50 Questions For Your Antagonist
Taken from here. Antagonists are tricky. Too little work, and the antagonist comes across flat. A flat antagonist is easy and boring, because he or she won’t push the protagonist hard enough. Plus there’s that practice of making fleshed out characters and having interesting three-dimensional people, blah blah.
We all know the saying: Every villain is his own hero. Though I wrote these questions and prompts with famous antagonists in mind, you could actually pose them to your protagonist or other characters (just switch out the protagonist-themed questions for antagonist-themed) and it will still work.
I’ve always found it most helpful to answer questionnaires in my character’s voice, so I have written this addressing your antagonist directly. Try to answer in the way he or she would. You’ll uncover hidden backstory, depth, and softness in your antagonist.
But remember – even something “soft” (like empathy) can be a terrible motivator.
Your Antagonist’s Backstory
Hurting people hurt others. What hurt you? My mother is absentee, my father clearly dislikes me. Is that what you would like to hear? It doesn’t bother me, and no I’m not just putting on a front. I don’t care about them. The answer you aren’t wanting to hear is “no one”. Spirits perhaps? I have had horrific night terrors all of my life. But really no one has hurt me, sorry to disappoint.
When was the first time you were frightened by something you did? When I was eleven I gutted a servant’s pet squirrel mouse and put the parts on her bed. What frightened me was how much I enjoyed her reaction to it, there was more to
When was the first time you experienced pain? Pain? Physical pain? I’m sure I fell as a child when I was first learning to walk.
What is the most painful thing you have ever gone through? Losing my sister to the barbarian, if one can call that pain. I think that’s what pain is.
Do you have a mentor, or someone you’ve modeled yourself after? Who is it, and why are they so compelling? My great great grandfather, he was one of the most feared pirates on the Bloody Coast.
Have you killed anyone? Who was the first person you killed? (Alternatively: Who is the person you’ve hurt most?) Yes. The first person I killed was near death’s door already, my grandfather. I smothered him with a pillow. I hated looking at him in that state, I hated listening to my relatives crying and praying.
When did you feel the most humiliated by someone else? Quite recently at my cousin’s wedding when that barbarian woman kissed my sister.
Tell me about a time you faced rejection. I can’t recall at which point my father started to outright reject me. There was a boy I liked who refused me when I was eleven. Don’t look at me like that, I didn’t kill him.
Is there something you’ve said or done you wish you could take back? Yes, I wish I had never allowed father to take Aika on that mission towards the waste.
Who (or what) do you miss? Aika, obviously.
What’s one thing you can never forgive? (Could be an event in the past, or a character trait like lying.) Lying. I can’t stand it.
When did you feel the most accomplished or successful? When I outmaneuvered father and married the former fire lord in lieu of Aika.
When have you felt helpless? After marrying the former fire lord, I am relieved that he is dead.
What was the first lie you told? What do you lie about most often? I can’t remember. I lie when I tell Aika that what we do is for medical progress.
Your Antagonist’s Habits
What do you do to relax? Walk along the coast.
Where do you go when you want to feel like you belong? If you can’t get there, where would you like to go? I walk out across the reef alone, if I can’t be there then the coast will do.
What do you like to read? What shows do you watch? I don’t really read beyond what I must. As for shows... do you mean performances? I have watched ship races, does that count?
What do you daydream about? Being in a position of enough power where I can be my most authentic self without fear of a prison cell.
What is your weapon of choice? How did you learn to use it? Fire, lightening; my grandfather taught me before his health started to slip.
When you feel uncomfortable, what do you do to cover it up? Wear a smirk or mocking smile.
What sort of clothes do you wear? Would you make changes to your wardrobe if you could? Lots of greys while at Iron Wharf. It is a bit dull, I actually fancy muted pinks.
Do you have any unusual or advanced skills? Advanced: Lightning bending is an advanced skill. Unusual: I can dislocate my arms.
How do you like to approach a problem? I pick at it a bit before moving forward.
Your Antagonist’s Personal Life
Who are your parents? Do you have any siblings? Are they still alive? The Lord and Lady of the Cove. I have one sister, Aika, and a slow brother that was sent off to some special academy. They are all alive, though I haven’t seen my brother since he was a toddler so who knows.
Who (or what) is one person (or thing/ideal) you would never harm? I would never grievously injure Aika, not intentionally anyways.
Who (or what) do you love? Would you call it love? Anik and Aika, I would call it my version of love perhaps.
What is one secret you’ve never told anyone? Would you consider revealing it to another character? If so, who? No, I would not share it with anyone. You included.
What lie do you tell yourself? That I could handle prison.
What is one silly thing you’re afraid of? Death by icicle.
Tell me about your dream vacation. I would like to spend a week in the North Pole to better understand the mixed ancestry of the Cove.
What is one fault in others you just can’t stand? Being overly weepy, it is obnoxious.
What type of people do you like to be around (if any)? People who do not deny what vices they may have and are their most authentic natural selves.
What about you do you feel other people misunderstand? That I don’t literally think about hurting others all day, it’s an interest but not my only one. I also enjoy collecting shells and playing the flute.
Do you like kids? What about animals? I don’t care either way. Tagged by: Tagging: @firelxrdsdaughter
