Relating to/Identifying with Bad Guys

Cafe Society
1

Not exactly sympathetic bad guys…

I mean, situations where you know someone is evil, and you dislike them (in a sitcom, a movie, a book, anything), but somehow when you see them in a compromising situation, you can’t help identifying with them and feeling uncomfortable when the police or whoever are onto them…

This happens a lot in Ruth Rendell novels–even when the scuzziest of bad guys is getting the so called third degree, I feel myself starting to sweat. And getting annoyed with myself.

Or watching the pedophile episode of “Diff’rent Strokes.” When Arnold and his little friend are with the pedophile bike owner, Mr. Drummond shows up at the store, and the bike owner goes to get rid of him. Part of me was thinking, “Uh oh, he’s going to get caught” and at the same time, I’m aware that the guy is a pedophile and that Mr. Drummond should catch him out.

What’s wrong with me? Am I the only one?

2

I tend to buy fiction for the bad guys. Most “heroes” are incredibly dull, lantern jawed, muscle heads. Only the villains have any character. Particularly in comics and graphic novels.

Of course you want good to triumph, but inside isn’t there a little voice that would press the button and destroy the human race or cold bloodedly stab/shoot someone? If only you could get away with it…