Our culture runs on stories and has since time immemorial. Before we even invented a written language we were reciting tales via word of mouth and songs. These stories are a lens through which we see the world and help define the values and principles we have. We teach them to our children in various forms to impart these values and traditions so that our society remains strong and cohesive.
A common theme in many stories is the hero and the villain. The hero is pitted against the villain, with the former representing good values and virtues, and the villain representing the defiance and destruction of these things.
The hero overcoming the villain reinforced these beliefs and inspired the propagation of them.
But a modern trend has sprung up that has pulled this tried and true storytelling into the backseat. Now it's all about the villain being understood and even empathized and sympathized with. Now, the villain always has to have a point.
To be clear, this isn't necessarily a bad form of storytelling. Some of the best movies have villains that you can't help but find yourself considering the side of and wondering if they maybe have a point. Some villains are tragic villains in that their defeat, while necessary, makes you mourn that a person got the way they did and had to be put down.
This does give these villains a more well-rounded character at times but this kind of villain isn't always required. In fact, after a time, the "understandable villain" trope becomes tired and worn out.
But more importantly, it teaches society a lesson that could ultimately be detrimental to it., especially when it comes to the young.
In the real world, evil is very real and the people who commit this evil do so for reasons that aren't always justifiable. Sometimes people are just hateful and greedy. Sometimes they chose to be lost in their own rage and prejudices despite goodness and truth knocking on the door of their minds repeatedly.
These people, and various groups and organizations, sometimes just need to be defeated and wiped off the face of the map. No remorse should be felt and no regret should be had. Evil is evil and evil needs to be eliminated.
This needs to be understood by society, and it appears that much of our society has gotten cold feet when it comes to combatting evil. There's a hesitance sometimes when it comes to discussing evil and calling it out for what it is. The idea that one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter has become an echo in the minds of many, causing them to try to see and understand the perspective of evil people.
And it's here that evil can thrive. Evil lies and deceives. It preys on hesitation and even mercy.
This understanding has been lost, and we need to recover that wisdom as a society.
This is why I think it's important to start reintroducing the villain into our stories again. To have the bad guy just be bad because he chose to be bad and give the hero something solid to fight against. There should be no question about what is and isn't good and that good should always overcome evil.
To be clear, I'm not calling for an end to the villain capable of being sympathized with wholly, but let's at least strike a balance.
