Creating Characters
Page 3
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.
HONORABLE
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.
DISHONORABLE
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.
COMPASSIONATE
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.
UNCOMPASSIONATE
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.
FORGIVING
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.
UNFORGIVING
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.
Has the capacity to carry a thirst for retaliation over an exceptionally long period of time. Ponders how he might inflict more injury than what he suffered at the outset. Once wounded, tends to reject all attempts at reconciliation.
BENEVOLENT
Related Traits:
Altruistic, beneficent, big-hearted, bountiful, caring, charitable, clement, considerate, extravagant, generous, good-natured, gracious, helpful, kind, kind-hearted, large-hearted, liberal, magnanimous, mindful, munificent, open-handed, selfless, unselfish, unstinting.
Character Possibilities: Consistently devoted to the interests of others and wants what is best for them. Regards someone highly and, to prevent that person from suffering any misfortune, acts as a kind of sentry.
Spirit has no sharp corners, and he reaches out to others softly.
Holds affection in his heart toward almost everyone.
More interested in providing others with what they do not have than simply acquiring more of what he has already enjoyed. Would, as they say, "give the shirt off his back." More likely to say, "What do you need and how can I help?" rather than simply "Good luck."
MALEVOLENT
Related Traits:
Bloodthirsty, bloody-minded, cold-blooded, cold-hearted, cruel, devilish, diabolical, evil, fiendish, fierce, harsh, heartless, hostile, insidious, ill-natured, ill-disposed, ill-intentioned, inhuman, inhumane, invidious, maligning, mean-spirited, misanthropic, murderous, nasty, pernicious, ruthless, savage, stern, truculent, unbenevolent, uncharitable, unfeeling, unkind, unmerciful, vicious, vile, virulent, wicked.
Character Possibilities:
His attitude toward others is principally evil in nature, in that he takes pleasure in contemplating how he might deliberately inflict harm on one or more person(s).
Without the prodding of revenge, has an unquenchable need to see the blood of someone else flow.
His mind toys with the possibilities of how he could imperceptibly harm another.
His propensity to injure others is so malignant that only the death of those he opposes could temporarily provide satisfaction.
His hatred of the human race consumes him.
His heart is so poisonous that it would run shivers through vultures.
Ponders the ways he may render destruction, and takes pleasure in the contemplation. His attitude toward others is so loathsome that he would even endanger his own life to do harm to them.
Has an addiction to evil that is astonishingly creative.
Spurns compassion as a needless plaything.
Would pluck a live chicken of all its feathers.
ADVENTUROUS
Related Traits:
Audacious, bold, bold-spirited, daring, devil-may-care, enterprising, exploratory, fearless, game, gutsy, hardy, indomitable, madcap, mettlesome, questing, rash, reckless, speculative, thrill-seeking, unafraid, unfrightened, spirited, venturesome, zestful.
Character Possibilities:
Irresistibly attracted to the unknown and wants to experience it, even though it may threaten his life, reputation, or livelihood. Wears courage like a top hat. Has a natural defiance toward any restraint. Tends to ignore the obvious dangers that await him. Does not become disheartened by obstacles. Has an insatiable curiosity about what lies just around the bend, over the hill, within the woods, and on the other side.
Has the soul of a gambler, the stamina of a soldier.
Finds it almost impossible to say, "I give up."
His primary objective is to push his emotions to their limit by engaging in daring exploits. He is likely to not only become seduced by the potential excitement of the unknown but to meet it head on with great enthusiasm.
CAUTIOUS
Related Traits:
Alert, awed, careful, circumspect, discreet, guarded, hesitant, intimidated, judicious, leery, politic, prudent, reluctant, reticent, suspicious, uneasy, unsure, vigilant, wary.
Character Possibilities: Habitually self-protective in that he is more concerned about saving his neck than risking it.
Carefully previews each step in his life before actually taking it, always making sure to place his foot on something solid in order to not imperil himself.
Sees danger lurking behind every corner and eyes everything with suspicion.
Intensely watchful, a creator of routines.
Never sets out to have fun; if that occurs, he feels it must be a by-product of a well-executed plan. Risk intimidates him, for the unknown is filled with goblins. More concerned about dying than he is about living.
COURAGEOUS
Related Traits:
Brave, dauntless, doughty, gallant, great-hearted, gritty, heroic, intrepid, lionhearted, plucky, spunky, stalwart, stout-hearted, undaunted, unflinching, valiant, valorous.
Character Possibilities:
In spite of what either looms before him or he is forced to endure, possesses the strength of mind that consistently allows him to continue onward, fearful or not.
When in the presence of danger, usually believes he will prevail.
Upon encountering great trouble, his nerves become inextricably calm.
Accepts and performs the commonplace dregs of duty that others need accomplished, but which they do not want to do themselves.
Can move among those feeling pain and misery, and, with a breaking heart, push back a wall of tears and replace it with a smile.
Able to find, in the depths of his soul, that iridescent quality that helps to light his way.
TIMID
Related Traits:
Afraid, apprehensive, chicken-hearted, dastardly, gritless, cowardly, craven, faint-hearted, fearful, jittery, lily-livered, nervous, qualmish, scared, shrinking, spunkless, timid, timorous, tremulous, uncourageous, undaring, unheroic, wavering, weak-kneed, white-livered, yellow.
Character Possibilities:
Trembles at the thought of trouble.
So lacking in self-confidence that he keeps his opinions to himself.
Regarding practically everything he does, or is expected to do, he fears the unknown repercussions.
A cataloguer of exits.
A collector of misgivings.
The keeper of humankind's fears.
When challenged, searches for ways that he might agree with the challenger. Lacks strength of purpose. Beset with doubt each time he prepares to choose one course of action over another.
Unable to buck the status quo.
Dreads or distrusts what is yet to happen and may not even occur.
Imagines how he might blame others for the weakness that is only his.
AMBITIOUS
Related Traits:
Acquisitive, aspiring, competitive, contentious, desirous, determined, focused, emulative, goal-oriented, motivated, purposeful, single-minded, tenacious, upward-looking, wishful.
Character Possibilities:
Desires to attain something that will lead to his acquiring wealth, power, fame, or something else that he does not now have, and thus sets his attention toward achieving it.
Primary aim is to achieve overall excellence rather than reach a specific social plateau. Motivated by a desire to equal or surpass what someone else has already attained.
Has a gnawing need to be recognized for his abilities and knowledge.
Sees the barriers and ponders how he might surmount them.
Never has enough of whatever he has.
AIMLESS
Related Traits:
Adrift, apathetic, causeless, content, desultory, goal-deficient, lethargic, purposeless, satisfied, unambitious, uncompetitive, unconcerned, unfocused, unmotivated.
Character Possibilities: Floats across the months and years without either a compass or sail unfurled. His attention swings abruptly from one thing to the next, like a monkey going nowhere in particular.
Does not have a climbing instinct.
His capacity to care about his future has been deadened.
The goal he has is so broad and poorly defined that it might as well not even exist at all. Resents the prodding of others. Accepts what he has and what he is, and is the flip side of the dreamer.
RESOLUTE
Related Traits:
Assiduous, constant, decided, determined, diligent, dogged, enduring, fixed, indefatigable, iron-willed, obstinate, persevering, persistent, pertinacious, purposeful, resolved, sedulous, steadfast, strong-minded, strong-willed, tenacious, tireless, uncompromising, unfaltering, unrelenting, unswerving, unwavering, unyielding.
Character Possibilities:
Once it becomes clear to him what must be done, he will not entertain any detours that will compromise his objective.
In his mind, maps out the route he will take.
The inability of others to stay the course perplexes and saddens him.
Has an extraordinary capacity to accept defeat and yet think he is getting closer to victory.
Unable to recognize the folly of his purpose.
An unbreakable marriage occurs between his mind and the thing to be achieved.
In terms of pursuit, he is tireless.
IRRESOLUTE
Related Traits: Changeable, doubtful, fluctuating, half-hearted, hesitant, indecisive, purposeless, uncertain, undecided, undetermined, unsettled, vacillating, weak-willed.
Character Possibilities: Lacks the necessary conviction that initiates action, even when it may be obvious to others that he should do so.
Pestered incessantly by uncertainty.
Approaches decision-making as if it were a two-headed monster.
Always waiting for that l
ast shred of proof, so that he might be certain.
Today he is positive; tomorrow he will not be.
His ear is forever scanning the air to hear some key words of reassurance.
"What to do" and ("what not to do" play Ping-Pong in his head.
Lacks the will that gives conviction its wind.
SELFISH
Related Traits:
Avaricious, covetous, envious, grasping,. gluttonous, greedy, grudging, hoggish, mean, miserly, piggish, rapacious, self-absorbed, self-centered, self-interested, self-seeking, stingy, tight, uncharitable, wolfish.
Character Possibilities:
Principally concerned about those things that either bring him pleasure or provide him with comfort, whether it is to the detriment of someone else or not.
Resents the fact that someone has what he believes he alone deserves.
Would, if he could, keep all the good things for himself.
His motto: Get it from others before they have a chance to get it from you. Has an appetite for self-satisfaction that is boundless. Charity baffles him. He is the altar upon which others should bestow their sacrifices.
UNSELFISH
Related Traits: Altruistic, big-hearted, charitable, generous, giving, liberal-minded, munificent, selfless, self-denying, self-sacrificing.
Character Possibilities:
Willing to share with others.
Thinks it is better to deprive himself of something than to have someone else go without. Views greed as being detrimental to the soul. More concerned about the welfare of others than he is with his own comfort.
When choices are to be made between one thing or another, always intends to give the other person the biggest portion, the softest place, the better view, the nicest compliment, etc.