Disney villains are both wicked and iconic in a way that the audience will always remember. Just like our beloved protagonists, these villains have a story to tell – with them as the main characters in their own worlds. Because even as a baddie, they are also just misunderstood.
It is difficult to justify their behaviors and crimes by just looking at their tragedies. They had so much potential to be good, but they chose violence and evilness. Looking at it closely, these Disney villains are far from being one-dimensional. They exhibit complexity more than the protagonists. Here are some of the most popular ones:
Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty)
Everyone thinks Maleficent is the worst of all villains. Imagine cursing a baby to eternal slumber just because she was not invited to the party. But, everyone needs to know that there’s a deeper resentment dwelling in her heart.
She was betrayed by the love of her life. In the 2014 live-action movie, we saw that King Stefan even took her wings away. Nothing is more painful than deceit and treachery from a loved one.
Gaston (Beauty And The Beast)
Gaston may be the most annoying character in Beauty and the Beast because of his arrogance and narcissism. He wanted to make Belle his wife because he knows he deserved her. In the end, he did not get the girl, and he did not become the hero of the movie.
Is it possible that Gaston only wanted to save the village from a serious threat? His principles may be crooked, but of all people, he was the one brave enough to face a monstrous beast.
Lady Tremaine (Cinderella)
She is known as the evil stepmother of Cinderella. Lady Tremaine punished the orphaned girl to a life of servitude which makes her the villain of the story. But, is she just as miserable as the poor princess?
Lady Tremaine was born in upper-class society, and when her first husband died, she had to marry again to sustain her two daughters. But, the second husband also died and left her in huge debt. This tragic event certainly made her ruthless.
Scar (The Lion King)
Scar is Mufasa’s brother in The Lion King, and he has always wanted the throne since childhood. However, he was a weakling, and he did not have the ability to rule. This left him bitter about his brother’s position.
The birth of Simba threatened him even more. He was so greedy that he tricked his nephew and eventually murdered his brother. His misfortune since birth and the succeeding events caused him to act on his anger.
Hades (Hercules)
He is the Greek god of the underworld and is often regarded as the villain in every myth retelling. Hades is always portrayed as the god who wants to overthrow Zeus. But, did he really want that?
Hades hated his job and he believes he deserved better. There is so much prejudice and unjust treatment to his character, and that is why he is always shunned by mortals as well as his fellow Olympian gods.
