what makes a good villain // Top Ten Tuesday

Villains. 

We love to hate them and sometimes, we hate to love them. But every good story needs at least one good villain. Or two. Or, better yet, a whole cast of nefarious characters. Now THAT is the kind of book that I want to read!

Today I am discussing my top ten favourite villains and what makes them so evil (or not, as the case may be). This is my post for Top Ten Tuesday, the weekly meme hosted by Jana @ That Artsy Reader Girl.

- - -

10. Cruella de Vil from The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith

First up, Cruella de Vil. A tall, intimidating woman with a penchant for fur (the real kind, not faux); even her name, a play on the words cruel and devil, betrays her. Now I must confess, I haven't read  Smith's original story, but Disney's version of the character is simply excellent. Just take a moment to appreciate that outfit: Ms de Vil has got to be the style icon for all villains everywhere.

- - -

9. Captain Hook from Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

Apart from that menacing smile, Disney's interpretation of Captain James Hook is more comedic than scary. On the other hand (excuse the pun), Barrie's original Hook is much darker. He hates Peter Pan so much that he will stop at nothing to see him dead. If any other children happen to get in the way, well, killing them is just part of the fun.

- - -

8. The Queen of Hearts from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

The Queen of Hearts is unstable and unpredictable - that's what makes her scary. One wrong move and it's "OFF WITH HIS HEAD!"

- - -

7. The Snow Queen from The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen

As a child, this story utterly terrified me but I can't quite remember why. Whatever the reason, the Snow Queen's ice-cold heart and her ability to corrupt even the most innocent of children with just a kiss makes her a pretty impressive villain in my books.

- - -

6. Count Olaf from A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket:

Count Olaf is SUCH a great villain. I mean, yes, he terrorises the poor Baudelaire orphans incessantly, but his disguises are hilarious and he always comes up with the most imaginative plans to try to kill them and steal their fortune. Just think of what he could have accomplished if he turned his mind to good and not evil!!

- - -

5. Sauron from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Sauron IS the Lord of the Rings. Entirely obsessed with world domination, he forged the Rings of Power, including the One Ring with which he could control all the other rings and their bearers. Despite his defeat by Isildur in the Second Age (prior to the events of The Lord of the Rings), he again rose in power and as the terrifying Eye of Sauron, was able to exert his influence across the entirety of Middle-earth. Plus he controlled the formidable Nazgûl, the nine horse-riding Ringwraiths who were pretty damn terrifying in their own right.

- - -

4. Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Dolores Umbridge is a sociopath: cruel, power-hungry, and completely devoid of any morals. But what's most terrifying about Umbridge is her apparent innocence. She is short and girlish and was described by Harry as resembling "someone's maiden aunt". Furthermore, she speaks primly and quietly in a childish and high-pitched voice. These qualities disguise her true nature and the contrast only emphasises just how evil she really is.

- - -

3. Mrs Coulter from Northern Lights by Philip Pullman

Marisa Coulter is an ambitious and ruthless woman, not allowing anything to get in the way of her quest for knowledge and political power. She is highly intelligent, and uses this as well as her beautiful appearance to charm and manipulate everyone she meets, including her own daughter. And her golden monkey dæmon? Well, he's just plain cruel.

- - -

2. President Snow from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Coriolanus Snow is that creepy "uncle" that everybody has - you know, the one that's not actually related to you but insists you call him uncle anyway? Except Snow is the tyrannical president of an entire nation, ruling over the Capitol and its districts with an iron fist. He is cruel and manipulative and is more than happy to use the televised deaths of children to remind the people that they are oppressed and that there is absolutely nothing they can do to change that. What a slimeball.

- - -

1. The Night King from A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin

In my opinion, the Night King is the most terrifying villain of them all. Unlike some, his motivations are completely transparent BUT he's immortal and impervious to most weapons, not to mention the commander of the biggest army (of the dead, no less) ever assembled. And, at this stage, we have no idea how the story ends...

- - -

I had so much fun compiling this list and especially loved including all the GIFs! Did I mention any of your favourite villains? Let me know in the comments below and link your TTT post if you have one!

Niamh, xo.