Creating Characters (3 page)
Free of anxiety.
Not nibbled to his wishbone by life's incessant disturbances.
In the presence ofdanger, brings all thoughts and feelings under his strict command.
Feels superior to the storms that gather to rage upon him.
Sits above the fray like a bored monarch.
Related Traits:
Aggravated, agitated, aroused, choleric, confused, disquieted, distraught, disturbed, excitable, flustered, fuming, high-strung, inflamed, nervous, perturbed, quick-tempered, stormy, tense, troubled, unstable, upset.
Character Possibilities:
Consistently buffeted by life's ill winds, some of which may be of his own making. In the grip of a restlessness or uneasiness that he is unable to identify. Feels his emotions being pulled in different directions. His mind seems halved and then quartered by conflicting obligations. His burdens bump into one another, each demanding more of his attention than he knows how to allow.
He is at the vortex of all things gone wrong.
His temper has a hair-trigger.
Related Traits: Connected, emotional, homesick, longing, nostalgic, romantic, wistful, yearning.
Character Possibilities: Harbors an affectionate image of something or someone that may, in fact, be far from what is true. Aches for another time,
e.g.
the "good ol' days," and perhaps another place, such as the neighborhood in which he grew up. Prone to romanticize about something and, in turn, possibly give it far more value than it deserves. As time provides distance between him and that which he remembers fondly, his idealization becomes crisper, stronger, and more unrealistic. His collection of things that remind him of the past are the roads that let him travel backwards through time.
Related Traits: Disconnected, indifferent, realistic, unemotional, unromantic.
Character Possibilities:
Finds no value in romanticizing the past.
Exclusively interested in what the future holds rather than what has been lost within years that are irretrievable.
Prone to remember people and things as they
were
rather than idealize them over time.
Refrains from raising things to the level where they suck the tears out of one's affections.
Related Traits:
Attached, caring, cherishing, compassionate, constant, cordial, dedicated, devoted, doting, enamored, faithful, fond, loyal, lovelorn loving, maternal, nurturing, paternal, protective, regardful, sheltering, solicitous, tender, treasuring, true, true-blue, warm.
Character Possibilities: Feels a soft, delicate connection with someone or something. Desires to shield another from harm. Wraps his thoughts around another as if they were a snowsuit. Smiles at the music which another soul makes. A massager of hearts, and would wag his tail if he could.
Related Traits:
Angry, antagonistic, averse, begrudging, choleric, cold, cool, distant, enraged, fuming, furious, hate-filled, hostile, ill-disposed, incensed, indignant, inflamed, infuriated, inimical, irate, irritated, mad, opposed, removed, sore, uncaring, unfeeling, unfriendly, uninterested, unprotective, venomous, vindictive, virulent, wrathful.
Character Possibilities:
Feels a deep antagonism toward at least one person.
His aversion to another has deep roots.
Stands opposed, the reason being clear or unclear to him.
Dislikes someone because that person has something that he wishes belonged to him.
His negative attitude toward another is sharp and is born out of some real or imagined injustice he believes he has suffered at the hands of that person some time ago.
Does not want to be anywhere near a particular individual.
Feels extreme hostility toward someone, and he would like to harm that person if he could do it without anyone finding out.
Takes the view that someone's actions are contrary to what he sees as the socially correct thing to do.
Cannot let go of a painful memory.
Has an ongoing desire to consistently annoy and exasperate someone.
Houses an anger that is not only long-lasting but is also moments away from erupting. His animosity is such that he feels no pity for a certain individual when he learns of his or her misfortune; indeed, he is pleased. Unable to feel any warmth toward a certain individual, possibly because there is nothing about that person that really interests him.
Related Traits:
Appeased, blissful, buoyant, carefree, cheerful, chipper, comfortable, complacent, contented, delighted, entranced, ecstatic, elated, exhilarated, exultant, gay, glad, gleeful, gratified, high-spirited, jaunty, jolly, joyful, jubilant, lighthearted, lightsome, merry, mirthful, mollified, overjoyed, pacified, placated, pleased, relaxed, relieved, rewarded, sanguine, satisfied, self-satisfied, serene, smug, sunny, transported, triumphant, unconcerned, untroubled, vindicated.
Character Possibilities:
Relatively free of worry and troubles.
His desires have been realized and life's prospects seem to give him reason to be optimistic. Has the insight to appreciate and enjoy practically everything that he encounters. Has suddenly, and possibly unexpectedly, become the recipient of prosperity's blessing. Has gained peace of mind because someone has either granted concessions or given in to his demands.
Has been freed of suffering.
His spirit has been uplifted by a feeling of joy and hope.
Pleased with himself and does not ponder the possibility that there may be room for improvement. Satisfied with the way things are and has no anxieties to nag him. Has received the apology or payments that he believes is due him. His spirit seems to have wings. Has been cleared of all accusations, and others wait for his forgiveness. His anger has been attended to by others, and they have erased it through their words or action.
All his concerns, which have laid heavy upon him, have slipped away like a school of fish.
Carried away on the shoulders of blind delight.
Related Traits:
Abashed, agitated, anguished, annoyed, anxious, apprehensive, bewildered, bored, bothered, careworn, concerned, confounded, confused, crushed, daunted, defeated, dejected, depressed, desolate, despairing, despondent, disaffected, disappointed, discomposed, discontented, discouraged, disheartened, disgusted, displeased, disquieted, dissatisfied, doleful, dour, downcast, embarrassed, exasperated, fearful, fretful, frustrated, gloomy, glum, grief-stricken, heart-broken, heavy-hearted, humiliated, hurt, insecure, irritated, low-spirited, melancholic, miserable, mortified, morose, mortified, mournful, offended, restless, sad, shamed, somber, sorrowful, staid, subdued, sulky, sullen, tormented, troubled, uncomfortable, vexed, worried, wretched.
Character Possibilities: Has reached a point where his life is missing one or more key elements, thus darkening his spirit and possibly crippling his will. Unhappiness arises out of a sense of inferiority, as a result of comparing himself with those who seemingly have more.
Feels surrounded by dilemmas, which poke at him.
Pained by what he has said or done.
Has seen an unfortunate part of his nature suddenly exposed, which he is not proud of and would rather have kept hidden. His thoughts are in a turbulent state, with perhaps two or more of them colliding.
Something in the past endlessly eats away at him.
Someone keeps doing something, or something continues to occur, which in turn bites deeply into his nerves. Cannot help but speculate about what tomorrow might bring, and the prospects make him fearful rather than hopeful. The monotony makes him feel as though his life is a road too often traveled.
Shoulders a great weight of worries and troubles, unable to cast any aside.
Has reached a point where losing seems to be his destiny.
Feels he has no friends and that he has been cast adrift from the world.
Believes there is not one molecule of hope to which he can cling.
Has become frustrated in his bid to accomplish something.
Something or someone has not lived up to his expectations.
In the throes of a dissatisfaction that is not only accumulative but elusive.
Believes that someone or something is regularly thwarting his desires.
Overcome by the suffocating loss of someone he liked or loved.
Has suffered a great psychological wound as a result of what someone has said or done to him.
Greatly dissatisfied with the world in general.
His discontent is mixed with resentment.
Related Traits:
Admirable, chaste, chivalrous, commendable, conscientious, constant, correct, decent, dependable, dignified, dutiful, duty-bound, elevated, equitable, estimable, ethical, evenhanded, excellent, exemplary, faithful, faultless, fine, good, high-minded, honest, illustrious, incorruptible, just, knightly, laudable, lofty, loyal, meritorious, moralistic, noble-minded, praiseworthy, princely, principled, proper, pure, puritanical, respectful, righteous, right-minded, scrupulous, staunch, steadfast, sublime, superior, true, truehearted, trustworthy, truth-loving, undefiled, unimpeachable, unspoiled, upright, upstanding, veracious, virtuous, wholesome, worthy.
Character Possibilities:
Has a splendid moral constitution and is careful not to disobey its tenets.
His attitude with respect to others glistens with idealism and it far exceeds that of the great majority.
Has a keen sense of right and wrong, and places a high value on doing right; indeed, his sense of duty prompts him to align his action with the principles that regularly guide him.
Does not waver in his aim to stand by others when he is needed.
Filled with a strong need to do what is expected of him.
Strives to treat others fairly.
Believes he should try to fulfill any promises or obligations he makes.
Not tempted to do something that would benefit himself at the expense of others. Religiously maintains his impartiality in an effort to do what is reasonable and proper in relation to others. Will not curtail his friendship with someone based upon what he hears or because the relationship may be socially restrictive.
Has been exposed to temptation but has not succumbed to it.
Lives by a code of conduct that most would consider worthy.
Careful to regard the rights of others before taking action.
Respects the wounds that others carry and refrains from aggravating them. Places truth on a pedestal.
Related Traits:
Amoral, base, brutish, contemptible, corrupt, corruptible, crooked, debauched, deceitful, despicable, dishonest, disloyal, false, false-hearted, guileful, ignoble, immoral, improper, impure, indecent, knavish, loose, low-minded, mean-spirited, mercenary, perfidious, petty, promiscuous, scheming, sinister, traitorous, treacherous, undependable, underhanded, unethical, unfaithful, unjust, unprincipled, unscrupulous, untrustworthy, venal, wanton, wicked.
Character Possibilities:
Sense of right and wrong is so lacking that his soul is deprived of grace.
Has no inner quality that sparkles.
Instincts are better compared to the animal world.
Believes his own wants and needs should supersede those of others.
His "code of conduct" is always self-serving and does not take anyone else into consideration. Has a willful disregard for authority, whether it is God's or the government's. Sees truth as something expendable and will reshape even the smallest fact to better serve his greater purpose.
Ruled by his loins instead of by reason.
Sits smiling upon an aggregation of unborn deceits.
His allegiance is a sickly thing that suffers relapses.
Finds amusement in toying with the unsuspecting.
To him, justice must accompany convenience.
Sells his services to the highest bidder.
Related Traits: Clement, considerate, empathetic, humane, lenient, merciful, softhearted, sympathetic, tender-hearted.
Character Possibilities:
When witnessing the misfortune of others, has the capacity to feel pity, perhaps because he can imagine their misery or possibly because he knows from his own experience.
Does not even want the meanest thing alive to suffer. To prevent needless pain, would attempt to reduce the punishment of a guilty person—given the opportunity. Has tears for every sad thing that has happened and will happen.
Related Traits:
Callous, case-hardened, hardened, hard-hearted, heartless, inconsiderate, insensitive, merciless, pitiless, stone-hearted, thick-skinned, unfeeling, unsympathetic.
Character Possibilities: Cannot muster sympathy for any living thing that endures pain and suffering. Not even the harshest treatment of another living thing is able to penetrate his emotional austerity.
Has the power to reduce the suffering of others, but sees no reason to use it.
Has been exposed to man's wickedness for so long that his feelings are encased in a hard shell, and he is no longer able to see or respond to those instances when compassion is required.
Related Traits: Conciliatory, generous, indulgent, unresentful, unrevengeful.
Character Possibilities:
Unable to sustain a grudge toward someone.
Excuses the wrongs committed against him.
Believes it is self-destructive to render punishment for injuries suffered.
Feels that it is not within his power to pass judgment and that he must overlook the sins of others, even though they might have been directed against himself. Would much rather make up than tear down.
Related Traits:
Acrimonious, bitter, embittered, envenomed, grudgeful, implacable, rancorous, resentful, retaliatory, retributive, revengeful, spiteful, unappeasable, vindictive.
Character Possibilities: In the grip of strong displeasure, owing to a wrong he believes has been committed against himself or someone else. Not only is he unable to forgive a transgression but feels compelled to answer it with some degree of punishment of his own.