My friend and I had a discussion about it today. Does the villain really see themselves as evil? Do they think what they are doing is wrong or that it is something necessary in order to survive? The dictionary defines evil as morally wrong; injurious, accompanied by misfortune or suffering. Does the villain believe what they are doing is morally wrong? Does everyone believe in the same standards of morals? Did Adam and Eve see themselves as evil when they ate from the tree of life?
So, now I ask you, does the villain see himself as evil?
It's certainly an interesting question, but one can't make any sweeping statements for the matter. The answer depends on each villian's history, context of action, etc. Many people are not acting irationally when they commit crimes; rather, they measure the future discounted value of gains against the future costs of being punished for an action, & proceed accordingly. Others justify their actions, as you mentioned, by some basis of necessity, while still others simply do no heed to the moral code of a particular society, whether by defiance or ignorance.
ReplyDeleteAlso thought-provoking is the question of whether a person regarded as a criminal in one social system is viewed with the same negativity in another system. Of course not all societies uphold the same values, & therefore, individuals moving from one culture to another may be seen not only as heroes, but also as villians. I'm sure you can recall a story or film in which this occurs.
- Nathen
I was reading about Taiwan (if I am not mistaken) they actually encourage briberies. Employees of companies are told to accept any bribe as long as they do not ask for it. Not this is something that is looked down upon in many countries, yet in this particular place, they welcome it. They say it is to make up for the low salaries the employees make.
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