What is an Antihero?

Estimated reading time: 8 minutes

We all love heroes, and for good reason. They reflect what we want to see more of in the world. However, an antihero serves as an interesting contrast to the traditional hero we’ve become accustomed to in literature, movies, and TV shows. So, what is an antihero?

In stories, a hero is often depicted as wholly good, brave at the right moment, and favorable among the readers. On the other hand, an antihero has more obvious flaws and their characteristics may impact their choices that may not come across as wholly good or socially acceptable. They resemble regular people, and their character arc may not always go in an upward trajectory.

Famous antihero characters include Erik, the opera ghost from The Phantom of the Opera, Bruce Wayne from Batman comics and movies, Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby, Bojack from Bojack Horseman, Severus Snape from Harry Potter, and Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars series.

These antiheroes exhibit questionable qualities, yet remain as the main character throughout the story. Readers sympathize with an antihero because their flaws speak to their humanity or present a critique of society’s status quo.

Characteristics of an antihero

An antihero exhibits flaws that aren’t always socially acceptable. They have an internal complexity that can make them more dynamic than a conventional hero.

The antihero differs from a traditional hero or a villain because they don’t typically always choose the “wrong” or “right” thing, and their choices can make them less socially acceptable. Here are some examples:

Morally Ambiguous. This brings us out of the black-and-white, right-and-wrong dynamic and shows us more of what is gray. This makes the characters complex: they may make selfish choices — choices that do not serve the greater good but make sense for their own personal objective.

For example, in Phantom of the Opera, Erik loves Christine but does not honor her own free will and choice. In a healthy love, we know this isn’t favorable. However, his anguish, driven by being rejected for his physical appearance and his belief that no one will love him, creates the rationale for his hostile pursuit of Christine.

Unconventional. Antiheroes may not fit into the status quo because of who they are. They may not be muscular, super smart, or endlessly fearless. They may seem rebellious or disprove societal expectations. The non-conformity of their character arc can entice readers and make a statement on what society says is “good.”

Cynical. Your antihero may have a pessimistic outlook or have constant suspicions when things seem to be going their way. This can add character depth when they take the stance that they are justified in their view. This is also a good place to explore their backstory to explain why they may view the world this way. Trauma or an event that was unfair to your antihero can rationalize their cynicism to your reader.

These are only a few examples of characteristics of an antihero. The idea is that their flaws challenge conventional norms and don’t always reflect morally good or socially acceptable qualities.

Three types of antiheroes

You can create a long list of character types that fit the antihero trope, but we’ll focus on three: the classical antihero, the tragic antihero, and the dark antihero.

The classical antihero

One classical antihero is Frodo Baggins from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Heroes are notoriously brave and are willing to take on any task. In Lord of the Rings, Frodo is doubtful and lacks self-confidence. Although good-hearted and noble — distinctly heroic qualities, for sure — he doesn’t want to take the ring to Mordor but feels obligated to do so.

He even falls prey to the ring’s power as the story progresses, becoming obsessed with the ring. This progression shows relatability in the sense that even a hero is vulnerable or might be unable to rise to every occasion but is rather susceptible to being flawed or not impervious to evil.

The tragic antihero

The tragic antihero is the type of hero whose flawed character and personality traits ultimately lead to their downfall. This trope of an antihero is typically associated with a storyline whose purpose is to show a cautionary tale of what happens when certain character flaws get the best of them.

For example, in Scarface, Tony Montana’s disdain for authority and being told what to do, his hot-tempered attitude, and his lack of control lead to poor decision-making and his ultimate downfall. Those character traits lead to his demise, destroying his life and the ones he loves the most

The dark antihero

The dark antihero is a type of antihero who is not “as bad” as the villain. However, they will take heinous acts to further their goals. One difference, or combative line, is the author sometimes will choose a psychological lens to show their actions are for the greater good.

An example of a dark antihero can be found in the novel The Talented Mr. Ripley. A serial killer who poses as a wealthy man and goes to extreme lengths to kill anyone who may expose him for who he is certainly is a dark character.

This is evidence of the thin line between a villain and a dark antihero. They may make the wrong decisions, but do it from the rationale of their internal struggle that lies in some good.

For example, Anakin Skywalker turns to the dark side, believing he can save Padme from all evil. He takes heinous actions and believes that his ends will justify his means.

Both of these examples teeter on the line of a villain; however, the difference is whether they are the main character or protagonist carrying the storyline or whether they are going against another character.

Tips for writing a compelling antihero

The thing about a compelling antihero is that their flaws, the unfavorable choices they make, and their angst or internal trauma are used to explain their actions in a way that makes sense to your reader, even if they wouldn’t be judged as the “right thing to do.”

You must convey a deep understanding of the emotional stakes your character has to endure to make these genuinely flawed characters someone your readers will relate to and even like, despite their choices and actions. Creating a character who serves as an antihero is complicated; you need to provide context for their actions without necessarily excusing them from judgment.

Ask yourself these questions:

What beliefs do they have about themselves that are absolute?

By that we mean: No matter what, even if there’s evidence of the opposite.

An absolute belief in Phantom of the Opera is the Phantom Ghost’s confidence that Christine will in fall love with him no matter what, whether she wants to return his feelings or not.

The Phantom’s pain around his physical appearance leaves him with the belief that no one else will ever love him. His intense fear makes his reasoning absolute (in his mind).

Think of how your character’s fears or thirst for vengeance caused by tragedy or some societal rejection creates their absolute belief in a flawed rationale.

Is my antihero relatable?

The way to make your antihero relatable is to remember that they do not have to show up as perfect. Frodo was afraid throughout his journey to Mordor. He didn’t always rise in picture-perfect moments of bravery. In fact, towards the end of his journey, he succumbed to the power of the ring and flirted with evil.

This makes him more relatable than a hero who never feels fear.

Allowing your characters to respond as flawed humans instead of superheroes will make your antihero more believable and complex.

The more complex a character reads, the more human they become. After all, humans have the capacity to be heroes and their flaws play a role in how they show up in a storyline and plot.

How do their flaws affect the plot line?

Another good tip for writing compelling antiheroes is to remember that, because of their flaws and the mistakes they make, your characters can raise the stakes and build suspense for your readers to imagine whether your hero can complete his mission.

The Phantom Ghost was willing to keep Christine at all costs. Because of his complete disregard for Christine as a full human, this inevitably becomes his downfall.

He ultimately lets Christine go, but his resistance to accepting Christine’s choice was what made her not love him. His actions and beliefs contributed to his not achieving his goal.

Throughout your story, ask yourself, how do my character’s flaws and their absolute beliefs create challenges and hinder their ability to achieve their goals?

Antiheroes are fun to write and force you to create characters with complexity, which leads to gripping storylines.

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Get creative and have fun! If you’re ready to publish a novel with your unique antihero, call one of our publishing specialists at 1-877-961-6878 or check out BookBaby’s self-publishing package on our website.

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