I Want More! The Insatiable Villain in Children's Literature and Young Adults' Fiction

Abstract

In children s literature and young adults fiction, the villains, males more often than females, recurrently find their places within the stereotypical black and white pattern; they symbolize pure evil. For that reason, their love for cruelty and destruction is extraordinarily developed: Most of the time, they are cruel for cruelness sake. Their behaviour helps them to achieve their ultimate goals, which is to get as much power as they possibly can. Even if they are the mightiest people in their world, they always struggle to keep their position, and they always try to increase their amount of power-they are insatiable. A prime example is the White Witch from C. S. Lewis ' Narnia series, who has a whole world under her thumb. Another villain is Lord Voldemort from J. K. Rowling ' s Harry Potter series. He creates an atmosphere of fear, terror and destruction, and thus strengthens his powerful status. Another outstanding example is Philip Pullman, who also portrays malicious forces: In His Dark Materials, the Church is craving more and more power and consequently committing unforgivable crimes. Countless other villains haunt children s literature and young adults fiction. By being excessively cruel and brutal, they set counter examples to socially accepted behaviour. Furthermore, their actions determine the hero ' s development. The more atrocious the villain is, the braver the hero has to be. The heroes stretch themselves to overcome their archenemies. Without the villains, the protagonists would not grow to their full capacities and develop their extraordinary strengths. Without the villains, the books would not be as captivating as they are. A good hero needs a ‘good ' villain. © Inter-Disciplinary Press 2011.