Last week, I explained what an anti-hero is and why people like them so much. Today I’m going to give you a rundown of the three main types of anti-heroes. I want you to think of these types as a Venn diagram.
A lot of these traits blend well together. These definitions can serve as a basic framework, but don’t let them limit your creativity.
Pragmatic anti-hero
Let’s start with the pragmatic anti-hero. These characters might still follow the hero’s journey. They know right from wrong, but they are realistic and know that sometimes they have to do a bad thing for the greater good. Examples include Sherlock Holmes, Wolverine, and even Harry Potter by the end of the series when he’s using the unforgivable curses and robbing a bank. Most female anti-heroes I read fall under this category.
Hero in name only
Next up, is the hero in name only. These characters have dark actions and get really close to being a villain. Their actions might result in good, but they’re not even that concerned with that, such as Walter White in Breaking Bad. Or, their actions are vile, but they claim to be doing it for the greater good, such as Dexter Morgan in the book Darkly Dreaming Dexter and the TV show Dexter. We still root for them, but maybe we’re a little uncomfortable with their methods.