" /> storytelling: April 14, 2004 Archives

« April 13, 2004 | Main | April 15, 2004 »

April 14, 2004

imperfections

I tried to think of what would drive me crazy about each of these men given enough time, and thus this table. None of these negative traits are so prevalent that they override the character's good points, but they do make for some interesting conflicts with strong women.

The trait I found most difficult to articulate was what I've called insensitive/oblivious. What I mean by that is, a male character who retreats so far into himself that he doesn't notice what other characters might be experiencing, or suffering. This might be a self-protective mechanism or simply a lack of empathy, and it's a pretty serious flaw for a main character in a love story of any kind. The prime example here is Darcy's first proposal to Elizabeth Bennet, in which he (as she says) insults her in every possible way, and still thinks he's doing her a great honor. Niccolo van der Poele is, of all these seven, the most astute. His understanding of others is so intuitive and exact that it would be a formidable weapon in an amoral man. While John Crichton is extremely perceptive, there is one incident with Chiana that almost earned him a negative, but not quite. Nathaniel got a negative here, and he deserved it. This is his biggest flaw, the occasional tendency to overlook things he should not ignore in the people closest to him.

FD Fitzwilliam Darcy Pride and Prejudice | PT Phin Tucker Welcome to Temptation | PdSC Philippe de Saint-Christophe The Bride of the Wilderness| NvdP Niccolo van der Poele Niccolo Rising| JC John Crichton Farscape| DJ Daniel Josselyn Hearts and Bones| NB Nathaniel Bonner Into the Wilderness


is, or has a tendency
to be
FD PT PdSC NvdP JC DJ NB
conceited x x - - - - -
condescending xx x - - - - -
evasive
secretive
x - x xx x x x
opinionated x x x x x - x
stubborn
inflexible
x x x x x x x
impatient x x - - - - x
insensitive
oblivious
x x - - - - x
prone to
melancholy
- - x - - x -