Creating Characters

by Lauther, Howard

  May also be called: Artful Dodger, bamboozler, carpetbagger, charlatan, cheat, chiseler, con man, faker, flimflammer, four-flusher, fraud, gypster, horse trader, hypocrite, impostor, liar, perjurer, Philadelphia lawyer, phony, prevaricator, quack, schemer, sharper, slyboots, snake in the grass, swindler, trickster, two-timer, a wolf in sheep's clothing.

  Adjectives: artificial, clever, cunning, delusive, dishonest, double-crossing, double-dealing, exaggerative, false-hearted, foxy, fraudulent, guileful, hypocritical, insidious, insincere, Machiavellian, manipulative, mealy-mouthed, pretentious, scheming, shifty, sly, smooth-tongued, treacherous, tricky, truthless, two-faced, unctuous, underhanded, ungenuine, untruthful, wily.

  THE DIPLOMAT

  (See also the Peacekeeper) Exceptionally tactful in all social situations. Speaks and acts in such a way that no one is likely to become offended. Does not want to be seen favoring one side over the other, and yet, when he is through, each side is likely to think that he stands with them. His smoothness is disarming, his attempts at good naturedness seemingly sincere. If he wants to make a point or relate a piece of bad news, he will go to great lengths to cushion the blow of that information. Consistently tries to stay in harmony with the situation.

  May also be called: fence-straddler, politician.

  Adjectives: buttery, civil, complimentary, courteous, discreet, facilitating' flattering, glib, gracious, greasy, honey-mouthed, judicious, polished, polite, slick, slippery, smooth, smooth-tongued, suave, tactful, uncritical, well-mannered.

  THE DISREGARDER

  (See also the Yawner) The accent is on indifference. His attitude: So what? Displays a complete lack of interest in either a particular series of events or someone's behavior pattern. Looks at something as being unworthy of his attention. When presented with some facts, replies that he has more important things to worry about. Has no desire to know what someone has done or not done, or what has happened or not happened, and would like the subject to be dropped. Acts as if he were blind to what is going on. Regarding a particular subject, tends to brush it aside, turn a deaf ear, think no more of it.

  Adjectives: blasé, disregardful, distracted, heedless, inattentive, indifferent, lackadaisical, negligent, neutral, nonchalant, oblivious, unconcerned, unenthusiastic, unmindful, unobservant, unprepared, unwatchful.

  THE DISSIPATER

  Lacks self-control. Forever at the mercy of whatever his body craves, e.g., liquor, food, sex, drugs, etc. Lacks the will to contain his desires. Goes on binges. Falls from grace.

  May also be called: backslider, barfly, boozehound, boozer, drug addict, drunkard, free liver, glutton, hedonist, lush, rounder, sensualist, sot, tippler. Adjectives: alcoholic, besotted, debauched, gluttonous, intemperate, licentious, overindulgent, piggish, self-indulgent, sensual, unrestrained.

  THE DREAMER

  Without being ambitious or optimistic, yearns for something while not knowing how to achieve it and while harboring no hope that it will ever happen. Trapped on the island of Idle Fancies in that he may dream of being wealthy without any skills of making money, or of being famous without knowing what he could do to make most people realize that he is alive. Dreams of faraway places, wild adventures, and sizzling romance. Delicious thoughts of glory, intrigue, and danger transport him from his commonplace world to a place where his presence is valued, his decision-making sharp and momentous.

  May also be called: castle-builder, daydreamer, moonraker, pipedreamer, Walter Mitty, woolgatherer.

  THE DUPE

  Has a trusting nature and is always the prime target of the deceiver. Accepts most things he hears as being true. Swallows something hook, line, and sinker. Easily swindled, taken advantage of. Does not use his head to question something that is too good to be true. Persistently unaware of evil.

  May also be called: babe in the woods, believer, easy mark, greenhorn, innocent, pushover, sap, Simple Simon. Adjectives: deceivable, deludable, exploitable, foolable, green, guileless, gullible, ingenuous, naïve, unassuming, unsophisticated, unsuspecting.

  THE ECCENTRIC

  Displays behavior that is decidedly different from the norm, that which others may call perverse, odd, out-of-the ordinary, or just plain weird. Causes people to raise their eyebrows, to talk in hushed tones about him, and to say,

  "Well! If that doesn't beat all!" Or he may raise giggles or cause smiling heads to shake good naturedly. Some may think his mind has slipped a gear, that his thoughts are running in reverse of clear reason. Others will humor him and take in stride, perhaps, that he tries to catch mosquitoes with chopsticks.

  May also be called: caution, crackpot, curiosity, flake, nonconformist, oddball, oddity, queer duck, screwball.

  Adjectives: abnormal, bizarre, buggy, crotchety, erratic, flaky, peculiar, queer, uncommon, unconformable, unconventional, unnatural, unorthodox, unusual, wacky.

  THE ECONOMIZER

  (See also the Keeper) Tries to stretch his money as far as it will go, but he will nevertheless come to someone's aid—if he can. Always looking for bargains. Collects string, buttons, and various odds and ends, so as not to have to buy them later. Puts his money in the bank, religiously. Performs wonders with leftovers. Does not waste what he has today, for fear that he will need it tomorrow, and the waste he sees happening consistently in the world depresses him. If he attends an event, he buys the «cheap seats."

  Adjectives: economical, frugal, penny-pinching, saving, self-depriving, self-sacrificing, sparing, stinting, thrifty.

  THE EGOTIST

  Admires the «virtues" he sees in himself. Sitting in vanity's corner, he is likely to put on airs, to brag, and to be so self-admiring sometimes as to make a cat laugh. He is, as they say, stuck on himself and the only modesty he knows is what he might see in other people. Because he is so wrapped up in what he perceives as his own superior talents, accomplishments, beauty, or social status, it is unlikely that he will pay much attention to anything that does not come out of his own mouth. Likes to see heads turn his way when he enters a room. Believes he has accomplished far more than he really has. In his own mind, no one can measure up to himself. Has time for no one but himself.

  May also be called: blowhard, boaster, braggart, dandy, egocentric, exhibitionist, fop, grandstander, know-it-all, peacock, prig, snob, swaggerer, swellhead, show-off.

  Adjectives: affected, boastful, bombastic, cocky, conceited, dandified, flashy, grandiose, haughty, high and mighty, high-hatted, high-nosed, high-toned, hoity-toity, inflated, insolent, ostentatious, pompous, pretentious, prideful, puffed up, self-applauding, self-centered, self-congratulatory, self-devoted, self-esteeming, self-inflated, self-praising, self-satisfied, showy, snooty, strutful, stuck-up, swaggering, swell-headed, theatrical, top-lofty, uppish, vain, vainglorious.

  THE EXPLORER

  Seeks knowledge. Beset with an innate curiosity. Always probing, investigating. Must get to the bottom of something. Pokes about. Tracks things down. Wishes to deepen his understanding through the avenue of books. Pursues discovery through trial and error. Intrigued by other places, customs, cultures. Travels down well-worn paths hewed out by old arguments and looks for detours, dead-ends, and escape routes. Chases the finer points of truth through labyrinths. Has more questions than answers.

  May also be called: analyzer, eavesdropper, examiner, inspector, investigator, researcher, scholar, seeker, student, traveler.

  Adjectives: cross-examining, exploratory, inquiring, inquisitive, interrogative, intrusive, meddlesome, nosy, officious, probing, prying, questioning, snoopy.

  THE EXTROVERT

  (See also the Reveler) At ease among others and seeks their company. Likes rubbing elbows with the crowd. Quickly adapts to almost any social situation. A creator of superficial friendships, a cultivator of countless acquaintances. Uses words like "buddy" and "honey." A smile merchant whose welcome mat is always out. Finds pleasure in idle conversation and parties; indeed, he is the bee who buzzes from group to group at any festive occasion. If you are
new, he is among the first to welcome you. Drops in unexpectedly, just to say "hi" and pass the time of day. Inhospitality perplexes and disturbs him. Likes to embrace and touch others, and to talk about old times. A better talker than he is a listener.

  May also be called: backslapper, belle of the ball, gadfly, mixer, socializer.

  Adjectives: affable, agreeable, amiable, amicable, approachable, chummy, communicative, companionable, congenial, convivial, cordial, entertaining, fraternizing, friendly, gregarious, harmonious, hospitable, jolly, neighborly, sociable, unreserved, vivacious.

  THE FLIRT

  Skilled at using an inherent charm to attract the opposite sex. But on the part of those not taken by that charm and who see it as a sham, the flirt may be accused of casting goo-goo eyes, whispering sweet nothings, or laying siege to someone's affections. Plays cat-and-mouse games that are sexual in nature. Toys with those who become captivated; seduces through tender endearments, soft embraces, or even copulation. Always seems to have a come-hither look. Consistently engaged in the act of courtship, without wanting to be burdened with the obligations that come with it. Likes to conquer the affections of another, but does not want to nurture them. A butterfly that flits from flower to flower. Loves being chased while, at the same time, it seems to the casual onlooker that he is the one doing the chasing. Knows how to snuggle at just the right moment, how to seem helpless and in need of protection, how to turn a head when needed. May also be called: coquette, gold digger, ladies' man, masher, philanderer, skirt chaser, vamp. Adjectives: coquettish, flirtatious.

  THE GIVER

  Unselfishly generous. Will sacrifice at least a portion of what he owns, or will donate his time, to help someone else. Has a need to share with others. Tries to make others take what they do not want, with advice often being one of them. A patient listener. His acts of giving frequently go unnoticed, for they are done without the knowledge of the recipient. Provides someone with what that person needs before the latter even asks for it. Takes great pains to make others comfortable. Can hardly pass a beggar on the street without giving something. At his most generous level, may be heard to say, "What's mine is yours"—and mean it. Can be counted on to chip in, supply, aid, or subsidize. Gives freely and cheerfully. Spares no expense. Willing to forgive for past wrongs suffered.

  May also be called: almsgiver, befriender, benefactor, contributor, donor, Good Samaritan, helper, lender, philanthropist, subsidizer.

  Adjectives: benevolent, big-hearted, charitable, considerate, forgiving, generous, gracious, kindhearted, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, openhanded, philanthropic, sacrificial, unselfish, well-intentioned, well meaning.

  THE GO-GETTER

  (See also the Hound; the Hustler) Trademark is ambition. Wants to gain something, e.g., fame, wealth, justice, honor, popularity, respect, a higher social status, etc. Without being greedy, believes he can attain more than he has. Does nothing halfhearted. Has targets in his mind, however vague. If there is a "pecking order," he knows its structure and how to use it to his advantage. Burns the so-called midnight oil. If he takes a fancy to something, he makes plans on how to get it.

  May also be called: aspirant, dynamo, eager beaver, hustler, workaholic.

  Adjectives: aggressive, ambitious, aspiring, assiduous, desirous, determined, diligent, eager, energetic, enterprising, enthusiastic, high-reaching, industrious, inspired, motivated, purposeful, up-and-coming, upward-looking, yearnful, or wishful.

  THE GRIEVER

  Yearns for the presence of someone, e.g., a spouse, child, parent, family member, or friend, who has died. Remembers the good times they had together or the special bond that had been built between them. The absence is so painful that he can no longer visit the places where they used to go together. Something always happens every day that makes him think lovingly of that person. Memories bring smiles and tears. Visits the gravesite.

  May also be called: lamenter, mourner. Adjectives: funereal, grieving, lamenting, mournful, plaintive, regretful, sad, sorrowful, tearful.

  THE GROUCH

  (See also the Critic)

  A thorn in the side of everyone else. Paint his attitude black, his reasons gray. A stranger to courtesy. A sour face that beckons no smile. A volcano that never erupts but constantly rumbles. A chronic complainer who is never happy with anything. Differs significantly from the Critic in that his faultfinding is usually not comprised of lightning bolts directed at specific targets; instead, he can be heard mumbling to himself like distant thunder. A huffer and puffer who, on the surface, seems to like no one and for no particular reason. Griping about things seems as natural to him as breathing. Crusty on the outside, soft on the inside.

  May also be called: bellyacher, crab, grouser, grumbler, sourpuss.

  Adjectives: cantankerous, complaining, crabby, cranky, curt, grouchy, gruff, grumbling, grumpy, ill-humored, ill-natured, inhospitable, insufferable, irritating, misanthropic, obnoxious, offensive, scowling, sour-tempered, testy, thin-skinned, touchy, unfriendly, ungracious, unsociable, vexatious.

  THE HARDHEAD

  After deciding that something is true or not true, holds his ground and won't yield an inch. Weathers the storm. Convictions are deeply rooted and not movable. Compromise is out of the question. Remains firmly committed long after everyone else has gone to the other side. Will not listen to any reasoning that introduces the possibility that he may be wrong.

  May also be called: bulldog, die-hard, pighead.

  Adjectives: bullheaded, determined, entrenched, firm, fixed, headstrong, immovable, indefatigable, indocile, indomitable, inflexible, intractable, obstinate, pigheaded, recalcitrant, resistant, resolute, rigid, stiff, strong-minded, strong-willed, stubborn, tenacious, tough, unbending, unbreakable, unchangeable, uncompromising, unpliable, unrelenting, unsubmissive, unyielding.

  THE HOTHEAD

  Loses his temper easily. May hurl invectives, throw things, or threaten bodily harm—if in fact he does not come to blows with someone. Something that is seemingly inconsequential can set him off, make him go on a tear, send him into an orbit offumes, flares, and beet-red flushes. A walking powder keg. Others are careful what they say around him. Can't take a joke, if it's at his own expense. Patience is virtually nonexistent within him. "Sudden and quick in quarrel" (Shakespeare).

  May also be called: fire-eater, holy terror, spitfire.

  Adjectives: contentious, excitable, explosive, hot-tempered, impatient, irascible, quarrelsome, quick-tempered, scrappy, short-tempered, rampageous, turbulent, volcanic.

  THE HOUND

  (See also the Go-Getter; the Hustler) Committed to the chase. Whatever it is that he seeks, leaves no stone unturned in his effort to find it. Keeps at it, despite setbacks. Takes a never-say-die attitude. Hates to admit defeat. Stays after something from the beginning to what may become the bitter end. No obstacle is too high; no clue is too small; no journey is too long. Does not hesitate. His purpose may be so fixed that it may become a detriment to other parts of his life.

  Adjectives: assiduous, constant, diligent, dogged, indefatigable, persevering, plodding, resolute, tenacious, tireless, unhesitating, unrelenting, unremitting, unswerving, untiring.

  THE HUSTLER

  (See also the Go-Getter; the Hound) Full of energy and a hard worker, though not necessarily ambitious. Tries hard and makes a special effort to do something right. Always in a hurry, on the move. Goes all out. Darts ahead. Takes the attitude that he must be doing something most of the time. Once committed to something, devotes a great deal of time toward it. Does nothing halfway. Walks fast. He is the one who makes things hum, who keeps the pot boiling, and who doesn't let the grass grow under his feet. Will practically break his neck to get something somewhere and on time. May be heard to say, "Let's get a move on!" or «Shake a leg!" Likely to skip lunch to get a job done. Doesn't know how to relax. Can go longer than most without sleep and will burn the midnight oil. Pitches in without being asked.

  May also be called: dynamo, eager
beaver, go-getter, hard worker, hustler, man of action, workaholic.

  Adjectives: aggressive, assiduous, bustling, diligent, energetic, enterprising, hurried, industrious, peppy, productive, speedy, spirited, vivacious, workaholic.

  THE HYPOCHONDRIAC

  Consistently depressed about the state of his health and tends to imagine he has every disease he reads or hears about. Manufactures symptoms where none exist. Feels he is not far from death's door. Takes his blood pressure too often, makes too much out of a sneeze, and takes medicine and vitamins as if they were candy. The common cold can nearly kill him, psychologically. His name appears often on the doctor's calendar. Wears his family and friends out with his anxiety. Always on the prowl for remedies. A perfect dupe for the quack.

  May also be called: complainer, imaginary invalid, neurotic.

  Adjectives: anxious, apprehensive, fretful, tormented.

  THE HYPOCRITE