A self-assessment about his youth provides the character with an opportunity to say something about his parents, his siblings, his teachers. He can tell us what he lost, gained, ignored, missed, or wasted. Other possible topics include the old neighborhood, the endless optimism of childhood, and prudence vs. adventure. Some quotes: "I was the kind of kid who didn't like to admit she'd lost her faith for fear of hurting God's feelings" (Chris Chase,
How to Be a Movie Star, or a Terrible Beauty Is Born,
1968); "It all seems rosy and romantic to us who were young then, because we will never feel quite so intensely about our surroundings any more" (F. Scott Fitzgerald,
"The Crackup,"
1945); "The first thing you'll probably want to know is ... what my lousy childhood was like ... and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth" (J.D. Salinger,
The Catcher in the Rye,
1951).
When some writers hear the term "character type," they immediately think of stereotype and all the bad connotations that word carries with it. But a character type can be an important starting point for a genuinely well-developed character. A great many writers begin to develop a fictional character while having only a certain type in mind.
An author, for example, may choose to develop a Scrooge-type character for a story; however, while that character may well turn out to be a mean-spirited penny-pincher, he can still be very different from Dickens's Scrooge. One can also create a straightforward and fun-loving Huck Finn type without setting the story on a Mississippi raft. A Captain Bligh-type character might be the chief executive officer of a corporate conglomerate rather than a captain of a ship, with nuances that would give the character a completely separate identity; and the authors of
Mutiny on the Bounty,
Nordhoff and Hall, wouldn't even recognize the connection.
Obviously, a character type becomes a stereotype only when the writer does not have the imagination to build upon the primary layer and provide his character with complexity. A character type, it must be said, serves only as a beginning; it should not be used as an end in itself. It is only meant to provide a broad view. Something far greater lies within the details, trusting the ability of the writer to bring it out.
Here, then, are some so-called types, many of which will be instantly recognizable. They are presented in alphabetical order and briefly explained. As you review the list of possibilities, please remember that a fictional character need not be wholly one type or the other; he or she can be a combination of several.
An inveterate "yes man," even though he may hold a position of power. Bends, gives way, pampers rather than objects. More likely to comply with a request than refuse one. Permits a breach of his authority rather than punish the abuser. Tries to satisfy someone's wishes when he would rather not. Intimate with surrender. Doesn't like to interfere with the wishes of others, even though he is inconvenienced. Gives a nod and a wink when he knows he shouldn't. Does not want to make waves. A spoiler of those who wish to be spoiled. Gives a free hand, plenty of latitude. Often seen leaning over backwards for that person who barges in, or wants something done his or her way, or is insensitive to his needs.
May also be called: appeaser.
Adjectives: acquiescent, agreeable, appeasing, compliant, docile, easygoing, forbearant, gracious, indulgent, lax, lenient, long-suffering, meek, noninterfering, obliging, passive, permissive, placating, submissive, tolerant, unresisting.
Because something was done or not done, attempts to lay blame on a particular person or a group. The motive of the accuser may take on one of many different colors. For example, he may try to shift the blame away from himself and thereby avoid any responsibility. He may, in an act of indignation, accuse another of immoral behavior, or of a lack of professionalism, or of acting illegally, or one of many other things. On the other hand, the accusation may be borne out of spite rather than indignation. In any of the aforementioned situations, impugning the reputation of the innocent is certainly a possibility. Feeds off scapegoats, carving up their innocence with his tongue and finger-pointing.
May also be called: seeker of justice, witch-hunter.
Adjectives: accusing, denunciatory, destructive, discriminatory, exaggerative, imaginative, incriminatory, misinformed, mistaken, recriminatory, retaliatory.
Must have something and is convinced that he cannot do without it. (One who has become hooked on drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol would know the feeling well.) The compulsion sits enthroned in his mind consistently, and all of his other actions dance around it and pay homage; it is his personal predetermination. Deprived of what he has come to depend upon, an alarm goes off in his bones and every joint becomes a battle station. He is a slave of his own blood, a prisoner in his own mind. He is chained to a desire that he would rather not have. His treadmill has no "off" button.
Adjectives: compulsive.
Takes risks. Willing to hazard his well-being, wealth, or reputation to either prove something to himself or to others. His proverb: Nothing ventured, nothing gained. Lets the breaks fall where they may. Attracted to possibilities rather than probabilities. Always seeing how far he can stretch his luck. Never plays it safe, but rather purposely seeks out danger. Bucks the odds. Looks at the unknown and bets that he can beat it. The first to thrust his nose into dark places, cross uncharted waters, to walk the tightrope without a net. Bored by the status quo. Responds quickly to dares, for it is bait that goads him into action.
May also be called: daredevil, fire-eater, gambler, madcap, risk-taker, speculator, trailblazer.
Adjectives: adventurous, audacious, bold, brave, daring, dauntless, fearless, heroic, impetuous, impulsive, intrepid, mettlesome, plucky, spunky, stouthearted, unafraid, undaunted, unfrightened, unshrinking, untimid, valiant, valorous, or venturesome.
With or without good reason, an unalterable foe of at least one other character, and rare would be the writer who would not know that most stories will have one. Indeed, many of the character types listed in this section have the ability to become an Adversary. An Adversary's antagonism toward another may be instinctive, occur as a result of what another character did or did not do, or it may happen as a result of one of several other reasons. The adversary, whether human or not, and as every writer knows, helps to establish the conflict in the story.
May also be called: antagonist, enemy, foe. Adjectives: acrimonious, antagonistic, grudgeful, hostile, inimical, malicious' rancorous, resentful, spiteful, threatening, unfriendly.
Has very little, if any, experience. Still wet behind the ears. Can't yet be trusted with the important stuff. Doesn't know what's up or what's what. Got a lot of learning to do. Green as grass. Tends to put the cart before the horse and can't see an inch beyond his nose. Left alone, he's likely to gum up the works, make a mess of things, put the saddle on the wrong horse. Couldn't maneuver a fish downstream. Desperately needs some on-the-job training. Must be carefully supervised.
May also be called: greenhorn, rookie, rube, yokel.
Adjectives: book-learned, inept, inexperienced, maladroit, raw, unacquainted, unprepared, unqualified, unskillful, untried.
Principally engaged in the exercise of power; comfortable in the use of it and knows what he wants to accomplish with it. May control one person or many. Able to keep others in line. Here is the domineering spouse, the gang leader, the field commander, the labor boss, the chairman of the board, the dictator, or anyone in fact whose word is law. For the authoritarian, instilling fear is not an objective but simply one of several by-products resulting from the position he holds. Has veto power.
To get things done his way, must always have the upper hand. Knows how to exert influence and pull the necessary strings. His word carries weight, and «no" is his favorite. Able to eject, expel, discharge, banish, exile, outlaw, exterminate, or purge. Permits little or no wiggle room. Inflicts punishment. Likes to keep others under his heel, beneath his thumb. Takes pleasure in leading people by the nose or wrapping them around his finger. Prone to seize control, and what he says goes.
If he sets himself up as an expert, he browbeats others with the knowledge he believes is at his command. Professes insight. Wields credentials. Displays documentation. Resents challenges.
May also be called: autocrat, boss, dictator, headmaster, oppressor, puppet master, slave driver, taskmaster, tyrant.
Adjectives: arbitrary, bossy, commanding, demanding, despotic, dictatorial, domineering, exacting, forbidding, forceful, imperious, inflexible, insistent, kinglike, magisterial, monarchial, omnipotent, oppressive, overbearing, powerful, prohibitive, royalistic, ruling, stern, strict, stringent, tough, tyrannical, unpermissive.
Seeks revenge for a wrong he believes he, or someone he knows, has suffered at the hands of another. Attempts to repay the perpetrator in a tit-for-tat manner, or he wants the punishment to be even more severe than the original injustice he, or someone close to him, experienced. Plans his retaliation carefully, or he attacks mindlessly. Dedicated to giving someone his comeuppance, his just deserts, or exactly what's coming to him. Has an overwhelming desire to get back at, to settle an old score. For him, the wound never heals. Able to carry a grudge for a long time without it ever losing its intensity. On a far lesser level, may try to punish someone by pouting and giving him or her the silent treatment.
May also be called: vindicator.
Adjectives: embittered, grudgeful, plotting, punitive, rancorous, retaliatory, retributive, revengeful, vengeful, vindictive.
There is something that he always tries to avoid, something that he wishes to keep his distance.
May be skilled at looking for loopholes, sidestepping, beating retreats, and dodging the so-called bullet. If so, he will show considerable on-the-spot creativity as he deftly circumvents a particular situation while acting as if he is not. He will offer alternatives that allow him to squeak past, and he will have excuses that drip with plausibility. Will know all the avenues of escape and will regularly develop new ones. An expert when it comes to backing out and seeking sanctuary.
Or his avoidance may be characterized as having the strength of mind not to indulge himself in something that unquestionably has a lure, such as alcohol, sweets, rich food, drugs, gambling, etc. Does not give into temptation. May attempt to instill guilt in those who have less self-control.
Adjectives: abstemious, abstinent, ascetic, celibate, elusive, evasive, fasting, puritanical, self-controlled, self-denying, slippery, temperate.
Eaten alive with envy. In the words of Onasander, he is afflicted with the of mind that successful men cause their neighbors." Sucks the thumb of resentment. Gnashes his teeth at the sight of a competitor's prosperity or achievement. Speaks disparagingly of that person who has what he wishes he had.
Adjectives: begrudging, covetous, envious, resentful.
A captive of conviction. Does not permit contradictions. Attaches great weight to someone's utterances or to a particular source of information. Sees mountains of probabilities within a pinhead of evidence. Keeps the faith. Without reservations, accepts something as being true. Self-inflicted with blind enthusiasm. Has "seen the light." For him, it's an open-and-shut case. Feels no need to verify, to question, to double check. Has found the answer for which he has always been looking. Convinced that his country is the best and that it is always right.
May also be called: eat's paw, convert, devotee, disciple, dogmatist, dupe, fanatic, follower, fool, patriot, trusting soul, zealot.
Adjectives: ardent, chauvinistic, cocksure, confident, convinced, devoted, devout, dogmatic, fanatical, nationalistic, overconfident, patriotic, pontificating' positive, reverent, superstitious, sure, trustful, undiscriminating, undoubting' unquestioning, worshipful, zealous.
Spends his life administering to the needs and wants of others. Another's wish is his command. His motto: At your service, sir. Deprives himself so that he will not disappoint others. Tied to another's apron strings. Remains at someone's beck and call. Does what he is told. A doormat, for all intents and purposes. The puppet at the end of the string. Psychologically, he is persistently kow-towing. His freedom can only take place in those precious moments away from his responsibilities, and even then it is suspect. Persistently attempts to ingratiate himself. Utters false compliments and tends to overpraise. Receives his financial support from the very person whom he flatters.
May also be called: apple-polisher, back-scratcher, backslapper, bondman, cajoler, deadbeat, fair-weather flatterer, fawner, flunky, footman, freeloader, gofer, hanger-on, lackey, leech, parasite, serf, servant, slave, softsoaper, sponger, sycophant, truckler, vassal.
Adjectives: acquiescent, capitulative, compliant, deferential, docile, enslaved, fawning, flattering, groveling, ingratiating, mealy-mouthed, meek, ministering, obedient, obeisant, obsequious, passive, pliant, servile, serving, slavish, subdued, subjugated, submissive, subservient, sweet-tongued, sycophantic, toadying, truckling, unctuous.
Says nothing whatsoever of interest. All vestiges of amusement and drama are missing from his verbal reflections and opinions. Those "listeners" who have no way out of their predicament are glued to their chairs by a politeness they wish they had the courage to expunge. He comes close to having the power to render others comatose. Repeats himself. Speaks in a monotone. He approaches tedium's dead center. Turns one minute into ten. In a social gathering he is the proverbial dripping faucet that no one can turn off. It is said that he can bore one stiff or bore one to tears.