Does character come from contradictions?

Question

It's an old principle of creative fiction - but does it hold good in real life too, do you think?

Answer 1

Hhhhmmm....character from perserverance, I would agree. Character from contradictions? don't really see it in Real Life

Example.... you have "character" because you survived the Nazi Death Camps. (Perserver actually). Was it because you loved life and the Nazis hated life? Or because because they told you it was for your own good?

Nope...don't see contradictions contributing to much more than an interesting court case.

Answer 2

True contradictions might not be as common as commonly believed. Having true contradictions in a personality is the basis for a diagnosis of mental illness, and in that context and regard, character may be involved.
A person who is only Republican on odd days of the month and a Democrat the rest of the time might develop some character in defending their opinions, but would considered by most as simply a nut case.
A person who is afraid to get on an airplane and happens to work as an Air Traffic Controller would be plausible, and not necessarily a contradiction, but similarly might build character.
Mostly, when a person lives contradictions, they are considered to be a character, whether they have character or not.

Answer 3

First, contradiction may sometimes spring from character issues/questions, but character surely does not come from contradiction... unless you are talking experiences that were contradicting that may have helped develop character of some sort!!!
In literature one tries to create a feeling of reality by developing complex characters that are as messed up as most of us are... it can be attained by making them somehow contradicting.
This makes the characters seem real, because sometimes the not so closely observed complexities of life can cause people to have very contradicting ideas on somewhat related issues! We see a good example of that in political polling almost very other day!

Answer 4

It doesn't hold for me. People who are confusing, conflicted and full of contradictions are too much work to have any type of relationship with. I nod politely and keep my distance.

Some people prefer to be alone, so some of the contradictions are not necessarily accidental.

Answer 5

Character comes from a set of personal values that you adhere to and practice daily,
such kindness/caring/helping/
listening. Always trying to make things better than worse. Being a person others can depend on.

Answer 6

Character probaly comes from some other kind of innate internal characteristics we have but contradictions hone and build your character further.

Answer 7

Yes.

I will not make this difficult anymore because it is much easier when simply put.

In a number line, what makes the number 0 to have the character of a "zero"? Answer: Because it is not 1. Because it is not negative 1. Because it is not 0.9. Because it is not negative 0.9. Because it is not 0.000009. Because it is not negative 0.000009. Because it is not 0.00000001. Because it is not negative 0.00000001. And so on.

Contradictions create limits. Limits create character.

Answer 8

I think a contradiction can build character.

Answer 9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erick_Erickson

According to Erickson, all human development is the tension between opposites and antithetical qualities in experience. The opposite for this true is this false, but that does not make them unreal or non-existent but contradictory.


'Erikson lists eight stages of development, spanning the entire lifespan. Each of Erikson's stages of psychosocial development are marked by a conflict, for which successful resolution will result in a favourable outcome, for example, trust vs. mistrust, and by an important event that this conflict resolves itself around, for example, weaning.

Stage One Oral-Sensory: from birth to one, trust vs. mistrust, feeding;
Stage Two Muscular-Anal: 1-3 years, autonomy vs. shame, toilet training;
Stage Three Locomotor: 3-6 years, initiative vs. inadequacy, independence;
Stage Four Latency: 6-12 years, industry vs. inferiority, school;
Stage Five Adolescence: 12-18 years, identity vs. confusion, peer relationships;
Stage Six Young Adulthood: 18-40 years, intimacy vs. isolation, love relationships;
Stage Seven Middle Adulthood: 40-65 years, generativity vs. stagnation, parenting;
Stage Eight Maturity: 65 years until death, integrity vs. despair, acceptance of one's life. '

Answer 10

Contradictions create demeanor, adherence creates character.