Ask AI: Is villain and evil the same thing?

While the terms "villain" and "evil" are often used interchangeably in the context of storytelling or literature, they aren't necessarily the same thing. "Villain" refers to a character in a story, film, or drama who embodies wickedness and commits harmful acts or crimes against the protagonist or other characters. They often serve as an adversary to the hero or protagonist. "Evil," on the other hand, is more of a moral judgement or a concept representing that which is profoundly immoral, wrong, or wicked. It is higher level concept that could be embodied by a person (like a villain), but it can also refer to actions, thoughts, or circumstances. So, while a villain is often characterized as being evil, not all things that are considered evil are villains, as the term "evil" can be applied more broadly. Moreover, in some complex narratives, a villain may not be entirely evil but could have understandable or relatable motives.