COLLECTION NAME:
Graduate Thesis Collection
Record
Title:
Characterizing Evil: Writing Richard Speck in A Night Among the Dead
Creator:
Hannon, Eugenia
Subject:
Thesis (M.F.A.) -- Dramatic Writing
Subject:
Savannah College of Art and Design -- Department of Dramatic Writing
Rights:
Copyright is retained by the authors or artists of items in this collection, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Abstract:
The following paper is intended to illustrate how I developed the antagonist, Richard Speck, in
my thesis screenplay, A Night Among the Dead. My ultimate goal was to write a character that
remained inherently connected with the real Richard Speck—meaning, however evil his actions
were, it was important for me to show that this evil was varied, complex, and altogether human.
My story does not make Richard a victim, nor does it excuse his actions; instead, it serves to
show the depth of pain within the psychopath, and how that pain is capable of transforming a
person. There is no doubt that Richard Speck ended up an evil man—but how did he get there?
That’s where my paper starts. A Night Among the Dead, my screenplay about Richard Speck, is
attached as an appendix.
my thesis screenplay, A Night Among the Dead. My ultimate goal was to write a character that
remained inherently connected with the real Richard Speck—meaning, however evil his actions
were, it was important for me to show that this evil was varied, complex, and altogether human.
My story does not make Richard a victim, nor does it excuse his actions; instead, it serves to
show the depth of pain within the psychopath, and how that pain is capable of transforming a
person. There is no doubt that Richard Speck ended up an evil man—but how did he get there?
That’s where my paper starts. A Night Among the Dead, my screenplay about Richard Speck, is
attached as an appendix.
Abstract:
Keywords: Richard Speck, evil, characterization, screenwriting, antagonist, villian
Publisher:
Savannah, Georgia : Savannah College of Art and Design
Date:
2015-03
Format:
PDF (107 pages)