One of the most interesting and thought-provoking quotes I have ever heard comes from an unlikely source. Tom Hiddleston, who plays Thor’s evil brother Loki in the Marvel series, once said in an interview, “Every villain is a hero in his own mind.”
As soon as I read this, I was struck by it. I loved the image it created for me. For the most part, Hiddleston’s quote is accurate. Villains always have a certain level of insanity that we cannot understand, which is what makes them so disgusting and equally intriguing. This perverse ability to see good in their actions is what draws us in to these characters, even if it is to hate every fibre of their being.
In another light, we can view it as that there is always a positive motivation behind evil actions which our brains overlook. Our linear way of thinking eliminates all possibilities that an evil action could have a good outcome for anyone but ourselves. This could be seen as a selfish way to be — however, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, so not all villains can gain their unspoken support from us since their behavior is often unjustifiable.
The implications of the quote are perfect. In Loki’s case, he is constantly ignored and suppressed by his father, who only pays attention to Thor and awards him as the ruler of Asgard. He is also shunned by his people. Because of his jealousy and insanity, he lashes out and attempts to take over Asgard. He believes his brother is unfit to rule, and lets his envy get the better of him until he is convinced that Thor is truly the evil one.
Whenever I ponder the machinations of a character, I will always take Tom Hiddleston’s quote into consideration and see if the villain is actually not as horrible as he seems.
aplanglais 