tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966097532659996793.post5025265115241600207..comments2023-11-02T08:39:45.816-04:00Comments on En Violet: Character Flaws -- How Much Do We Need Them?Kelsey (Dominique) Ridgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10646757546422013401noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966097532659996793.post-35776777652112901152009-07-04T13:50:43.185-04:002009-07-04T13:50:43.185-04:00Thank you for this post. Justus's post made me...Thank you for this post. Justus's post made me think a bit about this too. I agree that some characters are just plain good. But if they are your main protagonist, they do need to have some sort of flaw or something to overcome. I think I say that because for a story to be satisfactory to me, I need to see growth in the main characters. <br /><br />I don't think good = no flaws. My main character is a pretty great guy, but he's made some mistakes, and he might make some more. But I don't see those as huge tragic flaws. He's just human and complex, as fairyhedgehog says. I like the term complex instead of flawed. It's a great way to look at it.Michelle D. Argylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09696465137285587646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966097532659996793.post-3686900752437565822009-07-04T04:33:39.473-04:002009-07-04T04:33:39.473-04:00I suppose I don't think in terms of good point...I suppose I don't think in terms of good points and flaws, in real life or in fiction. It's more a case of complexity and I'd have trouble believing in a fictional character who didn't show some complexity. I'm not sure how that translates into the traditional "need some flaws" way of looking at characters.fairyhedgehoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14141089706966852951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7966097532659996793.post-64676167490855565492009-07-03T21:32:47.013-04:002009-07-03T21:32:47.013-04:00Honestly, I've always been irritated by the &q...Honestly, I've always been irritated by the "tragic flaw" concept. The idea that a hero is actually an anti-hero or that a villain is just misunderstood. <br /><br />I don't agree that characters should be cookie cutters of stereotypes because that is unrealistic. I do think, however, that a character can be dynamic without having some traumatic past or fatal flaw (ex. alcoholism, drug addiction, depression etc.)<br /> <br />Some characters are normal and that is the way it is...without the addictions, traumas, etc. It's ok because it is a reflection of real life too. Not everyone is going to experience major drama in their life, but everyone will face day to day struggles. <br /><br />I believe that the same can be applied to characters in a story. What makes a character interesting (in my opinion) are the struggles that are presented to him and how he handles them. People are looking at characters and are curious as to what decisions they'll make given the circumstances: Will the honest and frank woman tell her best friend that she saw her husband with another woman? Will the righteous leader risk the lives of some for the lives of millions? <br /><br />I believe it is the struggles that a character is presented with is what drives a story.shield maidenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03758091283778981848noreply@blogger.com