Many writers use templates for writing and plotting. Characterization is no exception. Using character archetypes in writing is one way to deepen the character traits and make them appear more realistic.
On of the main goals in writing is to have the characters be so real that readers will strongly identify wth whether the characters are villains or heroes, the readers need to feel that the characters are real and they can relate to them.
Qualities of the Bad Boy Archetype
The bad boy archetype has the same qualities, whether he is the hero or the villain. Those qualities, depending on how the writer uses them, can endear him to the reader, or make the reader hate him. Either way, the goal of the author is to evoke an emotional reaction from the reader.
The bad boy archetype is intuitive, seeming to be able to read other’s minds and motives. He’s innovative, thinking creatively for solutions to problems. He’s also street savvy and charming. On the darker side, he’s hardened from past bad experiences, he may be bitter or angry, and he is usually a loner.
Bad Boy as Hero
What is it about a bad boy character that makes readers identify with him? Perhaps it’s the recklessness, the fearlessness in the face of danger, or the eschewing of accepted standards of behavior. Whatever the reason, readers love the bad boy hero.
The bad boy hero will strut into a room with a commanding presence. Think of James Dean, the ultimate bad boy. With his sexy swagger and disdain for normal conventions, he and his motorcycle became the poster hung in millions of teenaged girls’ bedrooms.
The bad boy hero can be very charismatic, charming those around him into doing what he wants. He also is smart and brave. As a hero, these qualities are used to protect others. When a character is caught in a dark alley with a monster, the bad boy hero is the one who can kill the monster.
The bad boy archetype is usually a rebel, but that rebelliousness may conceal insecurities or a desire for love. He may rebel against things he sees as unjust, making him a true hero to what is right and good.
Bad Boy as Villain
The bad boy makes the perfect villain. With his attitude that anything goes, he’s unpredictable. He stirs the story plot by doing things that will wreak havoc for the other, more law-abiding characters. Hannibal Lecter would be a perfect example of a bad boy villain.
The bad boy villain will lure unsuspecting characters into danger, and laugh at their discomfort. The writer can use psychological profiling of the villain to show why he acts this way, adding depth and complexity to the story plot.
As a villain, the bad boy archetype is blamed for everything that goes wrong. This may be true, or a writer may use this fact to guide the reader away from suspecting another character of misdeeds.
The bad boy character is always a strong role in a story, often a leader. He is such a versatile character, he can be used in almost any way the writer chooses. However he is used, if he is characterized well, reader will have an immediate love/hate reaction to him. The bad boy will linger in the reader’s memory long after the last page has been read and the book has been closed.
