PolyProse

Have you ever picked up a book, started reading about a character, and suddenly remembered you are human and need to blink, especially after reading 100 pages? You couldn’t help but feel a profound connection. Those characters were relatable, and their motivations were shockingly human. But of course, we can’t forget the juicy tidbit that gets us hooked: “How is this main character going to mess things up?” Because characters always make mistakes trying to achieve their goals.

A character’s motivation, in the most distilled understanding, answers the question of why a character does what they do. Motivations compel a character to act and, in turn, shape the story around them. The path to these wants and needs is distorted by character weaknesses, biases, or limitations, i.e., their flaws.

The Power of Character and World Entanglement

Let’s start by talking about motivation. I like to think of these four aspects as a triangle with a circle in the center. Each side of the triangle leans against the other and presses against the center circle. 

• Internal drives and desires: These are the thoughts and emotions of the character. “The Why”: Why did they do that?
• Shape decisions: These are the character’s actions. “The What”: What did they do?
• Plot backbone: This is how the series of actions comes together, altering the story around the character. “The How”: How has the character changed their world?
• Backstory: This includes the collection of biases, fears, insecurities, beliefs, positive or negative outlooks, traumas, achievements, and other aspects of your character’s past or present narrative. “The Who”: Who is the character?

These four depend on each other. You change a character’s thoughts and emotions; you change their behaviors. When you change their behaviors, you change their external circumstances based on those new actions. New thoughts and feelings lead to new actions. In turn, the surrounding world changes, powering new internal processing. This cycle continues.

“The Who?” at the center has a very special function. A character may have a rigid circle that is resistant to change. It exerts outward pressure, causing individuals to lose control of their thoughts and act instinctively, often influenced by unrecognized biases about the world. Conversely, they could be far too agreeable; their circle is soft and pudgy. Any aspect of the outside world could mold them. They may be easily manipulated or gaslighted into thinking their history or reality is all a lie. And “The Who?” becomes a question the character can’t answer. 

Changing one of these alters the others. They are not separate but a multiplex unique to each character in every story. 

Types of Character Motivation

Let’s talk about motivations! These are not simple ideas such as hunger, thirst, or sexual pleasure. We are not talking about biological processes. These motivations must permeate through the character’s thought process. They are not just thirsty; they fear death, so they animalistically search for water. A fear of losing everything or being forgotten powers them to act. 

These motivations can stem from intrinsic needs, such as 

• The pursuit of love 
• An attempt to gain autonomy
• The search for a soul. (For example, Mazikeen from the show Lucifer in later seasons.)

These motivations can be external, such as

• Survival. 
• Professional success. 
• An object they are duty-bound to protect. 

The two driving forces often connect, forming an internal need and an external want. Externally, you want a career and lots of money. Internally, you need to keep your family safe. 

A character’s goals, fears, insecurities, moral values, and past experiences can influence motivations. Combining these ideas with internal and external factors (want vs. need) and a character’s backstory creates believable and relatable characters. Grasping the “why, what, how, and who” of a character’s journey opens the door to empathizing with their challenges and victories. It’s like stepping into their shoes, feeling their highs and lows, and connecting with their story on a deeper level.

We all know that one character that, for some reason, always does the dumbest thing they could do. Inevitably, their nonsensical actions cause conflict after conflict, and they never seem to learn or change (I can’t speak for you, but I know I find it annoying). I get the feeling the creator needed things to move forward. So, they had their character hit the big red button that says, “Do not press, or there will be severe consequences with no rewards, but at least the plot will move forward.”

Character motivations can be categorized in several ways:

• Internal vs. External:
  • Internal: Personal desires, moral codes, emotional needs, or a sense of self-worth.
    • Example: A character’s strong moral code compels them to fight for justice, even at personal risk.
  • External: Spurred by factors outside the character’s control, such as societal pressures, the promise of rewards, or impending threats.
    • Example: A character motivated to work diligently due to societal pressures to succeed.
• Needs vs. Wants:
  • Needs: Essential for either biological, mental, or emotional survival.
    • Example: A character driven to source food and shelter for survival. A character suffering from severe depression may need to find a way to improve their health.
  • Wants: Personal goals and desires.
    • Example: A character strives for recognition and fame.

In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Harry’s motivation to defeat Lord Voldemort is a combination of several factors:

• Personal loss
• Moral duty to fight evil
• Desire to protect loved ones
• Love for his friends
• Sense of moral responsibility

Harry’s beliefs, motivations, and backstory show he is willing to sacrifice himself for his friends, family, and the greater good. He is incredibly loyal and will stand against any foe, even “he who shall not be named,” because when considering his orphaned past and terrible experiences with his extended family, he refuses to lose those he loves again. He knows a world without those internal needs met and avoids them. He shows empathy for the world and acts according to what he believes is right for them.

In contrast, Voldemort’s motivations are primal:

• Desire for power
• Desire for immortality

These motivations reveal a darker facet of human nature. With ultimate power, no one can stop him, and with immortality at stake, the ends will always justify the means. Harry is willing to die for those he loves, whereas Voldemort loves no one and would sacrifice the world for his goals. 

A lighthearted example: In the animated film Finding Nemo, Marlin searches for his son, Nemo. However, the following complicates his motivation.

• Overwhelming fear and anxiety. Marlin lost his wife and every egg except Nemo (this was not lighthearted; I apologize for misleading you. I, too, am holding back tears and trying to pronounce “anemone”).

This fear of knowing death creates tension between his need to protect and find Nemo. His journey is not just about finding his son; it is about altering the rigidity of “The Who.”

• Overcoming his flaws
• Learning to trust in others

By changing his core persona, he alters his thoughts and behaviors, which alter his circumstances.

Classical Literature Example: Achilles, from The Iliad, thirsts for glory and recognition for heroic deeds. However, King Agamemnon dishonors him. This new thinking leads to behaviors that alter “the how,” eventually changing the course of the Trojan War. The following ideas drive Achilles.

• Intense rage
• Sense of pride
• Desire for glory

He eventually leaves the battlefield but returns when world conditions change, altering his motivations.

• Grief for his friend Patroclus
• Renewed sense of honor
• Desire for revenge

The above illustrates the contradictory nature of human motivation and how it can quickly change. However, the story would not make sense if Achilles had never met Patroclus. If that were the case, why would he grieve? Why would he want revenge?

The Role of Flaws in Creating Relatable Characters

While understanding what drives a character is crucial, recognizing their weaknesses and imperfections provides another layer of depth and relatability.

• Unwilling deviations from the common populace: Natural weaknesses present in a character. For example, August Pullman from Wonder by R. J. Palacio. He is a fifth-grader with a facial deformity. It could also be a fictional world where one person is born with an invisible disability. For example, Asta from the anime Black Clover is born with no magic initially. These flaws would be the types that a society could point at and denote as someone being inferior. 
• Weaknesses in thought or character: Aspects of a character’s personality that hinder them. These characters could be incredibly violent, greedy, or untrusting. They could also have self-harming traits, like crippling self-loathing.

Categorizing Character Flaws

Character flaws are primarily categorized by their impact and nature:

• Minor Flaws: Superficial imperfections that distinguish a character and make them memorable, but typically do not significantly affect the main plot.
  • Example: A character has a habit of biting their nails when nervous.
• Major Flaws: Substantial impairment of a character physically, mentally, or morally, causing significant obstacles.
  • Example: A character’s arrogance causes them to make reckless decisions.
• Tragic or Fatal Flaws: Major flaws that lead to a character’s downfall or significant misfortune.
  • Example: In Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the protagonist’s indecisiveness causes him to overthink and experience intense self-doubt. He consistently hesitates, leading to the death of many.

Character Flaws in Literature

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby is characterized by

• His idealized obsession with the past.
• Disillusionment with the American Dream.
• His inability to accept the present.
• His relentless pursuit of an unattainable past.

Even in more contemporary works, such as the TV show Once Upon a Time, the character Emma Swan mistrusts others. It creates emotional barriers and challenges her relationships. This flaw stems from her fear of abandonment (The Who). This trauma leads her to have a prickly exterior where she acts hardened, cold, and at times unloving (except to her son).

Her journey involves saving fairytale characters and healing from trauma.

The Interplay of Motivation and Flaws

The relationship between a character’s motivations and flaws is closely connected. A character’s motivations can also create flaws.

• Motivations leading to flaws: A character’s desires can lead to negative traits.
  • Example: A strong desire for power can lead to greed and a willingness to compromise moral principles. An example would be the One Ring from The Lord of the Rings. People with noble intentions cross paths with the Ring and fall victim to its dark influence.

Conversely, a character’s flaws can also influence their motivations.

• Flaws influencing motivations: Weaknesses can shape a character’s goal.
  • Example: A character’s insecurity might drive their need for approval and validation from others, shaping their actions.

This interplay between motivation and flaws creates a dynamic and realistic portrayal of human nature. Defining a character’s operating parameters and internal “software” helps explore their complexities and contradictions.

Examples of Interplay

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein:

• Victor has an overwhelming ambition to conquer death.
• Victor’s mistake lies in his attempt to become God.
• This results in devastating consequences.
• A thirst for knowledge initially drives his motivation.
• His desire to push the boundaries of science spirals into an obsession.
• His obsession ignores the ethical implications of his creation.
• The theme of dangerous, unchecked ambition and destructive scientific progress links to his fatal flaw.

Another example is Jay Gatsby. His main objective is to win Daisy back. This strong motivation drives him to acquire wealth. However, his motivation is linked to his flaw: an idealized and unrealistic obsession with the past. He continues to see Daisy as she is, unable to see past the illusions his mind created. His inability to see Daisy for who she is in the present leads to his downfall.

Conclusion: Crafting Compelling Characters Through Motivation and Flaws

The art of crafting characters is not as simple as “He has black hair and is scared of spiders.” You have to study your character.

• Who: What experiences does your character have, and how do they change their thinking?
• Why: What is their thinking process? What are their knee-jerk thoughts? When they hear strangers laughing, do they ignore it or fear that the strangers are laughing at them? 
• What: What actions does your character take throughout their story? And how does their thinking affect their behavior?
• How: How do their actions impact the world around them? 
• Finally, exploring how all four characters work together and evolve throughout their journey.

You then have to decide what those flaws are and if they are minor, major, or fatal. Once you have a more developed character, you can connect them with your themes. Utilize them to explain how a character would traverse complex topics that reveal sacred corners of the human condition. 

As always, I recommend looking into Scrivener. It is the best writing software I’ve ever used. Here is my affiliate link https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener-affiliate.html?fpr=polyprose. You could use their folder system to more easily keep track of your character’s motivation and flaws.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please share your favorite character and their flaws. Tell me about your writing project and whether this blog post has been helpful to you. 

Table for Types of Motivation

Type of Motivation	Description	Examples
Internal	Driven by personal desires, fears, morals, self-worth.	Quest for identity, battling inner demons, growth, love, morals, self-worth, revenge, fitting in, avoiding failure, preserving moral character,
External	Influenced by factors outside the character’s control.	Societal pressure, physical threats, food, survival, peer pressure, acceptance, protecting from physical abuse, finding food or shelter, surviving illness,
Needs	Essential for survival (physiological, safety).	Food, water, shelter, safety, security,
Wants	Personal goals and desires (social, esteem, self-actualization).	Love, acceptance, professional achievement, respect from others, personal worth, career success, personal fulfillment, happiness,

Table for Types of Character Flaws

Type of Flaw	Description	Examples (from research)
Minor	Distinguishing traits, often not affecting the plot significantly.	Biting nails, forgetfulness, lateness, shallowness, vanity, noticeable scar, thick accent, habit of cracking knuckles.
Major	Impairing traits, causing problems for the character.	Addictions, phobias, fear of vulnerability; blindness, amnesia, greed; arrogance, paranoia, cowardice, dishonesty, envy.
Tragic/Fatal	Leading to the character’s downfall or significant misfortune.	Hubris, misplaced trust, excessive curiosity, pride, lack of self-control; indecisiveness, idealized obsession.