Build Character, Then We'll Talk..

Characters, characters, characters...they are all around us. Characters could be like a Kanji, a Japanese character, a Chinese character, personality traits, motives, and more.

What I am talking about his what defines one's role. In every story, there are characters that plays a big role in the big plot arch and makes the story interesting with their actions, emotions, and irony. I love characters and plot archs with a twist.

These "characters" or "personae" go waaayyyy back. Back to the times when man started writing down although oral traditions were even older. Well, whatever was left surviving today was because of oral or written dialogues. But I digress.

The Bible is an example of one of the oldest text with characters; I won't go more into this because I have not learned Scriptures yet.

Another example would be the classics such as Greek Tragedies, Shakespeare's Hamlet, Dante's Divine Comedy, and many more. They are the basis of modern day literature if you asked me. Everything came from other things. Allusions to one another. For instance, those classics has reference to the Bible, and today's works, although they became classics, has allusions back to those ancient classics and the Bible as well. ( A side note: I heard Twilight is and will become an instant classic for all to read just like the ancients, I doubt it. It just really redefined fantasy and romance--wait, no what am I saying? It just uses the genre and plots to the max, okay I give up defending.)

As I said before I love characters and twisted plots especially ones that include philosophical, religious, conspirical, and original lessons, allusions, and the like. One can learn from characters because although some are based on pure thoery, or the "ideal character" that man should have qualities of.

Some characters I have noticed and like are:

Nick from Gatsby- He does not judge, he is merely an observer just like Horatio( hurray for cross reference) but his inaction compromises his morality.

Horatio from Hamlet - Who wouldn't love the "good" guy? He is loyal, humble, righteous, wise, and a witness to testimony. He may be doing what seems to be an evil conspiracy, but he is rightly justified in the end. This is the said "ideal" character critics claimed Shakespeare made.

The Joker from DARK KNIGHT- A psychopath. He fights for no one, not even for himself. He just wants to give a message; that even the highest and brightest can fall. He is pure evil, although his methods are precise, everyone loves his "laughable" side. And by laughable, why the hell are we laughing and admiring this bad ass who has no remorse, nor respect for life, and no love?

Hamlet from HAMLET- The "teenager" who never gotten over his angst of incest, lost of throne, and woman's frailties. A wise, talented young man who was always clamoring of revenge and yet delay until the finale.

Dante from Devil May Cry- A bad ass, stylish, witty, confident mature man who just began to make his own business in demonslaying. He takes life easily and makes things for himself while at the same time burying his past.

Rorschach from WATCHMEN- A psycopath since childhood became a bringer of justice. He does not compromise with criminals, especially those who took innocent lives away. He justifies his brutalities against criminals by denying his identity. That way, he uses a mask and was able to fight fire with fire; bringing down the cold hand of justice. His flaw was his stubborness and not being able to break his trust with the people about the "truth".