. Well, he proved that, coming back from the so-called dead for several films. Is he dead now? I wouldn't even hazard a guess.

While Michael is someone you wouldn't want to mess with, my favorite serial killer is not only handsome and intelligent, but oh so charming. He only kills rude people. Free range rude, as he refers to them. Who wasn't happy to know that he was going to dine on the obnoxious Dr. Chilton at the end of The Silence of the Lambs? And his relationship with FBI agent in training, later agent, Clarice Starling... well, it's complex. Be sure to read the books, particularly Hannibal, because I prefer the book ending to the movie without a doubt.

In Silence you actually get two serial killers, the other one being Ted Levine in his brilliant portrayal of Jame Gumb. Red Dragon precedes Silence chronologically, and has two versions. The first, Manhunter, starred Brian Cox as Dr. Lecter, and I find that as much as I like Brian (particularly in Sharpe), Anthony has ruined me for any other portrayal and I cannot enjoy Manhunter. Ralph Fiennes played Francis Dolarhyde in Red Dragon, and very well. On a side note, I thought it was really cool that he worked in St. Louis and lived in St. Charles, and the route he described going home was one I used to take every day when I worked in St. Charles, including Hwy 94.

 In the third film, Hannibal, my long time crush Gary Oldman plays the twisted, deformed billionaire Mason Verger who is intent on gaining revenge on Dr. Lecter. Read the book and you'll see that he died a different death there, including a character that was cut from the films, Mason's abused sister Margot. The relationship between Hannibal and Clarice really intensifies in this film.

My favorite witch is not really scary at all. I grew up watching Bewitched (I haven't seen the movie with Nicole Kidman but I've heard bad things about it, so I'm not rushing out to watch it). Elizabeth Montomery played Samantha Stevens, a witch married to a mortal, Darren Stevens (first played by Dick York, then by Dick Sargent). Life with a witch is hard enough, but then throw in her crazy relatives, and wow... lots to deal with. Her mother, Endora, played by Agnes Moorehead, could never get Darren's name right and would often call him Durwood. Uncle Arthur (Paul Lynde) was a trip, a real practical jokester. Elizabeth had an identical cousin with dark hair (played by Montgomery) who was good for causing trouble. And the doctor to the supernatural, Dr. Bombay (Bernard Fox) was always fun to see. I always wanted to be like Samantha, get what I wanted by twitching my nose. Alas, I still haven't figured out how to do it.

Well, that's it for now. Yes, there are plenty more, but you have lots of people to see, so Happy Halloween blogging, and don't forget, if you want to be part of my contest, leave a comment and leave your email address. Three winners will receive their choice from my backlist, and one will get a $10 Amazon gc!

Until later, take care!

♥ Julie

Serial Killer Sunday - Red Dragon Review

My favorite fictional serial killer is Hannibal Lecter. This was  his debut, Thomas Harris' Red Dragon.

Red Dragon  

Author: Thomas Harris

Publisher: Berkley (reprint, originally Dell)

American release date: January 6, 2009

Format/Genre/Length: Novel/Thriller/464 pages

Publisher/Industry Age Rating: NR

Overall Personal Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Similar series or titles to check out: Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, Hannibal Rising

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what FBI agent Jack Crawford wants of Will Graham—especially with the headlines blaring about the two murders; one in Atlanta, the other in Birmingham. More than enough reason for Crawford to come down to Florida, to get the consultant’s take on the killer. The choice of locale is deliberate—when he shows Will the photos of the deceased families, children included, he can’t help but contrast that with his own wife and stepson. How can he refuse to help catch someone who hurts children?

Synopsis:

Will hasn’t been with the FBI since before he met Molly, leaving the Bureau after his unfortunate encounter with a particular serial killer by the name of Hannibal Lecter—an encounter he almost didn’t survive. Nonetheless, and against Molly’s wishes, he agrees to help the FBI find the killer the media has dubbed the Tooth Fairy. First he travels to Atlanta, to the house the Leeds family had lived in. Everything is still in place, waiting for them, as if expecting them home at any moment. Will looks at their life, in situ, trying to piece together what happened to them so he can determine what sort of person did this and create a profile for the FBI to use in order to look for him.

It’s the little things that speak to him, cause him to ask questions. He tries to make sense of the bloodstains, figure out what happened when. Why did the killer move the family around? Was there a purpose to his madness? And by any chance when he did, did he leave a fingerprint behind?

The murders each took place during the full moon, which surely isn’t coincidence, and which means they only have less than a month til the next one. Before the next full moon, they not only have to figure out who this guy is but who his next victims will be, before it’s too late. Will gets more and more engrossed in the chase, while somewhere in the Midwest a man is planning his next move—and his Becoming. Will decides he needs to consult with someone, the only person he knows that can shed some light on this killer—Dr. Hannibal Lecter himself. Will this encounter end better than the last one? And will the good doctor deign to cooperate?

Add to the mix a sleazy tabloid reporter with a penchant for stirring the shit so it hits the fan, and a killer with a deep seated admiration for Dr. Lecter—you’ve got a sure fire recipe for death and mayhem!

Commentary:

In this first volume of Thomas Harris’ Hannibal series, we get a glimpse of his extraordinary character, Dr. Lecter. I think he is undoubtedly one of the greatest characters ever created, with a great deal of depth and far more to him than meets the eye. There are things we won’t even learn about him in this volume; it’s just a teaser for what comes later. This book is Will Graham’s story and how he deals with having met Hannibal in the past and his need to consult him in the present. It’s about his desire to preserve his way of life balanced against the desire to save innocent lives from a deranged madman. Which side will win?

It’s brilliantly written, fast paced and well executed. The character of Francis Dolarhyde is well drawn, and not above eliciting sympathy for what he cannot help. His unraveling is fascinating to behold—and he does not go down alone.

This is a must read introduction to the world of Hannibal Lecter—it sets the stage and sets it well for what comes after. Not to be missed at any price.

Red Dragon Review

Red Dragon   

Author: Thomas Harris

Publisher: Berkley (reprint, originally Dell)

American release date: January 6, 2009

Format/Genre/Length: Novel/Thriller/464 pages

Publisher/Industry Age Rating: NR

Overall Personal Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Similar series or titles to check out: Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, Hannibal Rising

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what FBI agent Jack Crawford wants of Will Graham—especially with the headlines blaring about the two murders; one in Atlanta, the other in Birmingham. More than enough reason for Crawford to come down to Florida, to get the consultant’s take on the killer. The choice of locale is deliberate—when he shows Will the photos of the deceased families, children included, he can’t help but contrast that with his own wife and stepson. How can he refuse to help catch someone who hurts children?

Synopsis:

Will hasn’t been with the FBI since before he met Molly, leaving the Bureau after his unfortunate encounter with a particular serial killer by the name of Hannibal Lecter—an encounter he almost didn’t survive. Nonetheless, and against Molly’s wishes, he agrees to help the FBI find the killer the media has dubbed the Tooth Fairy. First he travels to Atlanta, to the house the Leeds family had lived in. Everything is still in place, waiting for them, as if expecting them home at any moment. Will looks at their life, in situ, trying to piece together what happened to them so he can determine what sort of person did this and create a profile for the FBI to use in order to look for him.

It’s the little things that speak to him, cause him to ask questions. He tries to make sense of the bloodstains, figure out what happened when. Why did the killer move the family around? Was there a purpose to his madness? And by any chance when he did, did he leave a fingerprint behind?

The murders each took place during the full moon, which surely isn’t coincidence, and which means they only have less than a month til the next one. Before the next full moon, they not only have to figure out who this guy is but who his next victims will be, before it’s too late. Will gets more and more engrossed in the chase, while somewhere in the Midwest a man is planning his next move—and his Becoming. Will decides he needs to consult with someone, the only person he knows that can shed some light on this killer—Dr. Hannibal Lecter himself. Will this encounter end better than the last one? And will the good doctor deign to cooperate?

Add to the mix a sleazy tabloid reporter with a penchant for stirring the shit so it hits the fan, and a killer with a deep seated admiration for Dr. Lecter—you’ve got a sure fire recipe for death and mayhem!

Commentary:

In this first volume of Thomas Harris’ Hannibal series, we get a glimpse of his extraordinary character, Dr. Lecter. I think he is undoubtedly one of the greatest characters ever created, with a great deal of depth and far more to him than meets the eye. There are things we won’t even learn about him in this volume; it’s just a teaser for what comes later. This book is Will Graham’s story and how he deals with having met Hannibal in the past and his need to consult him in the present. It’s about his desire to preserve his way of life balanced against the desire to save innocent lives from a deranged madman. Which side will win?

It’s brilliantly written, fast paced and well executed. The character of Francis Dolarhyde is well drawn, and not above eliciting sympathy for what he cannot help. His unraveling is fascinating to behold—and he does not go down alone.

This is a must read introduction to the world of Hannibal Lecter—it sets the stage and sets it well for what comes after. Not to be missed at any price.