Writing A Heroic Megalomaniac

So, I just had a totally random idea literally 15 minutes ago. I haven't come up with a story around it yet, but it's still an interesting concept:

How would one go about writing an Anti-Hero that mostly has traditional heroic traits, but suffers from severe megalomania? How would he balance his megalomaniac impulses with his desire to do good? How do I write the struggle going on in his head? How would he think? Does it have to be a he? (that last one was just for fun. Of course it doesn't).

I'd appreciate advice.

Edited by SomethingRandom113 on Aug 4th 2018 at 10:38:29 AM

Bumping. Because please help.

Establish that "he" does like to do good, but also gets a huge rush from the adulation and/or sense of power "he" gets from it? I may be forgetting/misinterpreting what megalomania is.

Edited by TroperOnAStickV2 on Aug 4th 2018 at 2:03:18 PM

Depends on the type of megalomania I suppose. In essence is it an obsession with ones own power. So maybe do what writers seem to do with sympathetic dictators and make them think their morals and designs are superior for not only them, but those they rule. Usually this is subverted by the protagonist being inevitably part of the group marginalized by said dictator, but maybe make them actually right this time?

It could be a really interesting concept, someone trying to be a benevolent ruler whilst fighting their darker impulses or compromising to try and satisfy both.

Edited by Slysheen on Aug 4th 2018 at 11:22:50 AM

... oh. What about the idea of sublimation? Taking unacceptable impulses and transforming them into an acceptable form.

I'm going to follow this thread since my main character has these traits and see what comes up.

That's basically Doctor Doom.

Only Doom is smart enough, brave enough, wise enough to save mankind from itself. Everyone who stands in Doom's way is a fool! All of these fools who call Doom a villain, they are the real villains! They are the ones holding mankind back, denying humanity the benevolent dictatorship of Doom's brilliance.

Personally I'd approach a lot of superheroes this way-at least in their early career. It's how I'd imagine someone like Superman acting in real life: They'd save people simply to show off.

You can also do a great decon-recon switch here by having them slowly become the mask. Once they've built up a reputation as a great hero, the persona might grow on them enough that they genuinely become altruistic.

The only example I can think of is Alexander the Great from fate/zero.

Edited by shiro_okami on Mar 2nd 2019 at 7:15:21 AM

That being said, it doesn't have to come off as him thinking being good is stupid and only doing it to show off. He doesn't even have to turn into that.

He may think he's better than the rest BECAUSE he's good, he may even think he deserves praised for being good; but wouldn't necessarily stop doing good if people stop praising him... though he may become jaded and cynical if that happens, but still try to always be the better man.

Edited by Gabo352 on Mar 5th 2019 at 12:42:37 PM

You could also have their desire for power be something that they suppress. They want power and acclaim, but they won't openly admit to it because it makes them look less heroic.