Is it possible to have a Well-Intentioned Extremist in a world that is predominantly already peaceful
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Can a Well-Intentioned Extremist becomes a Complete Monster if they went too far with their actions?
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No. A Complete Monster does evil on purpose and for its own sake rather than accidentally and for a greater good. They may get called You Monster! by other characters, though.
That was the amazing part. Things just keep going.
I would like to request that this Trope be placed under the No Real Life Examples rule. It is far too controversial a subject matter to feature Real Life examples of, seeing as labelling a person as such would implicitly justify whatever unethical things they do because the end result might be good in principle.
It's kinda similar to Asshole Victim (a trope which does't allow RL-examples) in that regard.
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Franco has to go from the Real Life examples because he was neither an extremist nor well intentioned. First, Franco was one of the more pragmatic and less extremist leaders of the Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War, which is one of the reasons why he became their leader - both fascists, royalists and conservatives could support him. Secondly, the claim that "the primary cause of the Spanish Civil War ... was the violent persecution of Christians under the secular republicans" is wrong. There was persecution of Christians in the Republic, but most of it took place during, not before, the war. The main reason the war began was that the officers of the Spanish army (who started the war) did not support the democratic constitution of the Republic, because it threatened the privileges of the officers and their allies (the aristocracy and the church), and gave the Communists influence (since people voted for them).
Of course YMMV on all real life examples, but Franco is a particularly bad one, not more "well intentioned" than your average dictators. So goodbye to him.
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I'm really surprised that this page allows Real Life examples at all.
I agree with Warron. This Trope is often a very touchy subject even in fictional cases. Allowing Real Life examples of it is just asking for trouble.
So WHAT exactly seperates this from Visionary Villain?
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"A villain who has an overall goal which the heroes can appreciate in principle, but whose methods of pursuing said goal (such as mass murder) are the problem; despite any sympathy they may have with his cause, the heroes have no choice but to stop him." hmm"which the heroes can appreciate in principle"?
Edited by MagBas
This trope needs a YMMV page, particularly in regard to Real Life. Certain examples are explicitly labeled "YMMV".
Neo, stop adding Mother Teresa. She's widely regarded as a saint, and your insistence on adding her is a Flame War waiting to happen.
Shamelessly plugging my comics, Oh yes.
That Guy
Who is this a picture of, and what about the picture shows that they're a particularly dangerous idealist?
I reject your requirement for a witty statement or fanboyish squealing in my signature.
I'm a bit confused about the examples in the description. "The problem is the means" uses the example of someone who wants to end crime by eradicating free will. The goal is ending crime, which is good, but the means are bad. That makes sense.
"The problem is the goal" uses the example of someone who wants to maximise happiness via murder, the Mere Addition Paradox, or, again, eradicating free will. But the goal here is surely "maximising happiness", which is good, and the horrible methods being used to measure this just define the means. Or am I misunderstanding something?