Bungou Stray Dogs does a marvelous job of blurring the line between “good” and “evil” characters. In this anime, none of the characters are wholly one or the other. There’s always a compromise of sorts…

A former mafia executive can leave his job and change for the better.
A kind old doctor can secretly be the boss of a dangerous organization.
An orphan is killing everyone in his path for the sake of acknowledgement.
A man who works for the mafia never kills and takes care of children.

How about Fitzgerald? Originally presented as a rich white bastard, is only doing it for his wife and daughter… He’s still a bastard but he has reasons.
Lucy wants a home.
John wants to help his family.
Nathaniel wants to save Margaret.

The heroes?
Junichirou is very dangerous once his sister is threatened.
Yosano is a sadist despite being a healer.
Fukuzawa does not hesitate to slice up mafia members.
And Dazai…

Bungou Stray Cats

  • Nyatsushi Nyakajima
  • Osamew Catzai
  • Doppo Kunikitty
  • Ranpo

    Edogameow

  • Akittyko Yosanya

  • Kyoukat Izumeow
  • Junichiro
    Tanyazaki

  • Nyaomi Tanyazaki

  • Kirako Harunya
  • Kenji Meowzawa 
  • Fukittyzawa Yukittchi
  • Ougai Meowri
  • Mewnosuke
    Acatagawa

  • Higuchi Ichi-mew

  • Chuunya Nyakahara
  • Ozaki Kou-mew 
  • Mewrou Hirotsu
  • Tachihara Mew-chizou
  • Mewnosuke
    Gin
  • Mewsaku Yumewno
  • Francis Cat Key Fitzgerald 
  • Meow Twain 
  • Hermew Mewville
  • Margaret Mew-tchell 
  • H. P. Lovecat 
  • Edgar Allan Purr 
  • Lucy Mew Mewntgomery 
  • Nathaniel Hawt-meow 
  • Oda

    Sakittysuke

  • Andre Kitte
  • Fyodor Dosto-meow-sky
  • Acatha Christie
  • Soseski Catsume

thanks to @bandaged-chessmaster and @dazai-agency for half of these!

List of character Abilities

Author’s name – “Ability Name” 「Ability name in original language」(Name of work which inspired the ability, English translation)

Armed Detective Agency

  • Nakajima Atsushi 中島 敦 – “Beast beneath the Moon” 「月下獣」(San Getsu Ki, lit. The Moon Over the Mountain 山月記)
  • Dazai Osamu 太宰 治 – “No Longer Human"「人間失格」(Ningen Shikkaku, lit. Disqualified from being human)
  • Kunikida Doppo 國木田 獨歩 – "Lone Poet” 「獨歩吟客」(Doppo Gin 獨歩吟)
  • Yosano Akiko 與謝野 晶子 – “Thou shalt not Die” 「君死にたもうこと勿れ」(Kimi Shinitamou koto nakare)
  • Edogawa Ranpo 江戶川 乱歩 – “Super Deduction” 「超推理」(not inspired by any specific works because it is not a real ability)
  • Miyazawa Kenji 宮澤 賢治 – “Undefeated by the Rain” 「雨ニモマケズ」(Ame ni mo Makezu)
  • Fukuzawa Yukichi 福澤 諭吉 – “All Men are Equal” 「天は人の上に人を造らず人の下に人を造らず」(Gakumon no Susume, lit. Encouragement of Learning 学問のすゝめ)
  • Tanizaki Junichirou 谷崎 潤一郎 – “Light Snow” 「細雪」(Sasameyuki, official English title: The Makioka Sisters)
  • Naomi 直美 (main female character in Chijin no Ai, lit. A Fool’s Love 痴人の愛, official English title: Naomi – by Tanizaki Junichirou)

Port Mafia

  • Akutagawa Ryunosuke 芥川 龍之介 – “Rashomon” 「羅生門」(Rashomon, lit. City Gate of Rajou)
  • Kajii Motojirou 梶井 基次郎 – “Lemon Bombs” 「檸檬炸彈」(Remon 檸檬)
  • Izumi Kyouka 泉 鏡花 – “Demon Snow” 「夜叉白雪」(Yasha ga Ike, lit. Demon Pond 夜叉ヶ池)
  • Nakahara Chuuya 中原 中也 – “For the Tainted Sorrow"「汚れっちまった悲しみに」(Yogorechimatta kanashimi ni)
  • Hirotsu Ryurou 広津 柳浪 – "Falling Camellia” 「落椿」(Osa Tsubaki)
  • Mori Ougai 森 鷗外 – “Vita Sexualis”
  • Elise (main female character in Maihime, lit. The Dancing Girl 舞姫 – by Mori Ougai)
  • Ozaki Kouyou 尾崎 紅葉 – “Golden Demon” 「金色夜叉」(Konjiki Yasha, alt. translation: The Usurer)
  • Yumeno Kyusaku 夢野 久作 – “Dogra Magra” 「ドグラマグラ」(Dogra Magra)

​Foreign

  • Dame Agatha Christie – “And Then There Were None”
  • Fyodor Dostoevsky – “Crime and Punishment” “Преступлeние и наказaние” (Prestupleniye i nakazaniye)
  • Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald – “The Great Fitzgerald” (The Great Gatsby)
  • Lucy Maud Montgomery – “Anne of Abyssal Red” (Anne of Green Gables)
  • John Steinbeck – “The Grapes of Wrath”
  • Howard Phillips Lovecraft – “The Great Old Ones” (The Call of Cthulhu)
  • Margaret Mitchell – “Gone with the Wind”
  • Nathaniel Hawthorne – “The Scarlet Letter”
  • Louisa May Alcott – “Little Women”
  • Herman Melville – “Moby Dick”
  • Mark Twain – “Huck Finn & Tom Sawyer” (Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; The Adventures of Tom Sawyer)

(source.)