Dive deep into the shadows of villainy to unravel how fate's cruel hand has twisted these antagonists. Venture beyond the surface to discover whether villains are born or made of circumstance.
Anakin Skywalker, a well known and loved Jedi, takes an unexpected turn to the dark side, shattering Star Wars fanatics' hearts. Although this shift was detrimental to the story, we know and love, do we really understand the shift into the dark side.
Originally a slave on Tatooine, Anakin faces challenges to become a Jedi, facing love, war, and most of all the dark side. Lured by Chancellor Palpatine who was living a double life, as a Naboo Senator, Anakin was manipulated into becoming Darth Vader. With Palpatine whispering lies our beloved hero loses sight of his values. Yielding to the temptations of the dark side to shield his family from harm, only to suffer the loss of his wife his twisted ideals now consuming him in blind rage. Anakin treacherous deeds to help his new master destroy the Jedi Order, meant nothing. So was Anakin as evil as we thought or just consumed by the dread of losing a loved one and guilt of falling down the wrong path. Anakin is not easily relatable but we can see later on how Darth Vader is consumed by the mistakes, finally letting go of the denial of the pain he feels and accepting his losses to save his son.
Hated across Panem, President Snow has not only tortured but struck fears in the hearts of the districts and readers with his heartless methods of ruling. Although the release of the prologue "Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes" has us looking at this Villian differently.
Coriolanus, otherwise referred to as Coryo, loses his father during a harsh war and quickly becomes the “man of the house” amidst financial struggle. Coryo is presented the opportunity to mentor the District 12, tribute for The Hunger Games named Lucy Gray. If deemed the best mentor, he'll be given a hefty scholarship otherwise referred to as the “Plinths prize” that would ultimately shift his poverty state around. This emotional connection leads Coryo down the path of darkness. It was love at first sight and set in stone when she saves his life, that moment on Coryo risks his entire future to ensure that Lucy Gray lives. After the Hunger Games, Lucy Gray slowly shifted to distrusting him. Lucy Gray's betrayal after making Coryo feel safe for the first time destroys him, creating the monster we see in the original trilogy, sparking his most known quote, “It’s the things we love most that will destroy us.”
He who shall not be named has single-handedly built the storyline of the Harry Potter Series. Without his villainous tale the seven books that have swept the globe would have never come to be. So what is the story behind the Dark Lord?
Voldemorts otherwise known as Tom Riddle descent into darkness started long before he was born to truly understand his dark orgins, Rowling shares the tale of the union between Riddles parents which would lead to many emotionally traumatic events through his childhood, being the half blood of a wealthy muggle Tom Riddle Sr. and Merope a witch who died shortly after childbirth. The story begins with Tom Riddle Sr. under the influence of, Amortentia a love potion administered by Merope Gaunt, is the by product of Voldemort. Rowling describes that this moment is why Voldemort has the inability to understand positive emotions along the lines of love; "a symbolic way of showing that he came from a loveless union.” Leaving Riddle in the care of an orphanage the resentment of his muggle blood only grew in his father's absence the lack of parenting leading him down a dark path. As Tom followed the path of wizarding he further lost himself, and with each Horcrux and each kill soon Tom Riddle was unrecognizable and reborn as the Dark Lord.
Joker otherwise known as Jack Napier, the funniest guy in Gotham City, has a sad origin story that readers and watchers get a deep dive into the many interpretations of Joker's story.
The ordinary Jack Napier occupied the job as a stand-up comedian and has many interpretations of his turn into the Joker. Pinpointing some of the main stories, Jack Napier was suspected to be in the red hood gang. When a heist takes an unexpected turn, Joker takes a nasty fall into a pit of chemicals driving him insane and giving him his signature look. Seeing through a new lens of life without the blur of societal expectation, Joker adapts a new mindset. Driven mad by his belief of Batman's false heroics which only lead to greater corruption in Gotham City. This new realization leads him down a toxic path of which he becomes obsessed with exposing the truth that Batman isn't the hero.