Well-Intentioned Extremist: Difference between revisions

{{quote|"''The road to hell is paved with good intentions.''"|'''Bernard of Clairvaux'''}}

{{quote|"''Fanaticism consists in redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim.''"|'''George Santayana'''}}

The '''Well-Intentioned Extremist is''' [[Visionary Villain|Aa villaintype whoof hasvillain with an overall goal]] which the heroes [[Evil Virtues|can appreciate in principle]], but whose methods of pursuing said goal (such as mass murder) are [[Don't Shoot the Message|problematic to say the least]]; despite any sympathy they may have with histheir cause, the heroes have no choice but to stop himthem. Taken to extremes, hehethey may fully believe that [[Utopia Justifies the Means]]. Such an idealistic extremist is likely to be either a [[Totalitarian Utilitarian]] or a [[Principles Zealot]], depending on whether he's aiming [[For Happiness]] or [[For Great Justice]]. The most well-written examples of this trope are the kind that the reader/ or viewer stops just short of agreeing with.

Other times, the villain may be out for simple [[Revenge]] against a person or corporation or other entity that has undeniably wronged himthem. Again, the heroes may sympathize with histheir plight, but are obliged to stop him because he cares not who gets in the way of histheir planned revenge. However, the heroes will often investigate the villain's grievance themselves and will complement stopping the villain with taking down the offending party as well.

Either way, it's a common end result of [[Jumping Off the Slippery Slope]]. Their favorite phrase is [[I Did What I Had to Do]]—unless they are also the [[Tautological Templar]] and believe that what they do is good because a good person like them does only good things. They are not afraid to [[My Death Is Just the Beginning|sacrifice themselves for the cause]].

Contrast with [[Necessarily Evil]], where the villain in question has a [[Heel Realization]] and recognizes that he deserves punishment (of course, he may always choose to just [[Ignored Epiphany|Ignore That Epiphany]]). Often [[The Unfettered]]. See also [[A Lighter Shade of Grey]]. A staple trope of the [[Master Computer]] gone mad. If the positive intention is overthrowing an evil government, the Well -Intentioned Extremists will be an example of [[The Revolution Will Not Be Civilized]]. If histheir extremism actually ''succeeds'' in making the world a better place, it's [[The Extremist Was Right]].