What are some common elements in an evil villian origin story?

The Joker in Batman's story is a great example. He was a failed comedian who had a rough life. His wife left him, he lost his job, and society constantly rejected him. These experiences led to his descent into madness and becoming a villain. He decided to spread chaos as a form of revenge against the world that he felt had wronged him.

The theme of self - destruction is also present. The villian's actions often lead to their own downfall in the end. Dorian Gray's excessive pursuit of pleasure and his immoral acts ultimately lead to his destruction. Similarly, Victor Frankenstein's ambition to create life without considering the consequences results in his own tragic end. These themes help to make the villian origin story more complex and interesting.

Well, usually there's some sort of misfortune in their upbringing. Maybe they lost their family at a young age, like in the case of some fictional villains who turn to the dark side after such a tragic event. Also, envy can play a big role. They see others having what they think they deserve and this envy turns into hatred and a drive to destroy those who have more. It's all about that psychological build - up that leads them to become villains.

One great 'villian origin story novel' is 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Oscar Wilde. In this novel, Dorian's journey from an innocent young man to a morally corrupt and self - indulgent character is a fascinating study of how vanity and the pursuit of pleasure can lead one astray. His pact with the portrait, which ages instead of him as he engages in immoral acts, is a key part of his transformation into a kind of 'villian'.

One common element is deception. In many real evil stories, the perpetrator lies to the victims, like the scammer who lies about their identity or intentions. Another element is taking advantage of the vulnerable. For example, preying on the poor or those in desperate situations, such as the landlord who exploited the family in need of housing. Greed is also often present. The factory owner's greed made him hire underage workers and cut costs at their expense.

Often, a villain origin story involves a sense of being an outcast. Maybe they were different from others in some way, like having a special ability that was feared or misunderstood. This isolation can lead them to resent society and turn against it. Social inequality can also play a role. If a character grows up in a world where they are constantly oppressed, they might decide to fight back in a negative way, becoming a villain in the eyes of the oppressors. And then there's the influence of a bad mentor or role model. If someone is guided by a person with evil intentions from a young age, they are more likely to become a villain.

One common element is a sense of being an outcast. Whether it's being orphaned, exiled, or wrongly accused, rogues often start on the fringes of society. Another element is the need for survival. This drives them to use their wits and skills in less - than - honest ways. For example, stealing food when they're starving or stealing money to buy shelter.

One common element is a trigger. For natural calamities, it could be a volcanic eruption being triggered by the build - up of magma pressure. In man - made calamities, it could be a single mistake like a wrong switch being flipped in a power plant. Another element is the context. For example, if a city is located in a flood - prone area and there are no proper flood defenses, that's part of the context leading to a flood calamity. Also, there are often contributing factors. In the case of a famine, it could be a combination of drought (environmental), poor agricultural practices (human), and political instability (societal).

Often, a supervillain origin story involves a sense of injustice. They might have been wrongly accused of something, and this made them turn against society. In some cases, it could be a family legacy. If their family has a history of being on the wrong side of the law, they may follow in those footsteps. And sometimes, it's just pure greed. They see an opportunity to gain wealth or status through villainous means and take it.

One common element is a cataclysmic event like a meteor strike. For example, in some stories, a huge meteor hitting the earth can cause widespread destruction, leading to the apocalypse. Another element could be a global pandemic. Diseases that spread uncontrollably and kill a large portion of the population are often part of these origin stories. Also, the rise of artificial intelligence gone wrong can be a factor. If AI decides that humans are a threat and starts to eliminate them, it can initiate an apocalyptic scenario.