How to create characters readers will hate
Updated: Aug 20, 2022
In this post, I’ll be going over how to purposely create characters readers will hate and root against. That being said, these are also things to avoid if you don’t want readers to hate a character.
Previously I created a post about how to create characters readers will like. In that post, I discussed Karl Iglesias’s three methods for making a character likable. The simplest way to make readers hate a character is to take those three methods and reverse them.
Some writers have used these methods unintentionally. They created hated characters that were supposed to be liked. The contents of this blog can also be used to craft an antagonistic character. When used together with my previous blog, you can create realistic characters that while liked, have flaws and negative traits. Just as well, you can make a character that is hated but also has redeeming qualities.
Uncaring
To make readers hate a character, make them uncaring, selfish, spoilt, or unemotional. There are different levels to making a character uncaring. Each level makes the character more hateful and monstrous.
Level 1 Ignorance
This level is reserved for characters who don’t care because of their ignorance. They are either unaware of other characters’ suffering or too focused on their own suffering. The stereotypical ‘spoilt rich kid’ falls into this category. Ignorant characters have usually lived comfortable lives. They have maids to care for them or parents that shelter them.
For these characters, their possessions are more important than another character’s life. Readers hate ignorant characters because of their selfish nature. They don’t see other characters’ points of view. How ignorant you make them depends on you.
An example is Dimo Reeves from Attack on Titan season 1. “During the Battle of Trost District, Dimo Reeves was a selfish businessman blocking the inner gate with his cart. He commented that people's lives were not worth half as much as his cart, and ordered them to push. He only relented when his life was threatened by Mikasa Ackerman, not due to any change of heart.” - Attack on Titan Wiki
Many readers and viewers hated Dimo because he valued his possesions more than other people. He was ignorant about the seriousness of the situation and the people risking their lives to help civilians escape.
Character growth
Laying the foundation for character growth is a good way to use ignorant characters.
An ignorant character has room to improve and learn. Even if readers hate them at first, they can becoem liked. Maybe they start rich but lose their money or have to live alone suddenly. This experience can lead them to acknowledge the issues around them and care more about others. They could even be spurred to take action and help someone or something.
As their ignorance fades, so does the hate.
Quick tip
Some of us have accidently created a character who focuses too much on their own problems. As a result, they ignore their friend's issues. This mistake leads readers to hate that character because they seem too selfish.
Level 2 - Toxic Ambitions
Toxic ambition refers to a character who is so goal orientated, that they don't care who they hurt to get what they want. This level is seen in antagonists or villains. They manipulate and destroy the lives of other characters.
They often don’t see a problem with what they are doing as long as they get what they want. This leads readers to hate them, especially when they cause inconvenience for a beloved character. Examples of such characters are Light Yagami from Death Note, Rashta from Remarried Empress, and practically every pirate enemy in One Piece.
Level 2 characters are the cause of pain and torment which is the reason why they are hated. Being ambitious is an admirable trait, and if they weren’t immoral, they might have been liked. Characters with toxic ambitions also make some of the best antagonists. This is because of how they get what they want, it creates the drama and conflict readers crave.
Remarried Empress Example
The pain these characters cause is not always physical. An example is Rashta, the antagonist of Remarried Empress. Rashta creates mental and emotional distress for the protagonist and side characters. Despite her tragic past, many readers hate her. This is because her actions have led the main character to be isolated and wrongfully accused among other things. Everything she does is for the sake of her goal, to live a life of comfort and safety.
Quick tip
This shouldn’t be confused with characters who pretend not to care but actually do. For example, Jotaro from Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure Stardust Crusaders appears like an uncaring character, but in reality, he has risked his life for others. The whole arc is about him risking his life to save his mother.
Level 3 - The Devil Incarnate
The devil incarnate enjoys the pain and suffering of other characters. They are sadistic and usually quite powerful. These characters are also portrayed as antagonists in webcomics or manga. But most often they are a lesser antagonist.
Devil incarnate characters don’t normally grow as a character. They remain cruel and push the protagonist psychologically as well as physically.
Level 3 characters are not always as hated as level 2 characters. I would say characters with toxic ambitions are usually the most hated, while level 4 characters are the most feared.
Examples of characters who are the devil incarnate include Monokuma from Danganronpa, Himiko Toga from My Hero Academy, and Jason from Tokyo Ghoul. These characters either directly cause conflict and pain or watch from the sidelines.
Quick tip
Level 4 and 3 characters are sometimes seen as more attractive because of their uncaring nature. Why? I don’t know. But as I have mentioned in a previous blog, finding a character attractive is not the same as rooting for them.
Level 4 – The Monster
The monster feels nothing. The suffering of other characters or even animals is simply a part of life. They don’t enjoy it, but they don’t think it’s wrong either. If they saw suffering they might watch out of curiosity or ignore it and continue with their life. When they cause suffering, they don’t think it’s a problem, not because they are spoilt, but because ‘it's not a big deal.' They sometimes have no ambition or see suffering as a by-product of their goal.
The anime Monster is what inspired this level as the antagonist, Johan, hurts others but sees nothing of it.
“In this universe of ours, the birth of a new life on some corner of our planet is nothing but a tiny, insignificant flash.”
- Johan
Wamuu
Another example is Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure's Pillar Men. When the Pillar Men awaken, Wamuu walks into a German soldier. Literally, he walks through him, splitting the soldier’s body in the process. From Wamuu’s perspective, the soldier was no different than gum on the road.
Silver Spoon
Karl Iglesias said that when characters go through tragedy or hardship they become liked. The opposite of that is a character who is born with a silver spoon and faced no difficulties. Such a character would have a happy home, friends, money, clothes, and more. Whatever they want comes to them easily. Some creators accidentally create protagonists that are like this. This leads their protagonist to be hated.
Characters who have lived pampered lives won’t always be hated just for that. What usually stirs hate is when that character causes trouble for other characters or is the main character. Readers want the main character to go through hardship and struggle so that they can see them overcome it.
A milder example is when a character doesn’t contribute during a battle, or team competition (e.g sports manga).
Negative traits
The last of Karl Iglesias’ methods for creating likable characters is having admirable traits. However, to make readers hate a character, you can give them negative traits instead. Some examples of negative traits are cowardice, selfishness, disloyalty, egotistical, braggy etc. Similarly, characters who do things that readers consider immoral receive more hate. An example is cheating on a spouse.
Quick tip
An exercise you can try is listing things people did that made you angry. What personality traits do you not like in a person?
Consequences
Whilst doing my research, I noticed that characters and stories can be hated when there are no consequences. What I mean is that, when a character does something terrible, readers expect to see a consequence for that action. Readers want other characters to call them out or for karma to strike. Otherwise, readers will be left frustrated with the story along with hating the character.
Quick tip
A story should not be about the protagonist constantly being mistreated, readers want to see the protagonist fight back. They want to see consequences for the suffering that was caused.
Tip two
However, don't give readers what they want too quickly. Making readers wait for a little builds suspense and anticipation. Rather than showing consequences immediately, you can build up to it.
This depends on your story and character of course. E.g, is your character strong from the start or do they build up strength throughout the story then fight back? Does your character suddenly become rich in chapter one or do they build their wealth and overcome challenges in the story?
Wrath of the fanbase
The quickest way to make readers hate a character is for that character to invoke the wrath of a fanbase. Say there is a character readers love, and that character has a large fanbase. If another character was to insult, injure or even kill the loved character, the fan base would rage. That character would immediately become hated.
This is because of the bond that Karl Iglesias spoke of in his book, Writing for Emotional Impact. When readers like a character they become attached, and a ‘them, us’ mentality is formed. Characters who are kind to the liked character also become liked, while those that aren't become hated.
The 'them, us' mentality is very powerful. The simple act of splitting children into groups can invoke a sense of kinship where it’s them against us. It is what leads groups to conflict and war. This is also the primary reason why Gabbie from Attack on Titan received so much hate.
留言