Heroes and Villains.
Binary Opposites
In the mid-20th century, two European academic individuals, Claude Levi Strauss and Roland Barthes, had the important insight that the way we understand certain words depends not so much on any meaning they themselves directly contain, but much more by our understanding of the difference between the word and its 'opposite' or, as they called it 'binary opposite'.
The HeroPhysically strong
Good looking Young(ish) Works with limited help - a buddy and the heroine Has limited weapons Quick thinking Chivalrous Trustworthy Follow a code that preaches loyalty, honour, duty, selflessness and spirituality. This guides their mission or quest. |
The VillainSometimes physically weaker and needs more weapons and back up
Not as good looking (often scarred) Often older Disloyal Selfish Greedy Created suffering by causing war Shares the same quest as hero, such as trying to obtain a valuable artefact, but out of greed or desire for power. |