RE: Give Me An Anti Heroine

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RE: Give Me An Anti Heroine

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holoz0r in Ladies of Hive • 5 days ago

But what of female villains? And are they just the villain because of the perspective of the narrator? Because they antagonise and torment?

The best (and most memorable) female villain I've ever read is in a Jacqueline Carey trilogy. The first book in the series is called Kushiel's Dart.

It is written in the first person, from the perspective of a courtesan / assassin, and the villain, Melisandre is one of the most vile, contemptuous, scheming and ruthless women I've experienced in literature.

Heartless, unrelenting. Probably a lot of male traits in the characters behaviour. It is historical fiction set among an alternate history around the war of the roses, full of intrigue and war, and politics, but it is also entirely fiction and given the protagonist's occupation, it is also visceral, uncomfortable, and constantly visiting the hedonistic pleasures of its vast cast. I'm not making a recommendation, its probably more of a warning, still to this day, Melisandre is such a powerful, brutal character.

5 days ago in Ladies of Hive by holoz0r

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riverflows 4 days ago

Yes! I think that's what I'm trying to say. I remember the villains better, probably because they don't fit the stereotype of what woman 'should' be.

A lot of people read Lady Macbeth as the villain, but they don't look at her motivation, circumstance or indeed history, where woman had little power except their voice.

They are the characters that stick with you, because they are defiantly outside what is expected.

Game of Thrones has a few of those as well.

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holoz0r 4 days ago

Game of Thrones has a few of those as well.

Particularly in the text. The show was trash compared to the text. I still remember feeling absolute hatred and vitriol for one of the characters, but then, by the end of the third? book, understanding why they behaved the way they were, and through their experiences, felt empathy.

I don't want to spoil for any casual readers of your comments section, but a little character. I think you know who I'm talking about.

In terms of other villains, I like when the lines aren't entirely clear at all. One of my favourite TV shows is Babylon 5. The amount of character development that occurs is unfathomable for something that's "just a tv show", and your opinions of characters swings throughout the show, based on their behaviour and interactions. A case can be made for everyone and each of their perspectives.

It has such incredible writing. While the VFX do not hold up today, I've recently started a rewatch (with my friend) - and she, as someone who has never seen it or heard of it prior, is absolutely already reacting in the way I first did when watching it, for all its twists and turns.

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riverflows 4 days ago

I've always wanted to watch B5.... Currently nearly out of shows so maybe I'll add to the list.

Good characters are complex!

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holoz0r 4 days ago

Do it! Add it to the list. If you need DVDs, I WILL mail them to you. (But you'll have to mail them back!)

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riverflows 4 days ago

What is this thing of which you speak, a player of DVD? I am not sure what is DVD, is it from another time?

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holoz0r 4 days ago

They're of the current time. The thing of the past time, I believe, is MAIL.

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