Writing

5 Characteristics of a Compelling Villain

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Nov 17, 2021 • 3 min read

From Grendel to Darth Vader to Hannibal Lecter to the Klingons of Star Trek, a well-written villain can captivate audiences. Some villains—like Batman’s nemesis Joker and The Wizard of Oz’s Wicked Witch of the West—even get their own stories told from their point of view. These disparate villains all possess specific characteristics that make them memorable.