Can Characters be Jerks?

Many people complain when reading novels that the main character is a jerk, or has some other negative quality that is otherwise a turn-off.

In the story I am currently writing, the main character is extremely selfish, rude, and acts like, well, a jerk! However, even though he is the protagonist, his role in the story is one of a villain character.

So, we all know bad guys can be jerks, but can bad guys who are the main characters still be jerks? Is there a certain level of sympathy required for them to have these negative qualities, or is it possible for a character to be downright evil?

I'm kind of curious to how people categorize good and bad characters. If you have any thoughts on the subject, I'd like to know

Well as many may know my favorite Naruto Character is Kabuto. I love him because he is a bad guy for no reason. This in my opinion makes him phenomenal. I think that it's perfection and that a character can be evil for no reason and be beautifully so.

Kabuto is also very hated.

But the Joker from Batman 2 is also a perfect example of a character that is evil just because and does it splendidly.

quater wrote:Well as many may know my favorite Naruto Character is Kabuto. I love him because he is a bad guy for no reason. This in my opinion makes him phenomenal. I think that it's perfection and that a character can be evil for no reason and be beautifully so.

Kabuto is also very hated.

But the Joker from Batman 2 is also a perfect example of a character that is evil just because and does it splendidly.

Okay.

It's odd how when we learn to create characters we're normally told that we should be able to 'sympathize' and 'identify with' characters, even the evil ones. But there are certain characters, like psychopathic serial killers that, well, it's kind of hard to place a reader in that person's shoes. Because it's hard to understand the workings of a mind, when that person probably doesn't even have a good reason themselves for their actions or behaviors. Maybe that's just one opinion, though.

Aichu wrote:

quater wrote:Well as many may know my favorite Naruto Character is Kabuto. I love him because he is a bad guy for no reason. This in my opinion makes him phenomenal. I think that it's perfection and that a character can be evil for no reason and be beautifully so.

Kabuto is also very hated.

But the Joker from Batman 2 is also a perfect example of a character that is evil just because and does it splendidly.

Okay.

It's odd how when we learn to create characters we're normally told that we should be able to 'sympathize' and 'identify with' characters, even the evil ones. But there are certain characters, like psychopathic serial killers that, well, it's kind of hard to place a reader in that person's shoes. Because it's hard to understand the workings of a mind, when that person probably doesn't even have a good reason themselves for their actions or behaviors. Maybe that's just one opinion, though.

...I was agreeing with you that evil characters can be done.

Sheesh.

Personally the whole "Put yourself in the character's shoes" is in my uttermost opinion just something schools do to teach 'Tolerance' and that are meant for attacking the ideas of morals and absolutes (See your black and white thread) and make people water down their personal morals. Nothing more then a real ploy at making us try and understand everyone to the point that we give up on their being true evil and good in the world.

Which is why the Joker was such a good example because he did things 'Just to watch the world burn'.

You can do evil characters like this.

But they have to have some tangible characteristic that makes it worth it.

They should be psychopathic but awesomely so that they are really interesting (The joker)

Or just so intelligent that it keeps you hooked to them (Kabuto)

Or have something else about them that makes them alluring and interesting.

Otherwise you are just reading a story about a mean person who does mean things. Most people prefer to view life more optimistically and not be deppressed.

Gaaaaah sorry I rant. A lot >_>

Thanks, though, you're post is helpful.

I rant more then you so hush now. I was just watching you ignore my post and was like -_- ouch.

It's really the same with jerk characters or Good characters. You can't have someone just always be a good person to the point that they are unrealistically so. They have to have some tangible quality, or at least a struggle somewhere with something otherwise they exit the logical world and just become a figment like Satan (not that he is good I went back to villainry) and once they reach that point it turns ugly.

They can be evil, just the evil needs some reasoning or be done in a way that is interesting.

I agree with allot that your saying but I think To like a character the reader hast to be able to relate even if its in the tiniest smallest amount ever. That's why you have people who love characters and others who hate them. because every person's experiences in life are different you have people who can understand a character and others who cant.

For example a person who maybe grew up in a traumatic household would probably relate best with and like a character that has a more deep and dark history. A characters upbringing or past might largely differ from the reader's as well but they both know all to well the feeling of loss or whatever.

Lets take Sasuke his clan was destroyed when he was just a child and he set out on a path of revenge. now someone like me I have never experienced that kind of loss but when I was around the same age he was my parents divorced and in a way i lost my dad. So I can relate to Sasuke because I know that kind of loss. Maybe it wasn't as traumatic but I can still relate to the character in that way. then you take Sasuke's will for revenge. To me revenge is stupid and I don't understand the need for "revenge" so I'm not going to be able to relate to Sasuke's feelings of revenge and dislike that aspect of his character.

did that make any sense -_-

other quality in a good character are the depth of a character. You give me a story with the same basic funny guy, quiet guy, and led man then for get it. I like a story with substance with character that are incredibly smart like in Death note omg you dont get much background to the characters but their brilliance and the constant mind battle between L and light is what makes a story and interesting and characters love able.

and I think i have rambled on long enough

That's a lot of what I said...So I think sayomi agreed with me.

quater wrote:Well as many may know my favorite Naruto Character is Kabuto. I love him because he is a bad guy for no reason. This in my opinion makes him phenomenal. I think that it's perfection and that a character can be evil for no reason and be beautifully so.

Kabuto is also very hated.

But the Joker from Batman 2 is also a perfect example of a character that is evil just because and does it splendidly.

don't u mean gaybuto?

darkflame wrote:

quater wrote:Well as many may know my favorite Naruto Character is Kabuto. I love him because he is a bad guy for no reason. This in my opinion makes him phenomenal. I think that it's perfection and that a character can be evil for no reason and be beautifully so.

Kabuto is also very hated.

But the Joker from Batman 2 is also a perfect example of a character that is evil just because and does it splendidly.

don't u mean gaybuto?

no, there exists no such character

amaterasu wrote:

darkflame wrote:

quater wrote:Well as many may know my favorite Naruto Character is Kabuto. I love him because he is a bad guy for no reason. This in my opinion makes him phenomenal. I think that it's perfection and that a character can be evil for no reason and be beautifully so.

Kabuto is also very hated.

But the Joker from Batman 2 is also a perfect example of a character that is evil just because and does it splendidly.

don't u mean gaybuto?

no, there exists no such character

thats wht i call kabuto

Real funny Dark Flamer. Har.

i didn't insult u Q

Nobody insults the Kabuto Fanclub! <--(No! That is not the redcross, silly)

kabuto sucks ok, he is GAY

T_T

Way to ruin the topic, DF.

darkflame wrote:

quater wrote:Well as many may know my favorite Naruto Character is Kabuto. I love him because he is a bad guy for no reason. This in my opinion makes him phenomenal. I think that it's perfection and that a character can be evil for no reason and be beautifully so.

Kabuto is also very hated.

But the Joker from Batman 2 is also a perfect example of a character that is evil just because and does it splendidly.

don't u mean gaybuto?

gaybuto omg I love it ....

You guys haven't read the Kabuto theory have you? -_-

Sayomi Hatake wrote:

darkflame wrote:

quater wrote:Well as many may know my favorite Naruto Character is Kabuto. I love him because he is a bad guy for no reason. This in my opinion makes him phenomenal. I think that it's perfection and that a character can be evil for no reason and be beautifully so.

Kabuto is also very hated.

But the Joker from Batman 2 is also a perfect example of a character that is evil just because and does it splendidly.

don't u mean gaybuto?

gaybuto omg I love it ....

Nooooo...
Don't encourage him! The detonator has been pushed! Kababam

Titaniumxvx wrote:

Sayomi Hatake wrote:

darkflame wrote:

quater wrote:Well as many may know my favorite Naruto Character is Kabuto. I love him because he is a bad guy for no reason. This in my opinion makes him phenomenal. I think that it's perfection and that a character can be evil for no reason and be beautifully so.

Kabuto is also very hated.

But the Joker from Batman 2 is also a perfect example of a character that is evil just because and does it splendidly.

don't u mean gaybuto?

gaybuto omg I love it ....

Nooooo...
Don't encourage him! The detonator has been pushed! Kababam

.... what ... ????

death-chan wrote:You guys haven't read the Kabuto theory have you? -_-

what kabuto theory?

Aichu wrote:

death-chan wrote:You guys haven't read the Kabuto theory have you? -_-

what kabuto theory?

Kazekage's.

I looked but there wasn't anything in that post really :P Unless I'm completely missing it.

But anyways, Kabuto is cool <3

My Really long post....And there was nothing in it....

Are you kidding me?