10 Ways To Create Dangerously Nuanced Antagonists (With Examples)

Great antagonists make protagonists stronger. They drive conflict and shape a novel. So, how do we create interesting, dangerously nuanced antagonists?

Better antagonists create better protagonists. Our novels often revolve around these important characters, and without a strong adversary, there is nobody to test them. A great antagonist forces a protagonist to face their weaknesses, discover their strengths, and change.

If the antagonist exists to make or break the protagonist, we need to make that character worthy of the role. A two-dimensional villain is not enough. If the antagonist is weak, the protagonist will defeat them too easily, and our readers will lose interest.

A strong antagonist should be able to challenge the protagonist emotionally as well as physically. They should have their own goals, fears, beliefs, and reasons for what they do. When we create an adversary who is both dangerous and nuanced, we create deeper conflict and a more interesting story.

So, how do we create an antagonist who can truly challenge our protagonist?

10 Ways To Create Dangerously Nuanced Antagonists

1. Make somebody love them or them love somebody. Our antagonists should be the most complex characters in our books. An antagonist who is a loner is obvious, but one who is surrounded by positive emotions is compelling. Severus Snape from Harry Potter is a good example because his love for Lily Potter shapes many of his actions.
2. Make them ambitious, but not obvious. Nakedly ambitious people are too predictable. Their aggression often defeats them because their actions force us to reveal their true nature too early in a story. Walter White from Breaking Bad hides his ambition behind his desire to provide for his family. As the story unfolds, his need for power, recognition, and control becomes clear, but he still convinces himself and others that he is doing the right thing.
3. Make them enjoy their work. We spend most of our lives working so a successful antagonist who is happy at work would be much more dangerous than somebody who hates what they do. Gustavo Fring from Breaking Bad is a perfect example. He is a successful businessman who takes pride in running his restaurant and his criminal operation. His calm professionalism makes him more frightening than an antagonist who is constantly angry.
4. Make them curious. People who never stop learning are dangerous. They will out-think and outwit us. This quality gives them the depth and the ability to surprise and shock us. A lazy antagonist is boring. Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs is an excellent example. He is highly intelligent and deeply curious about people, especially Clarice Starling. He uses what he observes about others to manipulate them.
5. Allow them to explore the world. Let them travel. Expose them to different ways of life and different world views. They can use this knowledge at unexpected moments. Moriarty from the Sherlock Holmes stories has a wide network and knowledge of people and places. He operates beyond a single setting, making him a much more formidable opponent for Holmes.
6. Unleash their creativity. Let them paint or draw or write. Creative people look at problems differently. They are more likely to find ways to beat the odds and to get themselves out of difficult situations. Tom Ripley from The Talented Mr Ripley paints and gardens. Becky Sharp from Vanity Fair sings, acts, and plays the piano.
7. Make them fit in. Even if they don’t really, and even if they are loners, their ability to adjust to their surroundings and make allies makes them stronger. Amy Dunne from Gone Girl understands how people expect a woman, wife, and victim to behave and uses those expectations to construct a convincing public identity.
8. Make them care about the details. The devil is in them, after all. People who notice things can use them to their advantage. Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs pays close attention to people and remembers small details that others overlook, allowing him to understand their weaknesses and manipulate them.
9. Allow them to be flexible. They should know when losing a battle will allow them to win a war. They should be able to take no for an answer, and to deal with setbacks. Vito Corleone from The Godfather knows when to negotiate, when to wait, and when to fight a battle.
10. Create them first. Taking our antagonists seriously and creating these characters before we create our heroes will stimulate our imagination. It gives us a unique perspective, which will add depth and texture to our storytelling. Read: How To Use Your Antagonist To Define Your Story Goal

Antagonists drive our protagonists because they create the impetus for them to act. They force them to change and to want something different. They are too important to be shallow. Dangerous antagonists are rarely dangerous because they are simply evil. They are capable, adaptable, curious, creative, socially skilled, and emotionally invested in something. That is what makes them feel like real people.

The Final Word

‘You don’t really understand an antagonist until you understand why he’s a protagonist in his own version of the world.’ ~John Rogers

Nuanced antagonists do more than create problems for your protagonist. They have their own goals, fears, beliefs, and reasons for what they do. Create one, and you will add deeper conflict and make your story more engaging.

by Amanda Patterson
© Amanda Patterson

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