Does Five Nights at Freddy‘s William Afton Qualify as a "Pure Evil" Villain?

No – while the purple-hued murderer from the hit horror game series commits utterly horrific acts against children, Afton likely does not meet the strict standards to be considered "pure evil" among fictional villains.

As a passionate gamer and content creator, I‘ve analyzed Afton‘s characterization across FNaF games and fan spaces. My verdict: his ambiguous motives, hints of humanity, and exaggerated persona for thrills disqualify this notorious killer from the irredeemable "pure evil" designation.

Defining the Archetypal "Pure Evil" Villain

What exactly constitutes a villain deserving of the "pure evil" label? According to analyses on major villain wikis and forums, the standards are extremely strict:

• **Total lack of morality or conscience** – no empathy, remorse, or restraints whatsoever
• **Kills for pleasure and power, not out of desperation** – their cruelty brings themjoy
• **Completely and utterly irredeemable** – no sympathetic motivations whatsoever
• **Ultimate evil through an in-universe lens** – defined as pure evil by the standards of their fictional world

These rules disqualify villains who kill out of necessity, mental illness, or vengeance. While their actions may still be unjustifiable, they contain shades of gray rather than embodying pure blackness of spirit.

Truly "pure evil" villains are exceptionally rare across fictional media – some of the only unanimous examples include The Joker, Annie Wilkes from Misery, Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter, and Ramsay Bolton from Game of Thrones.

What about William Afton, the murderous Purple Guy from Five Nights at Freddy‘s? Let‘s analyze his cases for and against "pure evil" status.

The Case For: Afton‘s Horrific Crimes

• Over multiple decades, uses the mascot costumes at Freddy Fazbear‘s Pizzeria to lure and violently murder at least 9 children

• Hides victims‘ bodies and evidence of his crimes with ruthlessness

• Indirectly causes his younger son to be fatally bitten by the haunted animatronics

• In later chronology, comes back from the afterlife solely to continue his killing spree

• Targets defenseless victims – who are almost always children – to satisfy his own depraved bloodlust

There is no question that William Afton commits nauseatingly evil acts that intrinsically fulfill a number of "pure evil" qualifications. His horrifying crimes against children certainly paint him as FNaF‘s signature villain.

The Case Against: Hints of Humanity & Sympathetic Motives

However – when analyzing discussions among die-hard FNaF theorists – traces of potential humanity or shades of gray in Afton‘s story may emerge:

• **Killing motivations are left unspecified** – we never know if personal vengeance or corruption factored in
• **Mental stability over decades is unclear** – prolonged contact with hauntings may have warped his mind
• **Originally cared for his family and business** – before his killing spree presumably began
• **Daughter‘s death central to darker turn** – perhaps killed out of misguided revenge

Additionally, the very exaggerated nature of the horror game genre risks caricaturing villains without fully developing multi-dimensional psychologies. While wholly unjustifiable, Afton‘s killing motivations may stem from more than one-dimensional bloodlust.

A Taxonomy of Horror Genre Killers

To provide additional context on evaluating villain "pure evil" status – especially for horror media meant to shock – here is an analysis of common killer archetypes across movies, games, and more:

Analyzing these horror killer archetypes shows why Purple Guy likely falls into the "exaggerated slasher" category rather than the psychopathic bloodlust of human horror like Leatherface. His motives and psyche are left uncertain to create fear of the unknown.

Conclusion: Iconic Evil, But Not Wholly "Pure"

William Afton represents a memorably vile villain that chillingly encapsulates the horror of the Five Nights at Freddy‘s franchise. However, his hinted mental complexities along with the genre‘s exaggerations means Afton ultimately falls short of "pure evil" classification.

As more games expand FNaF‘s lore, perhaps clearer insights into William‘s psychology will emerge. But for now, while thoroughly evil, the notorious Purple Guy contains more shades of gray than purely blackened soul – disqualifying him from "pure evil" designation reserved only for utterly irredeemable and remorseless villains.