I’m not following a rubric for the following, I’m just giving my account of how I would create a super villain or evil character within a fictional novel. No one can tell you how to craft your character, you are the master creator of your fictious creation and world. You can let your imagination run wild or meticulously tame your craftmanship.
How devious do you want your character to be? Low-down and conniving or hard stop at evil? One option is to come out the gate swinging in the initial chapter and this villainous being is engaged in wicked behavior. Alternatively, what is really interesting is seeing the character develop overtime. What pushed this person into a momentum of savagery?
For example, a character who tells little white lies, eventually those innocent white lies morph into big black lies. A lie is horrible no matter if it is big, small, white, or black. The phrase is rooted in deception and that in of itself is overwhelmingly evil.
From a spiritual perspective, God hates liars.
The Lord hates liars, but is please with those who keep their word.
— Proverbs 12:22
Why would God hate a liar? The same reason why the reader would hate the lying character. Since God is truth, it only makes sense for God to hate liars. A habitually liar can easily treat people as objects to be manipulated. It also becomes easier for a liar to deceive or murder someone. This doesn’t mean that every person who lies will become a murderer.
For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. – John 8:44
God’s opponent was a liar and murderer who hated the truth. There is no truth in a liar. Liars and accusers are one in the same. For habitual liars and accusers, it is easy to look at another person and lie in their face without flinching. Plenty of energy is expended in order to compartmentalize different fabricated narratives. Staunch liars not only have the potential to physically murder someone, but they can murder the character of another individual with their mouth. Without flinching is an important character feature also. A venomous, vile, villain does not fear anything or anyone except the truth.
Here are some movie character examples:
Michael Corleone – The Godfather (1972) & The Godfather Part II (1974)
Starting point: Honorable war hero, reluctant to join family crime business.
First lies: Tells Kay he didn’t kill Sollozzo (he did).
Progression: Lies to protect family → orders murder of rivals and his own brother Fredo → becomes a cold-blooded killer and liar as “Don.”
End state: Complete moral corruption, isolated and ruthless.
2. Walter White – Breaking Bad (2008-2013; film El Camino)
Starting point: Mild high school chemistry teacher, cancer-stricken.
First lies: Tells Skyler he’s visiting his mother (he’s cooking meth).
Progression: Lies escalate → watches Jane die → poisons a child → orders prison murders → admits he did it for himself, not family.
End state: Mass murderer, drug lord, utterly transformed from the sympathetic man of episode one.
