You can read Part I here!

The Uninhibited

If there is just one thing that I learned from working in prison, it was that there are many who have no filter, no inhibitions or impulse control.

They are reactive. They have little care for the consequences of their actions. It can make for some great storytelling.

In many ways the prisoners and their actions can be considered representative of what it is we stop ourselves from doing, what we try to control—when they don’t.

And no this is not a glorification of the criminal. It’s an observation.

There’re always two sides. And exploring this side, this uninhibited, impulsive, and sometimes repulsive side for ourselves, can enlighten us to the other traits we may not have considered. It can also show us how we might act in a situation that is much less than ideal. How easily we could become criminal under the right pressure.

Does that define you as a Villain? Is that just human nature, although it’s something you might be jailed for, convicted for? Or does what you do after that dictate whether you are a Villain or not?

Perceptions

What makes a Villain evil? What is evil? Are Villains evil or is evil an entity on its own? An act? Is it a perception—something we have gathered together to call evil?

It became obvious fast that the perceptions of some of those incarcerated was sometimes in great contrast to what has commonly been considered right or wrong, good or bad.

Despite these perceptions, despite motives and actions, the prisoners seemed to believe they were right in their convictions. That their actions were justified.

In many instances, being able to defy what society accepts as appropriate, decent, righteous behaviour, what the law dictates, was what made them a Hero to others, despite the fact that they were convicted criminals.

So although they had been branded the Villain, or at the very least a petty criminal, by the law, in their own minds (and I’m being general here) what they did wasn’t wrong. What they did was sometimes a reaction to the events of their lives. They weren’t responsible—it was everyone else that was evil and at fault. Their only real crime was being caught, and now they were taking the rap.

They were the victim. The law was the Villain.

Their actions were usually considered admirable. And in the more extreme cases, crimes like murder were totally justifiable, for reasons that would be incomprehensible to many of us.

So what makes someone a Villain then? Is this a role that might change as the world evolves? What exactly are the traits of a Villain, and who dictates where the line is that must not be crossed?

Is a Villian just someone who believes strongly in something, stands by their convictions and takes action? Desptie what the perceptions of right and wrong are? Or are they intrinsically evil?

How do we define it?

Shawshank Redemption:

Andy Dufresne: What about you? What are you in here for?
Red: Murder, same as you.
Andy Dufresne: Innocent?
Red: [shakes his head] Only guilty man in Shawshank.
Andy Dufresne: Maybe it’s time for you to switch careers.
Tommy Williams: Huh?
Andy Dufresne: What I mean is, you don’t seem to be a very good thief, maybe you should try something else.
Tommy Williams: Yeah, well, what the hell do you know about it, Capone? What are you in for?
Andy Dufresne: Me? My lawyer fucked me. Everybody’s innocent in here. Didn’t you know that?

Things are never really black and white. There are always lines to be crossed and blurred, different paths to take. Your perceptions, or even the lesser of two evils, can come into play at any moment.

But how to do you choose what is right or wrong, when things aren’t so cut and dry? With so many shades of grey, how can you be sure the path you take is the correct one? How easily could you fall into the role of the Villain without even realising it?

To be continued…

[Watch out for the final part of this series next week!]