Hero’s and Villain’s Journeys

Zach Surace

Blog Post 4

The journey of the hero and the journey of the villain are very similar in modern literature. The main distinguishing difference between the two is the chronology of the events of their stories. The beginnings of the journeys of heroes and villains are the most similar parts between the two pathways. Both heroes and villains often have some sort of traumatic, life-changing experience that motivates them toward a goal or cause. The difference between the two stories isn’t the event the character experiences, but it’s the way that they handle or cope with it.

The classic example of this idea is the story of Batman and the Joker. Batman (Bruce Wayne) witnessed the mugging and homicide of his billionaire parents as a small child, while the Joker, in most versions, grew up in a household with a deranged, abusive father. In the Joker’s story, I don’t believe he necessarily witnesses a specific event, but his continued torture forces him to grow up and seek ultimate evil. The difference between the two characters is that Bruce Wayne was able to use his anger and hatred and manipulate his feelings to help people.

As I mentioned in the first paragraph, the chronology of the hero’s and villain’s journeys is the main distinguishing characteristic between the two components. The hero usually begins in a position of fear and angst, and has to defeat his demons to gain the power that he seeks. The villain, on the other hand, often begins in a position of power or wealth, and his time of defeat is toward the end of the story on a much larger scale after the hero completes his journey. The two journeys are often very similar, but the small details are what separate the good guys from the bad ones.

Image: http://atlantablackstar.com/2012/07/12/5-reasons-why-the-dark-knight-rises-will-win-best-picture-oscar/2/