The folly of the incurious mind
Part 7 - Importance of good villains
If it was not for Raavan or Shakuni, would we have a reason to celebrate the greatness of Ram or Krishna.
A great villain brings out the best in the protagonist by presenting a seemingly insurmountable challenge. Of course, the protagonist eventually scales it down and transforms into the hero of the story.
We don't have to look at epics for the same story to play out. From Mogambo & Mr. India, Gabbar & Jay-Veeru to Avengers & Thanos, some of the most iconic characters in the movies have been epic villains and/or heroes dueling with them.
So, that leaves 2 ways to attain undying memorability - become a hero or become a villain. [Batman/Nolan fans can be excused for thinking "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a villain"]
However, if you ponder carefully, a protagonist becomes a hero once a villain provides a challenge. So, there is an external trigger for him to act.
A villain is self-motivated for whatever reasons, but is intrinsically launched into action.
Many philosophers and thinkers will come to testify through their works that the best motivation and inspiration to attain greatness comes from within .
It is also almost given that with enough passage of time, someone will explore Rashomon effect to plead a compelling case for the villains.
So, as a young ambitious person, who dreams to have a lasting impression of him/her on the world, how should one approach life - seek an external motivation (aka wait for something unsettling and correct it) or simply follow your heart (with a risk of turning into a villain sooner or later).