Borderline Villain to Cynical Hero and vice-versa

Okay, so I've been having a little trouble trying to figure this out, so let's see if the aspiring authors in this forum can help me out.

All right, so in the story I'm working on (which has been worked, reworked, and changed so many times that I've lost count), one of my characters begins the story as a dark, cynical Type V Anti-Hero: he's supporting the more heroic characters on their quest because he wants to destroy The Empire that he blames for being the cause of all the major traumas he's suffered in his life (they were partially responsible, and mostly did have a hand in it, but the tragedies that he suffered mainly came about because of his own flaws. I'm planning to have this revelation become a part of his Character Development, actually) at all costs. At all costs includes absolutely anything he thinks will help him toward his goal, and even kills a major character, and causes the deaths of many innocents as a result. He starts off incredibly ruthless and is, more or less, the definition of the term "The Unfettered". I don't want to change his personality, and if I turned him into a Knight in Shining Armor, it would stretch Willing Suspension of Disbelief, however, I would like to develop his character to being somewhat less ruthless, or at least, ruthless and not so immature.

I want to provide a contrast between him and a major enemy of his, who goes from being The Fettered at the side of the king of a declining empire (it will seem like The Kingdom, at first, but I will eventually show that its recent history as The Empire, more or less), to sacrificing everything important to him for revenge against the first character. They are both incredibly similar, even though they are both enemies, and seem like opposites at first. How would I go about restricting a previously unfettered character?

edited 25th Sep '11 11:50:04 PM by tropetown

Here's how I see this going, based on the information you provided. The Unfettered Borderline Villain, will need to acquire over the course of the story:

1. A sidekick whom he will come to care about. At first probably used and scorned, but in a Defrosting Ice King way this character comes to serve (in tropespeak) as a Morality Pet.

2. A situation arises in which he finds there is a line which he cannot bring himself to cross. Probably one which would require him to sacrifice his newfound morality pet. This will undoubtedly shake him up something fierce. Whereas before he had a clear goal and the determination to do WHATEVER it takes to achieve it, now there is.... something else which is of equal importance.

3. You mentioned a revelation as to the true cause of the suffering which had motivated his mad quest? This can and should come only after he is able and willing to listen, otherwise it would just end up being an Ignored Epiphany. Having dwelt on his pain for so long only to find that he was primarily the one to blame will change his priorities'Tis up to you entirely how you deliver said revelation, but however you do it the groundwork is laid for...

4. The Confrontation with his Enemy: The Fettered Champion of the Declining Empire. By now they've both gone through such character development that they've practically switched places. Though the former Unfettered Dynamo of Destruction has mellowed out and is looking to try and patch thing up, his adversary isn't listening. He has sacrificed all he truly loved and cared for that he may get this one chance at VENGEANCE! There is no turning back now, a fact they both most bitterly regret.

The winner, whichever one you'd prefer it be, emerges once the dust settles triumphant. From there it's your call. Does my depiction work for you?

I don't think that a sidekick is necessary here, and honestly it verges on the cliché, although I do agree about confronting this character with the true moral implications of his actions and his own failures as a human being in a way that compels him toward inner change.

It doesn't work.

The brutality and unbridled destruction isn't working. In being such a massive, uncontrolled threat, he strengthens the hands of his enemies by making it easier for them to gain support in comparison or presenting themselves as the best possible defense. His appearance terrorizes, but because he feels no need to be one who can be bargained with the terror he produces is the kind that lashes out rather than the kind that despairs. With only terrible fates to await them people will rise up rather than cower and fight to their dying breath rather than surrender. They believe there is no mercy to throw themselves on, so they will not even try.

In the end, his behavior has made things harder, and he recognizes it; at the same time his enemies drift closer to it in the justification that he does these things. The result is more organic, more pragmatic, to the sort of mind which would go to such extremes in the first place and isn't likely to be one who can feel shamed by their actions. They do not change because they see the consequences; they knew the consequences. They change because they went this far to win, and they are not winning.

edited 28th Nov '13 6:13:00 PM by Night