Perfect character?

Question

Describe a "perfect" character. What does he or she look like? How does he or she act? What does he or she vaule?

Answer 1

I don't think that's possible, really. I think the perfect character can change with the views off another person.

Personally, I tend to find that a character with a detailed background is a good start. There should be at least one or two flaws or quirks if not more (ex. One of my characters is rather tall and has back problems). It makes no sense to have an indestructible character, they tend to be more real, hence more 'perfect' in a sense, if there are weaknesses as well. Or phobias.

Also, I find that charracters with a more normal past tend to be more iteresting (you see to many with the "Oh his/her family all died when he/she was very young" tragic pat, and hardly any of a happy past).

To sum it up, I think the best way to get a 'perfect' character would be to make them seem as real as possible. Hard to find those nowadays.

Answer 2

It depends on the definition of 'perfect', and then it splits into different paths from there.

If you're talking about a character who is 'perfect' in the sense that she is good, the most beautiful woman in the world, the smartest person in the world, the richest person in the world who gets everything she wants, then here's a character generator you should see that'll create perfect girls for you.

http://nine.frenchboys.net/marysue.php

If you're talking about the perfect character in the sense that the character fits with your story, I'd say take a look at the story first. Find where your character fits in with each event that takes place. Once you've found that out, you can take a look at what the other characters are like. Depending on what type of story you have, it's all about appealing to your audience.

The character may be a good character, the protagonist, so it's natural for that character to have a sense of honor, or better put a code of honor. That's the base of your 'good' character. As far as looks go, make the image seem like a normal person. Don't make your character the best looking and the smartest and the strongest and the -'est' of everything. Normal people to great things, so give your character one predominant feature, one noticeable but not most noticeable, and make the rest plain.

With honor at your base, your character could be many things. Your character could be quiet and antisocial, but powerful and intelligent. That evens things out, and makes them a perfect character. Your character could be strong and caring, but have an attitude whenever he or she isn't in need of being kind. He or she could be loud and mouthy but would refuse to disrespect elders; refuse to disrespect women; refuse to disrespect men. Remember to keep the characteristics even.

On the same point of 'perfection', there is also the bad guy, the antagonist. Someone may say that protagonist is perfectly created, but to have an equally as perfect antagonist makes the entire story even better because you've given both sides an equal chance, hence providing people with a better image and all the while increasing the enjoyment factor of your story in general. It gives you more to explain, more to write about, more chances to draw people in.

So what would your bad guy be like? Would you make him one of the two the stereotypes? Tall, dark, and handsome? Or ugly, greasy, and tasteless?

The antagonist would need to follow the same structure as the protagonist. Give the character a base to play off of. Once you've got that, start to develop more characteristics that compliment the base as well as draw away from it. Insert the same structure for their looks and play around with their beliefs and actions. Make sure you include the reason for their turning to the dark side. Was it someone they admired who had shown them this life? Did the character come from a family that acted this way or did the character have no family at all?

Whatever you do, you want to make your readers think. When you describe a character, give them enough detail that they can get the picture, but don't overwhelm them so that the picture is too clear. Give them something (meaning the characters actions) that makes them think about the base that character is created from. Remember, you know you've done a good job writing when your audience has to actually think about the character, but you've done an even better job is their views match up with the characters the entire time the story moves along.

Another thing to be careful about. When writing a character, make sure you always have them acting the way you designed them to act. The only time you're allowed to change their inner self or outer self is if something in the character's environment forces them to do so.

You can't ask us to create the character for you, but it doesn't mean you can't ask for a structure to create your character from. Remember, there are many types of perfect and perfection doesn't only apply to people on the good side. What one may see as good may seem wrong to another, but the person who thought the wrong thing was good and the good thing was wrong was simply sticking to her beliefs. People can't always judge what's good or bad until they have details.

Sympathy and empathy are a character's best friend, as well as your audience's. If the audience can understand the background and where each character is coming from, you could have the 'bad' guys seeming good in the eyes of your readers.

Answer 3

I think a "perfect" character would be someone every reader could relate to. But the character shouldnt be perfect. They should have faults, weaknesses, etc.

Answer 4

Read the first part of Faust by Goethe and you get to know the perfect character - Mefistofel.