Writing Would writing about an evil protagonist be acceptable?

[Lost_Paradise]

I want to make a novel where the protagonist is chaotic evil, one where he does whatever his greed, hatred, and lust for destruction drive him to do. He is hot-tempered, vicious, arbitrarily violent, and unpredictable. He is simply out for whatever he can get, he is ruthless and brutal. He is committed to the spread of evil and chaos
Definition of chaotic evil

Will it be acceptable, do people like this stuff or just me?

 

[Napelynn]

You can write whatever you want. I’m pretty sure there’s already protagonists like that.

 

[tiaf]

as long as it doesn't get boring or the protagonist does stupid/unwise things just for the gore/shock effect

I usually like those charas the most in stories, but they are never the main. If you want to make an MC like that, then you need a really unique plot

 

[Lost_Paradise]

as long as it doesn't get boring or the protagonist does stupid/unwise things just for the gore/shock effect

Can u explain, I'm new to this so what would be boring for an evil protagonist

 

[Snusmumriken]

Can u explain, I'm new to this so what would be boring for an evil protagonist

no, you need to ask the question of what would be exciting to the readers to read about the evil protagonist.

It's like asking a question would a brown-haired character work in my story. it could if you make the plot interesting enough. If your story is all about the fact that he has brown hair it would be boring

 

[tiaf]

Can u explain, I'm new to this so what would be boring for an evil protagonist

Evil also needs a goal! Chaotic people also have some reasonableness! I mean, you would get bored if the MC is going around destroying the whole village just because someone looked at him for more than 3 seconds, and that in every chapter. Or if MC kills an innocent passerby just because you want to make him look vicious, arbitrarily violent, and unpredictable.
If MC kills some noble because they were in the way of MC's plan, then I can still accept that. But if MC kills some noble just to rob them and then has the whole nation making his life as a wanted criminal a pain, then I can just wheeze. Bruh, you reap what you sow.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I want to make a novel where the protagonist is chaotic evil, one where he does whatever his greed, hatred, and lust for destruction drive him to do. He is hot-tempered, vicious, arbitrarily violent, and unpredictable. He is simply out for whatever he can get, he is ruthless and brutal. He is committed to the spread of evil and chaos
Definition of chaotic evil

Will it be acceptable, do people like this stuff or just me?

People generally like stuff that is written well. It doesn't matter that much what is an actual genre, theme, and so on. Are you trying to write a story as a hobby? Or as a way to earn money? If it's a hobby, write whatever comes to your head. There are no boundaries(except for the site's guidelines).

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Write what you want to read, and someone else will also love it.

 

[TheTrinary]

Course. You just have to make him relatable or enjoyable in some way. The issue that can occur is when there is a disconnect with the reader. If your reader doesn't want him to succeed then it's all rather frustrating. So you have to answer one simple question:

Why does your reader want your bad guy to keep overcoming obstacles. Just look up an story with anti-heroes for example. It's hard to give specific advice without knowing your story, but always remember to punch up. It's like comedy. If your villian murders poor helpless children that's no fun, but if he murders rich businessmen or kings or something, then there's something there because we dont' typically feel sorry for those types.

 

[Mechaphobic]

I really tried to break away from this trope by basing it on a utopia that was so far into the future. This meant he was prevented from being able to kill anyone, since the universe was basically against him. I have tried to break away from this by using comedy and making everything so convoluted to get around the system in place.

I feel like evil scientists can get away with this more easily, as they can mask it in research. While still revolting, I noticed that human's have this weird psychological reaction where as long as it has an intellectual purpose in a book, it tends to be better received. I'm not sure what causes this, but pure villains are badly rated in books, but Ouroboros Record was able to really pull off a villain in their book as an MC. A lot of it has to do with the MC and how he was the one describing everything. It almost acted to lampshade the atrocities.

 

[Derin_Edala]

Unsympathetic protagonists are a lot harder for readers to get invested in than sympathetic ones.

"Chaotic" protagonists are a lot harder for readers to get invested in than consistent ones.

It can be done, and has been successfully done many times. It's just much harder to do well.