Prompts from March 10, 2013, Meeting - Part 1

There was a small group at this week's meeting due to the beginning of March Break. Therefore we had time for two different types of prompts. I will post them in two separate blog posts. Here is the first prompt (provided by Marilyn):

Creating a well rounded antagonist.

The exercise here is to write a character sketch of an antagonist. It is very easy to make your antagonist an evil person with no redeeming features (you only have to look at some of the blockbuster Hollywood movies - complete with all the explosions and car crashes and blowing up of all and sundry) to see what I mean.

But there are some very compelling antagonists as well.

1. If you saw it, remember Frank Langella as Dracula (hot and steamy and very, very delicious).
2. Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs - remember he had a real soft spot for Jody Foster.
3. The colonel in Bridge on the River Kwai - apparently cruel but admired courage when he perceived it.
4. Even Gollum in Lord of the Rings had moments when he remembered and acted upon his better nature.

So choose any one of the following characters and draw a character sketch that depicts them as an obvious antagonist, but with redeeming qualities. If the sex is not identified, you can make them any sex you wish. A good idea would also be to name the person. The character sketch should include family background information, work information, psychological insight, physical description, education, etc.

A Roman Emperor
A Major in a South American army
A Russian spy
A CIA operative
A female wrestler
An alien from Arcturus
A cannibal from the deeply forested areas of the islands of the Pacific
A government official (senator, elected representative, or your choice - also your choice of country)
A blackjack dealer
A fisherman
A hunter

Please give this exercise a go and feel free to share it on this blog.