Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Evil Male Characters in Drama?
#1Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 1:03am
I have been wracking my brain, and I cannot come up with a list of truly evil male characters. Perhaps the list of truly evil female character is short, too. Does anyone have any suggestions of characters I'm overlooking?
From my point of view, Danforth from "The Crucible" is not a true villain, because he truly believes what he's doing is right. That's not someone with evil intent.
I would think of Regina from "The Little Foxes" (as played by Bette Davis in the film, at least) as being a bascially evil character - not a trace of kindness or compassion seeps out of her. That's the basic idea.
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bobs3
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/8/12
#2Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 3:40am
Iago.
“What makes Iago evil? Some people ask. I never ask.”
Joan Didion, PLAY IT AS IT LAYS
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#2Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 4:55amAre you limiting the question to non-musicals? Because I would say in Sweeney Todd both Judge Turpin and the Beadle are pretty downright evil characters.
#3Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 1:06pm
Tennessee Williams has some great evil male characters.
Jabe in Orpheus Descending shoots his wife and then blames her lover and gets the townspeople to burn him to death.
Boss Finley in Sweet Bird of Youth.
Queen of the Night
Featured Actor Joined: 6/12/07
#4Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 2:22pm
This is familiar to me from the opera, but as it is based on a play, I would add Baron Vitellio Scarpia from Sardou's "La Tosca". He's pretty vile and he knows it and likes it that way.
Of course, Iago was the first person I thought of. He is evil incarnate.
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#5Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 3:07pmI would also add Aaron the Moor from Titus Andronicus. He has little motivation other than his love of committing evil acts. He persuades Chiron and Demetrius to kill Bassianus in order to "woo" (i.e. rape) Lavinia. He is the false messenger who persuades Titus to cut off his hand to save his sons after being framed for the murder of Bassianus, when in reality he knew that it would not save them. Upon his execution his one regret is that he did not commit more evil acts during his life. Now that is evil.
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#6Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 3:37pm
others from Shakespeare: Richard III, King John, Don John, Cornwall, Edmund
Updated On: 2/16/13 at 03:37 PM
#7Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 3:44pmDeathtrap
Art has a double face, of expression and illusion.
#8Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 4:56pm
Mephistopheles in Faust and the equivalent character in nearly every adaption of the Faust legend including Applegate in Damn Yankees.
Dracula.
Sweeney Todd. Until Christopher Bond gave him a sympathetic backstory in the 1970's (the basis for Sondheim's version), Todd had since the Victorian age traditionally been played as a demonic, bloodthirsty madman. His most famous early 20th century interpreter, Tod Slaughter, specialized in such roles during his later career.
Simon Legree in Uncle Tom's Cabin. Although the "evil villain" became a stock character in 19th century melodrama, UTC was originally considered a realistic depiction of slavery.
#9Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 5:28pm
Macbeth, certainly Macbeth counts.
Dr. Frankenstein (he only tries to play God and then abandons his creation)
Uncle Peck in HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE (Maybe...)
Lestat (from LESTAT)
Creon (from ANTIGONE)
Laius (from OEDIPUS REX)
A lot of times, I think "evil" males are kind of seen as protagonists or given a reason to be "evil," so we may not think of them as truly evil. But they are malevolent none-the-less. Or they are minor roles...
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#10Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 6:03pmI don't know how far from the source it veered, not being overly familiar with the show, but in every novel after Interview with the Vampire Anne rice went out of her way to show that Lestat was not evil, Louis was just giving a skewed account without realizing Lestat's true motivations. Even events from the first book are given a new spin in the later novels, particularly The Vampire Lestat.
#11Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 6:05pmI didn't see LESTAT either... I guess because of Interview, I always think of him as extremely malevolent.
lenstersf
Stand-by Joined: 6/14/12
#13Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 6:35pmKarl Linder from RAISIN IN THE SUN/CLYBOURNE PARK
blaxx
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/28/05
#14Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 6:42pm
Deathtrap
Greedy to the extreme, maybe. But not evil.
Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE
#16Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 7:02pmI was going to mention someone specific to this board. Jordan... I love your selection. from RC in Austin, Texas
"Noel [Coward] and I were in Paris once. Adjoining rooms, of course. One night, I felt mischievous, so I knocked on Noel's door, and he asked, 'Who is it?' I lowered my voice and said 'Hotel detective. Have you got a gentleman in your room?' He answered, 'Just a minute, I'll ask him.'" (Beatrice Lillie)
#17Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 9:39pmI've read and seen a lot of theater and I don't know if anyone is intently evil. Lady Macbeth, maybe, but only in her ambition. The characters listed here all have good intentions. They don't know they're evil.
#18Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 9:50pmThe Picture of Dorian Gray has been dramatized. Does that count?
Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$
Wynbish
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/27/12
#19Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 9:52pmI'm sure there are parts in more melodramatic material or stories that are not as deep. Sheriff of Nottingham, for some reason, comes to mind.
Wynbish
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/27/12
#21Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 10:04pm
^ That is a good one. Even when he was a boy, he would torment Mortimer
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#22Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 11:31pmMacheath and Peachum in The Beggar's Opera aka Threepenny Opera
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
#23Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/16/13 at 11:55pmI don't think Macbeth is evil. His lady, maybe, but not him.
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Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#24Evil Male Characters in Drama?
Posted: 2/17/13 at 12:09amWhat about the Emcee in Cabaret? I guess he's open to interpretation.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
