: Re: Dangers of being sympathetic to the killer I wrote a piece of flash fiction as a mental exercise. I happened to listen to Glen Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade,” and happened to watch an

@Shelley992

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It depends on what you are trying to achieve. The popular, traditional structure of novels is becoming tired in a more informed world. It is not until recently that villains have enjoyed a comprehensive POV. Villains are bad period. Whether it be witches, dragons, Injuns, Germans, Commies, Aliens - they are all bad and their evil needs no explanation. In that spirit, killers kill - who cares why?

Vigilante killers are often given motives (Death Wish, The Equalizer). Dexter is perhaps the most beloved serial killer of all time.

Our tribalism, patriotism, and racism also affect our view of killing. Kidnap our hero's daughter and he can murder an entire tribe in pursuit of her safe return without losing his hero status.

More progressive, comprehensive storytelling demands the writer advocate for both sides, a "trial" in effect. The suspense is created manipulating the reader's empthy between characters as the story unfolds.

Life is not so simple as literature would like it to be. If we view the same story: half of America will view Donald Trump as the hero and Hillary Clinton as the villain, the other half - vice-versa.

Amadeus said, "Once your villain has killed a room full of innocent dancing teenagers (sexualized or not), IMO, by "real world rules", they are irredeemable. Nothing they can do will make up for those lost and ruined lives."

A skilled writer can advocate for the villain: who sent the villain to war at the age of 18 to witness and take part in the darkest of atrocities? Who, knowing the villain's mind wasn't right allowed him back into society?

Many stories go beyond the simple notion good vs evil. Is Hannibal Lector really a villain? Who is to blame for unleashing the Terminator?

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