Humans are naturally flawed. Everyone has something they struggle with, something they do wrong, something that may make them look bad. It is important to include that when writing characters of your own. Today we are going to look at some characters in media and analyze them a bit for their flaws and how they affect the plot. I will be hiding major spoilers behind a button for people that haven’t watched or read these.
Flaws as a Plot Driver
Character flaws can serve as a powerful catalyst for plot development, often leading to pivotal moments and driving the narrative forward. When a character’s flaw is deeply intertwined with the story line, it can create tension, conflict, and growth that captivates the audience, as in the case in Death Note.
Light Yagami’s arrogance and god complex drives all the mistakes he makes as he believes that he cannot possibly be caught.
Those mistakes brings him closer to the detectives that are searching for him, making the plot more interesting and tense.
This flaw eventually leads to the ending of the story in which Light himself is brought to an end rather than becoming a god.
N from Pokemon Black and White is also another great example. N’s idealism and naivety about the nature of Pokémon and their relationship with humans shape his actions and beliefs. N genuinely believes that Pokémon should be liberated from humans, as he has been manipulated into seeing humans as inherently abusive to Pokémon. His flaws drive the plot as he brings Team Plasma closer to its goal whether it is purposeful or not.
The Origin of a Character’s Flaw
Understanding how a character flaw is created can help create more relatable and realistic characters. These flaws often stem from past experiences, personality traits, or environmental factors.
Such as with Light Yagami, which flaw comes from his top level test levels and grades in classes all the way to university and the strong since of justice instilled in Light from his dad’s background as a police officer creating a god complex where Light believes he can do no wrong.
Raised by Ghetsis, the leader of Team Plasma, N is manipulated into believing truly in the idealism of Team Plasma. From a young age, N was surrounded by Pokémon who had been mistreated by humans, shaping his perception that all human-Pokémon relationships were inherently abusive. This motivates his beliefs in needing Pokemon to be liberated. Over time, as N interacts with the player and witnesses different perspectives, he begins to question his beliefs, leading to significant character development. This journey highlights the impact of early experiences and manipulation on one’s worldview and the potential for growth and change when exposed to new ideas and realities.
How Flaws Affect Relationships
Aqua from Oshi no Ko is a great example of how flaws can affect relationships. Throughout his mission he fails to keep his relationships in check due to his overwhelming obsessions which blinds him from the other parts of life. This singular focus often leads him to manipulate and distance himself from others, including his sister Ruby, who also seeks their mother’s recognition but in a different way. His inability to move past his trauma and his fixation on revenge prevent him from forming healthy relationships, illustrating how a character’s flaws can lead to isolation and internal conflict.
Elsa from Frozen struggles with both a fear of her own power and the fear of being found out, straining her relationships with everyone and eventually leading to her effectively becoming a shut-in. This separation creates emotional distance and conflict, driving the narrative as they work to reconcile and understand each other.
Redeeming Flaws
Some character’s stories involve them trying to redeem themselves over time from the actions that came from their flaws. A good example of this Sokka from Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Sokka has extremely misogynistic views throughout the beginning of the series. He dismisses his sibling and other women through the beginning even though they are strong in their own right. However, Sokka’s redemption arc begins as he encounters powerful female characters, such as Suki of the Kyoshi Warriors and Princess Yue of the Northern Water Tribe. These interactions challenge his preconceived notions and lead him to recognize the strength and capabilities of women. Throughout his journey he goes from a narrow minded misogynist to someone who is respectful and has amazing growth.
What We Can Learn
Overall by looking at the flaws in other characters we can learn how and why authors add them into their own characters.
- Identify a core flaw to use: This core flaw should make sense keeping in mind the character’s personality and past.
- Use flaws to drive the plot: This will create more natural and compelling conflict within the story. For
- Show growth and change: Sometimes just the character changing over time and learning from their actions creates a compelling character narrative.
- No one is perfect: Having flaws in every person makes the character more believable and likeable, as no one truly trusts and believes in someone they perceive to be perfect.
By thoughtfully incorporating and analyzing character flaws, writers and critics alike can create and appreciate more nuanced, engaging, and meaningful stories. Flaws not only humanize characters but also enrich the narrative, making it more compelling and relatable for the audience.
