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Most heroes of fantasy novels suffer from inadequacy, thus are driven by the need to prove themselves as individuals and earn the respect and recognition they deserve. But what about villains? Don't some become who they are because of this feeling of inadequacy?
I came up with a backstory for a major villain of my future fantasy novel who also suffered from inferiority complex. Yet he responded to it in a completely different way, becoming a villain rather than a hero.
When I first created him, he was just another stereotypical evil wizard. But that was before I decided to make him part of the story itself and able to come up with a backstory to explain why he is the way he is. Although he's not the story's main antagonist who opposes the protagonists, he is ultimately revealed to be the one for whom the story's main antagonist is nothing more than a mere pawn for.
This is what I got so far:
Zorro Tehgah was the youngest child of a well-respected family. Growing up, Zorro wanted to be successful and well respected like his parents and siblings, but found himself ridiculed by his siblings and many other people for his inability to measure up to them. While most other parents encourage their children to be the best they can be, Zorro's were an exception. It was always, "Why can't he be more like his brother and sister?", or "Zorro's not living up to his potential." By the time he had grown from a young lad into a young man, nothing had changed. None of his dreams of success had been fulfilled. His former schoolmates had found their own success in life as well as his brother and sister. Soon, his family saw him as an embarrassment and disowned him.
Bitter and enraged by the feelings of powerlessness and helplessness welling up inside him, Zorro changed his plans in life. He no longer wanted to impress the world, but rather he wanted to punish everyone for their insolence. While others in his situation would only be further motivated to prove themselves to the world, Zorro chose the path of revenge. His pride wounded by experiences of mockery against his worth as an individual, Zorro vowed revenge against the world, believing that fate had conspired against him. He became obsessed with proving himself above all others.
Zorro left his homeland in pursuit of his own destiny. Taken under the wing of a powerful magician who saw potential in the boy, Zorro began to learn everything his mentor taught him. But while those few who knew magic used it for the good of all, Zorro saw magic as the power he sought, the key to his revenge.
One day, when his mentor discovered spells of terrifying and lethal power, he tried to destroy them, only to be attacked and left for dead by his pupil. Zorro learned the forbidden magic then destroyed the scrolls by swallowing them so that they would not be used against him. Finally possessing the power he sought and no longer the meek boy he once was, Zorro Tehgah simplified his name to Zortega, no longer wishing to identify with his past.
Returning to his homeland, Zortega used his newfound power to seize control of the land and terrorize the population, even using magic to build himself a castle out of the tallest mountain in the land. Many warriors, knights, and heroes tried to lay him low, only the last succeeded. The others had all been cursed as the wizard's undead servants and guardians. Zortega did this to symbolize his greater power above all others.
Before dying, Zortega proclaimed that one of his descendents would take his place, continue what he started, avenge him, and find a way to restore him to life. Even though his body was dead, his soul refused to go to its eternal rest and his ghost haunted the palace, waiting for the one to fulfill his prophecy.
Ultimately, in the story's final climax, he is restored to life. By now, the story's antagonist has finally realized the truth that he has been used all along and joins forces with the heroes in the final battle against his ancestor.
I came up with a backstory for a major villain of my future fantasy novel who also suffered from inferiority complex. Yet he responded to it in a completely different way, becoming a villain rather than a hero.
When I first created him, he was just another stereotypical evil wizard. But that was before I decided to make him part of the story itself and able to come up with a backstory to explain why he is the way he is. Although he's not the story's main antagonist who opposes the protagonists, he is ultimately revealed to be the one for whom the story's main antagonist is nothing more than a mere pawn for.
This is what I got so far:
Zorro Tehgah was the youngest child of a well-respected family. Growing up, Zorro wanted to be successful and well respected like his parents and siblings, but found himself ridiculed by his siblings and many other people for his inability to measure up to them. While most other parents encourage their children to be the best they can be, Zorro's were an exception. It was always, "Why can't he be more like his brother and sister?", or "Zorro's not living up to his potential." By the time he had grown from a young lad into a young man, nothing had changed. None of his dreams of success had been fulfilled. His former schoolmates had found their own success in life as well as his brother and sister. Soon, his family saw him as an embarrassment and disowned him.
Bitter and enraged by the feelings of powerlessness and helplessness welling up inside him, Zorro changed his plans in life. He no longer wanted to impress the world, but rather he wanted to punish everyone for their insolence. While others in his situation would only be further motivated to prove themselves to the world, Zorro chose the path of revenge. His pride wounded by experiences of mockery against his worth as an individual, Zorro vowed revenge against the world, believing that fate had conspired against him. He became obsessed with proving himself above all others.
Zorro left his homeland in pursuit of his own destiny. Taken under the wing of a powerful magician who saw potential in the boy, Zorro began to learn everything his mentor taught him. But while those few who knew magic used it for the good of all, Zorro saw magic as the power he sought, the key to his revenge.
One day, when his mentor discovered spells of terrifying and lethal power, he tried to destroy them, only to be attacked and left for dead by his pupil. Zorro learned the forbidden magic then destroyed the scrolls by swallowing them so that they would not be used against him. Finally possessing the power he sought and no longer the meek boy he once was, Zorro Tehgah simplified his name to Zortega, no longer wishing to identify with his past.
Returning to his homeland, Zortega used his newfound power to seize control of the land and terrorize the population, even using magic to build himself a castle out of the tallest mountain in the land. Many warriors, knights, and heroes tried to lay him low, only the last succeeded. The others had all been cursed as the wizard's undead servants and guardians. Zortega did this to symbolize his greater power above all others.
Before dying, Zortega proclaimed that one of his descendents would take his place, continue what he started, avenge him, and find a way to restore him to life. Even though his body was dead, his soul refused to go to its eternal rest and his ghost haunted the palace, waiting for the one to fulfill his prophecy.
Ultimately, in the story's final climax, he is restored to life. By now, the story's antagonist has finally realized the truth that he has been used all along and joins forces with the heroes in the final battle against his ancestor.