A Rogue By Any Other Name

A Rogue is a Rogue is a Rogue...

I'm a sucker for a good Rogue, dear reader. Whether it's their typical quick wit, biting tongue, or suave grace with which they fuck with their enemies this archetype strikes a chord with my inner goblin. What's more their involvement can only strengthen a good story!

That being said, however, it begs the question: What makes a Rogue?

Hold On We’re Getting There

I'm not talking about a brooding antihero or teen drama edge-lord either. I'm talking about the charismatic, tongue-in-cheek, mischief maker who's out to have a good time (sometimes to the benefit/expense of their immediate friends, family, and any star-crossed souls unfortunate enough to find themselves in the general vicinity when the shenanigans start).

But what separates a true rogue from our classic hero/heroine? What is it about this archetypal character that causes it to endure across centuries of storytelling to appear in every genre under the sun?

First and foremost, I'd say humor. Now I'm not saying other archetypes can't have a humorous tint to their character (some of the best moments in literature are when a serious character cracks off a well-timed pithy retort after all) but a Rogue? A Rogue lives for the perfectly executed punchline. They're artificers of clever dialogue, pranks, and perhaps even some good plot devices at their own expense. The humor they bring brightens a story, adds some levity, some panache, some creative zest to what could otherwise have been a bland, dry narrative.

This humor has the additional benefit of adding a chaotic element to the story where the other characters (and their immediate situation) are rendered in a more realistic light as they are left responding to the ball set in motion by said Rogue. Furthermore such antics should be seen evolving over the previous pages (or chapters) resulting in a cathartic reward for any keen eyed readers who spotted the set up.

In short the rogue's propensity for laughs entertains your reader, make them smile, and keep them on their toes as they never quite know what to expect. Rogues create intrigue and readers like being intrigued. Truly a match made in heaven, no?

But what about when things get “real?”

You Do Now, Homie

Rogues are no stranger to action scenes. Barfights? Battles where the fate of the world hangs in the balance? One may think a Rogue as being unfit for such engagements but in reality the true Rogue is perhaps the most dangerous person your villain should face within your story. Where a warrior would draw their sword to try to hack your villain to bits a Rogue would bait them forward only for them to discover the Rogue had somehow managed to tie their shoelaces together and send them pitching face forward into a tactically placed cowpat.

A Rogue may be able to handle themselves in a fight-nay should be able to with great finesse, deftness, and aplomb- but the point is they often don't have to as they manage to outplay their opponents before they even became aware they were part of the game.

Now that we've established just what makes a good Rogue what are some challenges inherent to writing such a character? Well, firstly you have to make them likeable.

Sounds easy enough, right?

The problem is a Rogue often cracks jokes at the expense of others and if their hijinks are frequent enough it can be difficult to make them less of a tongue-in-cheek prankster and more an irrepressible dickhead your reader can't wait to see get punched in the face.

Secondly, and, arguably, most importantly you have to set up the Rogue's being smart without making anyone else in the story appear to have the intellectual prowess of a rotting toadstool. This should be easy in theory, but (and I'm not trying to be rude here) this most often falls apart due to the author not being quite so clever as they think they are. This is not something that can be taught, but learned, rather from real life experience or experience at writing said scenarios. There is an art to fuckery, dear reader, and there's simply no getting around the fact that one must be an apt student in order to translate such deft skill into the written word.

So how do you counteract this? Well you can play to one simple trait inherent to all Rogues: hubris. The Rogue is self-confident, assured of their success. Use this to take them down a peg from time to time- whether by having other characters be suspicious of their actions or outright catching them as they attempt to set up another ploy. Not only does this deflate your Rogue's head so to speak it also humanizes them. No one is perfect and even the most practiced prankster will fall into a rut every now and again. Having them be called out on it shows the reader that, though the Rogue may be clever they can still fail (increasing tension whenever a trick of theirs involves high stakes) and that those travelling with them can pick up on their habits (showing some camaraderie/bonding as their relationships evolve).

In the end crafting a well rounded Rogue may not be an easy task but it is a rewarding one, dear reader, and one that will only serve to make your story just that much more memorable.

And, hey, isn't that what we're all looking for in a good book?

So, tell me: what are some of your favorite Rogues? Is it Silk? Aladdin? Mat? Someone I've never heard of? Sound off down below or shoot me an email (I'd love to compare notes)