Sauron in 'Lord of the Rings' is evil because he wants to enslave all of Middle - earth. His power is so great that it corrupts those around him. He creates a sense of hopelessness and fear among the free peoples of Middle - earth, and his very existence is a threat to all life and beauty in that world.
One of the most evil fictional characters is Voldemort from the 'Harry Potter' series. He is a dark wizard who has no regard for human life, murdering countless people in his quest for power and immortality. His actions, like the killing of Harry Potter's parents, are truly heinous.
The Joker's insanity is what makes him stand out. He doesn't follow the normal rules of good and evil. His actions are completely unpredictable. He could be laughing one moment and killing the next. This makes him a very different kind of evil compared to more traditional villains, and thus highly memorable in the world of fiction.
The Joker from Batman comics is also a well - known fictional villain. He is a chaotic and unpredictable character. He delights in causing pain and suffering, not for any grand scheme of world domination like the others, but just for the pure 'fun' of it. He has committed countless murders and acts of terrorism in Gotham City, always challenging Batman and testing the limits of the city's sanity.
Well, for some like Iago in 'Othello', it's their manipulation. Iago plants false ideas in Othello's head, leading to tragic outcomes. He's cunning and uses people's weaknesses against them. That's what makes him one of the worst. He has no real reason for his actions other than his own twisted envy.
The complexity of their evilness. Hannibal Lecter in 'The Silence of the Lambs' is not just a simple killer. He's highly intelligent, cultured, and yet has this dark side where he can be extremely cruel. His ability to manipulate those around him while being locked up in prison adds to his memorable nature.
If a villain enjoys inflicting pain and suffering on others without any remorse, they can be seen as extremely evil. Hannibal Lecter from 'The Silence of the Lambs' not only kills people but also eats them. He takes pleasure in the horror he causes, which is what makes him so terrifyingly evil.
One factor is their motivation. If their motivation is purely self - centered and involves harming others on a large scale, they can be seen as very evil. Take Darth Vader from 'Star Wars' for instance. He was initially lured to the dark side by the promise of power, and in the process, he committed many atrocities, like destroying entire planets. However, his character also has some complexity as he later redeemed himself, but during his time as a Sith Lord, he was a symbol of great evil. Another aspect is their methods. Characters who use cruel and sadistic methods to achieve their goals are often regarded as evil. The White Witch from 'The Chronicles of Narnia' froze Narnia in eternal winter and turned many of its inhabitants to stone, showing her extreme cruelty.
Well, for some like Superman, it's his physical abilities. He was born on Krypton where the gravity is much stronger, which gives him super strength on Earth. His ability to fly and his heat vision make him a formidable force. He's also very durable, able to withstand a lot of damage.
Power combined with a lack of morality. For example, if a powerful alien race in science fiction uses its advanced technology to enslave weaker races just for fun or to gain more resources without any ethical consideration. That's pure evil. They could be doing it on a large scale, across galaxies perhaps, and not care about the suffering they cause.
Well, a character that is the most evil in fiction often has a goal that is inherently wrong and harmful. Like the White Witch in 'The Chronicles of Narnia'. She wants to keep Narnia in an eternal winter and kill all the Narnians who oppose her. Her actions are cold - blooded and her heart is filled with hatred. They also don't show any mercy or remorse for their actions. No matter how much pain and suffering they cause, they just keep on with their evil plans without a second thought.