The most villainous villain

A friend remarked the other day that she thought Rigaud/Blandois in Little Dorrit was the most evil of all Dickens's villains. That got me thinking. If I had to choose, I think I'd probably give Bill Sikes that title. The man is sheer brutality; I can't find one redeeming feature in him.

Of course, I reserve the right to change my mind in the future, because there are an awful lot of villains to choose from!

What do you think? Who's the most evil Dickens villain, and why?

Comments

[Nevra liz]

For me, It is Madam DeFarge and David's step-dad and his sister from David Copperfield.

[birdienl]

Judging by the books I've read so far (Christmas Carol, Pickwick Papers, Little Dorrit, Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations) I would indeed choose Rigaud/Blandois. He's maybe not sheer brutality, but he's false and sneeky next to evil and drags other people with him in his evil plans.

[birdienl]

Oh wait, I also read David Copperfield....

[Marian]

Mr. and Mrs. Squeers are the ones that disturb me the most. Pecksniff is pretty abominable, too, but I don't think he's quite as evil as the Squeers.

[angela Frank]

I think Squeers and his wife are dreadful! They enjoy abusing kids! How sick is that? Plus, their greedy!

[Charity]

Tulkinghorn -- who was mean without cause; he didn't even seem to do it for selfish reasons; he just enjoyed being cruel to people.

[Michael]

Mr. Bramble, the board and all the "philosophers"...petty, evil, abusive, cruel and self righteous, not just cruel, but destroying children "for their own good".

[Ed]

I think Daniel Quilp was the most despicable of the lot (The Curiosity Shop)

[Willie O'Kane]

Without doubt, the most thoroughly bad character in all Dickens' work is Bill Sykes. He may not have a great deal of social or political clout but he was a brutal and cold-blooded villain for sure.