More than a beast
Question: In my story, one of the central characters is one who is supposed to be symbolic of humanity's more animalistic side (as humans are, after all, just one more animal), so I gave him a number of animal-like qualities; examples include high senses, unusually pointed teeth, a relatively amoral standing and strong instincts. Though he can assume a more beastly form, I didn't include full shape-shifting in his character, as I found it too cliched. Anyway, my problem is portraying him as I want to: A symbol of mankind's more primal side, which they mostly attempt to deny, and the fact that that primal side is more than just gnawing bones and generally behaving like a senseless brute. One example I can give you is when he is introduced to the infant child of his best friend and, despite having no prior experince with kids (or even any real liking for them), he successfully entertains the baby on his first attempt through rolling and pawing and other things often seen in the play behavior of big cats; he is repeatedly compared to a lion in the course of the story. So my question is this: Can you give me any advice about portraying this person so as to get my point across of him representing humans' animal nature, but help me avoid being cliched or one-dimensional? Thanks in advance!
Answer: I think you're off to a good start by making his animal nature well-rounded - with gentle as well as fierce aspects. I would make two suggestions.
1. If his animal nature is based on lions, you might do some reading on lion behaviour, to see if there are other aspects worth incorporting.
2. You might try pairing him with a human (or non-human) whose animal side is as suppressed as this guy's is developed - someone who represents the opposite principle. Things always appear clearer in contrast.
For that matter, you might consider having a character who works well with this guy's animal nature, and/or a character who provokes him to exhibit his lionish behaviour. The baby is one example, but you can have others.
|
||
| site search by freefind |
Recent Postings
-
Having Multiple characters.
Jun 27, 21 04:21 PM
Question: I am writing a Sci-fi story with a military group injected with a specific serum that gives them certain abilities in fighting aliens. I have
-
Story Structure
May 18, 21 02:52 PM
Question: I want to write a novel about the experiences of four friends living in the 1950s. Can I write a few chapters at the beginning that show their
"I've read more than fifty books on writing, writing novels, etc., but your website has the most useful and practical guidance. Now that I understand how a novel is structured, I will rewrite mine, confident that it will be a more interesting novel." - Lloyd Edwards
"Thanks to your "Create a Plot Outline in 8 Easy Steps," I was able to take a story that I simply just fooled around with and went willy nilly all over, into a clearly defined, intriguing battle where two characters fight to keep their relationship intact, and try to find a balance in control of themselves and their lives. Thanks to you, I'm not ashamed of the poor organization of my writing." - Nommanic Ragus
"I am so glad I found your site. It has helped me in so many ways, and has given me more confidence about myself and my work. Thank you for making this valuable resource, for me and my fellow writers. Perhaps you'll hear about me someday...I'll owe it to you." - Ruth, Milton, U.S.A.
"I never knew what to do with all the characters in my head, but since discovering Dramatica I am writing again in my spare time. Thank you for making this available. Yes, it is a bit complex, and it does take time, but I love it because it works." - Colin Shoeman
"I came across your website by chance. It is a plethora of
knowledge, written in a simplistic way to help aspiring writers. I
truly appreciate all of the information you have provided to help me
successfully (relative term) write my novel. Thank you very much!" - Leo T. Rollins
"I
can honestly say that this is the first website that is really helpful.
You manage to answer complex questions in relatively short articles and
with really intelligent answers. Thank you for taking the time to write
these articles and sharing them so generously." - Chrystelle Nash
"...had no idea that a simple click would give me such a wealth of valuable information. The site not only offered extremely clear and helpful instructions but was a very enjoyable read as well. The education from your wonderful site has made me a better writer and your words have inspired me to get back to work on my novel. I wish to give you a heartfelt thanks for How to Write a Book Now, sir." -- Mike Chiero
