Here’s to the Villains: The Best of the Worst in Children’s Literature

We may boo them, wish for their demise, and gasp in horror at their latest evil deeds, but deep down, we love the villains. These dastardly baddies are some of the most memorable characters in all of children’s literature — despite their nefarious motives and questionable intent.

In fact, that’s why we like them. They breathe life into our darkest desire to be rotten, to do what is unacceptable, to pursue only our own interests. The antiheroes allow children (and adults) to imagine doing things we could never do in real life — which is both exhilarating and frightening. Villains are also often funny or shocking or flip, which can make us like them, in spite of ourselves.

But villains also serve an important purpose. They help children learn to cope with the idea of unfairness and injustice in the world. Their existence permits us to talk about making good choices and being selfless instead of selfish. They can help children process frustration, loss, anger, and fear. They’re indispensible. And, to be fair, they always get the best lines:

“I’ll get you my pretty, and your little dog too!” – The Wicked Witch of the West

“All the better to eat you with, my dear.” – The Big Bad Wolf

“Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies.” – Lord Voldemort

Everyone has their favorite villains, although my list of baddies may be longer than most.

The Doggedly Determined

For pesky persistence, look no further than Count Olaf from A Series of Unfortunate Events. That man will stop at nothing to ruin the Baudelaire orphans’ lives. Speaking of ruining lives, what did a girl in a red cape and a few pigs ever do to The Big Bad Wolf? That guy is always hungry.

The Truly Nasty

The award for nastiness? I think we have a tie. The White Witch in Narnia is fabulously nasty and devious, offering up Turkish Delight and empty promises with equal ease.

But then there’s the Wicked Witch of the West, who poisons a field of flowers and makes monkeys fly. These ladies give witches a bad name.

The Mean Mommies

And let’s not forget the host of wicked stepmothers who litter the fairy tale landscape. Cinderella, Snow White, and Hansel and Gretel are lucky to be alive, given their fathers’ unfortunate taste in second wives. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, stepmothers get a bad rap.

The Laser-Focused

For sheer single-mindedness, I admire monomaniacal villains like Cruella de Vil and her perverse fascination with making fur coats out of puppies and Shere Khan and his feline focus on eating the young Mowgli.

The Worst of the Worst

But the true victors in villainy go to the truly terrifying, dark, and horrible creatures that occupy nightmares. Characters like Lord Voldemort with his splintered soul, Sauron with his monsterous eye, and Mrs. Coulter with her toxic malice are pure evil. They lack even the hope of redemption, and that’s what makes them unforgettable.

Who are your favorite villains and who would you nominate as the worst of the worst? Chime in below and tell us who we’ve forgotten.