Once upon a time, characters were straight forward. The good guys were young knights and princes, beautiful young princesses and innocent children sent to defeat villains who’re evil for evil’s sake. But today, characters are complex. Our spiffy protagonists have serious character flaws while antagonists are often wounded, misunderstood and even sympathized with. Some might argue that this is a reflection of the times we live in, but I believe that characters–like writing–are simply evolving.
Writing often imitates life. And just as people weren’t wholly good or evil, characters are becoming more than paper cutouts on an imaginary stage. Just as people aren’t saints, characters shouldn’t be perfect. They don’t have to be despicable, but by giving them flaws or having them make mistakes they are more believable. And you convey a more realistic story.
A perfect example of this is the protagonist from A Midnight Thief who steals to survive and help those she cares about, suffering under the nobles rule. A desire to change this is what lures her into the Assassin’s Guild where she believes that she’ll be acting as a scout. Her naivety leads her down a dark path that not only threatens herself and those she cares for, but costs the life of the woman who raised her. We all make mistakes, some of which can lead to horrific consequences. It is that basic tenet which makes A Midnight Thief and its protagonist such a compelling story.
Some characters are knights in shining armor, while others have fifty different shades to their personality. Either way, a good character is a believable character and this is the idea that a writer should strive for.
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