Creating Characters (17 page)

blood (hemophobia)

depth (bathophobia)

burial alive (taphephobia)

dogs (cynophobia)

cats (ailurophobia)

falling asleep (hypnophobia)

closed spaces (claustrophobia)

food (sitiophobia)

contamination (mysophobia)

high places (acrophobia)

crossing streets (dromophobia)

light (photophobia)

crowds (demophobia)

lightning (astraphobia)

men (androphobia)

mice (musophobia)

open spaces (agoraphobia)

pain (algophobia)

poison (toxiphobia)

sea (thalassophobia)

sex (genophobia)

snakes (ophidiophobia)

strangers (xenophobia)

syphilis (syphilophobia)

thunder (brontophobia)

water (hydrophobia)

women (gynophobia)

It's not necessary for a writer to be concerned about what a fictional character believes if that belief is not going to add anything important either to the development of the story or to a better understanding of the character himself. Suppose, for example, that a character believes vegetables are healthier than meat. That information is not going to do much more than possibly set up a good joke for another character. Apart from that possibility, it is scarcely worth mentioning, because the author has more important things to do with the plot. If, however, this same character believes that Caucasian gentiles are a superior race, the impact of this belief could be very important. As a result of such a belief, the character may belong to a neo-Nazi group and could be making plans to kill a local Jewish shopkeeper. Serious stuff, in terms of storytelling and character development.

Every writer knows that creating a story populated by interesting characters is a discovery process. The purpose of this chapter (indeed, of all the chapters in this book) is to help you discover as much as you can in the shortest possible time. This chapter will not tell when and how to insert a character's belief, nor what kind of belief should be used. Rather, it simply points the way to areas that are available for your exploration. If you find something that you think fits your character and could possibly help to provide a dimension that you may have otherwise neglected, then this chapter will have been worth your review.

Let's begin by stating the obvious: a writer may provide one of his characters with either a temporary belief or a core belief-or both, for that matter.

A
temporary belief
exists only until it is proven wrong. That doesn't mean the belief cannot be firmly encased within the mind of a character: indeed, anything that is just half believed wouldn't even qualify as a temporary belief. It just means that nothing has come along in the story to shoot the belief down. For instance, Tom can believe Dick murdered Harry, but if he later finds out that John was the killer—poof! Goodbye, belief.

The death of a temporary belief can often be detected when one character says to another, "I find it hard to believe that she could do such a thing." But she did. Scratch one belief.

All temporary beliefs have the potential for creating action. If, for example, a character decides to settle a dispute between two people because he
believes
he has influence over one of them, he may find out not only that he was wrong but that they have also turned their anger upon him. The ensuing comedy could be delicious, as the peacemaker tries to hide from them and the plot takes a different turn altogether.

A
core belief is
something that a character acquires over an extended period of time, and it is always the result of education, either formal or informal. Core beliefs accumulate over a person's lifetime, and in the end they form a makeshift philosophy. Pieced together, they become as unique as a set of fingerprints, for no one else will think about everything in exactly the same way as that particular person. It will be a hodgepodge of such influences as church instruction, the belief of one's mother and father, the things one reads, some public attitudes, and first-hand experience. Moreover, it usually takes a great deal more than a single piece of evidence to make anyone let go of a core belief; indeed, any attempt to dislodge such a belief constitutes a great psychological threat, and a person will usually defend a core belief with considerable vigor.

Whether a belief resides in a person's core or is destined to be only temporary, the reasons can be narrowed down to six:

1.
The character has experienced something.

2.
The character has seen something.

3.
The character has heard something.

4.
The character has read something.

5.
The character has been taught something.

6.
The character has intuitively felt something.

When the writer decides that a character's belief is somehow essential to the story he or she is trying to tell, the nature of the belief may require the writer to make at least one of several different decisions. For example: Is it necessary to explore the roots of the character's belief? Is it the result of a conversion? Is the belief incorrect? If the character finds out he is wrong, will his belief change? In what way do the character's beliefs control him? Does he share his beliefs with others, or does he keep them to himself? Is there anyone in the story who is appalled by what the character believes? Does the character try to convert anyone else to his way of thinking? Finally-and this is very important—is the character truly in possession of this conviction, or is he only serving as a mouthpiece for you, the author?

Now, let's look at some possibilities.

What follows is a brief explanation of some specific philosophies. In trying to fashion a rather loose philosophy for a character you have in mind, you may find something here that fits his nature. You could even use a combination of two or more.

Agnostic
Holds the opinion that nothing in life, including God and the origin of life itself, can be known by man.

Atheist
Convinced that God does not exist. Lacks any true faith. Sometimes called an infidel.

Deist
Believes that God exists, but completely rejects the idea that the Christian scriptures (Bible) are God's revelation.

Dualist
Believes that the universe is neither idealistic nor materialistic, but rather is comprised of mind and matter. A
theological
dualist sees life as a struggle between the forces of good and evil. An
ethical
dualist, however, thinks it is proper to alter one's conduct to satisfy the social group one is in.

Empiricist
Thinks that all knowledge is gained through the senses.

Hedonist
Believes in self-indulgence; permits himself to excessively engage in all pleasures available to him.

Humanist
Believes that man's cultural and practical interests and developments are more important than those that are material or scientific.

Materialist
Places more value on man's earthly interests.

Mystic
Convinced that he is especially in union with God and that he has been given spiritual knowledge, gained through either intuition or meditation. In this capacity he may initiate, or be a rapt witness to, certain occult rites.

Naturalist
Holds the belief that all things occur because of natural causes and that they can be scientifically explained.

Nominalist
Thinks that abstract ideas have no reality and are names only.

Pantheist
Believes that everything that exists, including that which we cannot see such as the boundless journey of our minds—is, in fact, God.

Positivist
Rejects pure speculation. Believes that only well-known facts, including that which can be perceived, represent the only worthwhile knowledge.

Pragmatist
Accepts the reality of intangible ideas and thoughts, and yet measures their worth by their practicality only.

Rationalist
Convinced that elusive truth and knowledge can be gained only through reason, not experience.

Realist
Spurns ideals and accepts only what he knows to be facts; yet he believes that abstract concepts,
e.g.,
love and hate, have an existence that is more real than physical matter.

Supernaturalist
Convinced that a higher power transcends natural law, that events are divinely inspired.

Theist
Feels sure that God is perfect; that He is the Creator and ruler of the universe.

Utilitarian
Believes that the greatest good for most of the people should be the goal, and he leans heavily toward material needs rather than spiritual. In his eyes, usefulness is the great leveler.

Vitalist
Holds that intuition is greater than intellect, and esteems man's inherent creative power. Believes that the beginning of life was not organic or material.

Everyone has an informal philosophy of some sort. It is always nameless and is comprised of convictions that cover a broad range of subjects. An informal philosophy is always in the process of being recreated, with some parts being dropped and new ones added. What follows are several of the categories from which informal philosophies are born. Bear in mind, however, that there is some overlapping—that is, some beliefs will appear in more than one category but possibly under a different name.

Basic Concepts

Based solely upon what the character has observed during his own lifetime, and therefore placing all textbook definitions aside, in what way does the character view courage, cowardice, wisdom, unkindness, nobility, morality, corruption, success, achievement, friendship, justice, injustice, selfishness, beauty, forgiveness, ingratitude, respect, freedom, virtue, vice, wrongdoing, education, love, marriage, a promise, blame, fairness, friendship, change?

Does he have any convictions about the field of business, big or small? For example, does he think the free enterprise system works for everyone or just a minority? Does he believe the businessman must be constantly monitored, lest he take unnecessary advantage of the common man?

Does he believe a parent owes a child anything? If so, what is it? Love? Attention? Lodging? Food on the table? Schooling? Clothes? And where does the obligation end, or does he think it ever does?

What are his convictions regarding work? That no job is too small to do well? That if he doesn't do it, no one else will? That a person is measured by the quality of the job he or she does? That the common man does all the work and the big shots don't do any? Or, like Eliza Doolittle's father in
My
Fair Lady,
does he believe that "with a little bit of luck" the work will be done by someone else?

With respect to the past, does the character believe that one must learn from it? That one can never go home again? That what's done is done, and nothing comes from regret? That the present is far more important?

Regarding the future, does the character believe that one should prepare for it, or is he of the opinion that what will be, will be?

Duty to Oneself

Does the character believe his only responsibility is to look out for himself? That it's a dog-eat-dog world and no one is going to look out for Number One if he doesn't do it? Does he believe that the welfare of others should not be his concern? Is he of the opinion that, to get what he wants, all other things might be sacrificed? Is he convinced that the pursuit of self-gratification should stand at the center of one's thinking?

Duty to Others Does the character believe he is morally obligated to help, protect, and care for others when it is within his power to do so? Does he believe in doing unto others as he would have them do unto him? Does he believe he must value friendships? Keep promises? Be forgiving? Display good manners? Respect opinions different from his own? Be fair in his dealings with others? Tell the truth? Does he think it is incumbent upon him to be an educator when necessary? To provide charity when it is needed? To engage in compromise?

Eternal Questions

What are the character's beliefs regarding God and Satan? How does he feel about creation and evolution? Heaven and Hell? Man's free will or predestination? Reincarnation, ghosts, and angels? Prophecy? Evil spirits? Omens?

What does he believe constitutes a good person—that is, what does the character believe is virtuous? (For example, Plato named justice, temperance, prudence, and fortitude as the four cardinal virtues. To this group the Christian moralists added three more: faith, hope, and charity. Are these the traits your character believes represent moral excellence?)

Does the character believe that the worth of individuals should be measured by what they display in terms of fairness, honesty, sexual purity, kindness, trustworthiness, sense of obligation?

But how about wickedness? Does the character believe that the seven deadly sins, as described in medieval literature, are avarice, sloth, wrath, lust, envy, pride, and gluttony? Does he believe that human vice includes dishonesty? Corruption? Abandonment? Malevolence? What does he believe constitutes an evil person?

Feelings About the Government

What beliefs does he hold regarding the role of government in the lives of people? Without necessarily being a member of a political party, does he align himself with the principles of one of them? Does he believe what is espoused by the conservatives? The liberals? The radicals? Or those who try to stay in the middle of the road?

What does he believe to be good about his government, and what does he think are its bad features? If he believes changes should be made, what are they? Does the character believe in a democracy, a monarchy, a dictatorship, a socialist state, a communist state?

Does he think people should be taxed? Does he think his political system ignores the needs of one class and promotes, as well as protects, the interests of another? Is he of the opinion that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing?