Am I a Hero or a Villain?

Think of your favorite story, whether that’s a superhero blockbuster, a romance, a comedy, or any other genre. Chances are, it’s got characters you could describe as villains, heroes, sidekicks, comic relief, love interests, and antiheroes. Even Shakespeare used these archetypes to tell his stories, so it’s worth asking: Who are they?

Heroes save the day and come to the rescue. They often start out as naive or innocent people just living their lives, but are called to take their place as defenders of good when evil arises. It’s not easy being a hero, and they don’t always make it through their own stories, but when the world is in peril, someone has to rise up and fight.

Villains are the heroes’ dark counterparts. Like heroes, they’re typically normal, unremarkable people who become very remarkable indeed. The only difference is that a villain is twisted by their desires, whereas a hero commands and controls their desire. But not all villains are beyond saving, and not all villains are even all that unlikeable. If the hero isn’t careful, the villain steals the show.

Sidekicks are like the grease that keeps the story moving. They don’t always get as much attention as the hero, but the hero would be left to hang high and dry if they didn’t have a sidekick to bail them out of sticky situations. Plus, every hero needs a good friend, a confidant, someone they can trust to listen to their fears and give them the advice and courage they need to pull through.

Comic relief characters bring some much-needed light to otherwise gloomy situations. They’re court jesters or wandering travelers in Shakespeare, dispensing wisdom with a wry smile, and keeping the heroes’ egos in check. Usually, it’s the comic relief characters that make clear the lessons we need to learn, holding up the mirror and showing us where we fit into the stories we enjoy.

Love interests represent everything worth saving in a story. They’re the avatars of romance, family, friends, and all that’s good in the world. Without a love interest to save or to return home to at the end of the journey, the hero wouldn’t exist. But the love interest isn’t just some passive character. Often, it’s the love interest that pulls all the strings and comes in to save the day at the darkest hour.

Antiheroes forge their own paths through a story. They’re not good or evil, or black and white. They have their own missions, and go about them in their own unique ways, challenging the audience to question what they know to be right or wrong. They bend fate, rage against destiny, and show the world that the ending isn’t always predetermined.