Favorite Character Flaws?

[Boneman]

I kinda like obsession... Ultimately, Roland Deschain will sacrifice anyone, and it ain't pretty, but it makes for a great character, because we understand. Alongside that he has honour, so the obsession is a flaw that perhaps he shouldn't have, but does. Kvothe Arliden is a slower burner, but still has the same obsession, for revenge, this time.(I know that's arguable, but it's how I read it!) He's much nicer (sic) because he can't help helping others. Pilot-Major John Blackthorne because, despite seemingly insurmountable odds, he, as a character, wins through. He's obsessed with getting his ship back, getting home, and even at the very end, he still has it, and nothing is going to stop him achieving it. (Which is why there should be a sequel!!)

 

[alchemate]

[/QUOTE]

I've read this a few times now, and still don't understand.

What I am saying about empathy is that it can be a double-edged sword, I'll give an example: The Dark Knight Rises movie shows how Batman's desire to help and trust people led him to be deceived by Catwoman, and Miranda. But when Catwoman saw he still wanted to help her, she saved his life. It's almost like saying being empatheic leads to trouble, conflict, and betrayal, but if you hold onto your empathy, if you keep believing in people, you will find someone you can trust. Double-edged sword. Boom. Who else is with me here?

 

[tinkerdan]

I think the only problem here is trying to pass it off as a flaw. There are many instances of things like this that are not flaws but are good character traits that can be twisted by other people when they know this of another person but that in itself does not create a flaw.

What I am saying about empathy is that it can be a double-edged sword, I'll give an example: The Dark Knight Rises movie shows how Batman's desire to help and trust people led him to be deceived by Catwoman, and Miranda. But when Catwoman saw he still wanted to help her, she saved his life. It's almost like saying being empatheic leads to trouble, conflict, and betrayal, but if you hold onto your empathy, if you keep believing in people, you will find someone you can trust. Double-edged sword. Boom. Who else is with me here?

The flaw might be the person who takes advantage of a person who is empathetic. And it might show up to them as a strength which though beginning to sound like your double edged notion is just a method of dissembling the fact that they are the one flawed.

By the reasoning you give we could say that love, friendship, loyalty and determination can all be double edge swords and become flaws. Eventually we'd have to concede that all characters are flawed no mater whether the writer was trying to demonstrate the flaw or not.

 

[hopewrites]

I'll grant that too much of anything misapplied counts as a flaw. Though usually these flaws make us look deeper into the character that presents them to find out why they were misapplied or applied in excess, and name that as the flaw and return the misplaced virtue to a virtuous standing.
I think this is because we are inherently uncomfortable with the idea that our strengths could become our weaknesses, and therefor guard strengths from perceived weakness.

But that's just me.

 

[SevenStars]

I like the cowards and the weasels who come good in the end. Can't really name you any off the top of my head, though.

Me too, me too

Hint..........read Christopher Brookmyre the master of Tartan Noir, fab characters like this

 

[Mouse]

Me too, me too

Hint..........read Christopher Brookmyre the master of Tartan Noir, fab characters like this

Looking on Amazon now...

 

[alchemate]

I think this is because we are inherently uncomfortable with the idea that our strengths could become our weaknesses, and therefor guard strengths from perceived weakness.

Yeah, and this gives the hero a reason to be stubborn, because he knows there is something good to be taken out of his flaw. This also gives the characters surrounding the hero a reason to TRY and continue believing in him, because they know there's something good to be taken out of his flaw too.

 

[alchemate]

The flaw might be the person who takes advantage of a person who is empathetic. And it might show up to them as a strength which though beginning to sound like your double edged notion is just a method of dissembling the fact that they are the one flawed.

I can agree with this, but you could also say the hero is flawed for continuing to be empathetic to a bad influence.

 

[Abernovo]

Me too, me too

Hint..........read Christopher Brookmyre the master of Tartan Noir, fab characters like this

Yes, he's a great writer for flawed, real, characters - often in unreal situations.

I like characters who are trying to become human, even if they technically already are.

I have a penchant for characters on a journey, especially those that are lost and struggling. I know I've commented on this character before, but Alex Hergensheimer in Robert A Heinlein's Job: A Comedy of Justice is a great one. He starts extremely self-righteous*, pompous and judgmental, but through events that rock his perception of the world becomes a different, better person.

Another one might be Georgina Kincaid in Richelle Mead's Succubus books.

Perhaps one for Hope's taste.