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Old 20th July 2007, 02:39 PM   #20 (permalink)
Peter Graham
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Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 418
Re: A problem with character evolution

Hello Vorthale,

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But also during the book my main character Davian and him begin to gain a mutual respect for one another. I don't want it to seem like he's suddenly a good guy and changed his ways, but I want him to help fight for the fate of the world. I want him to be less of a burden and more of a blessing in disguise. I want him to exhude another side of himself, but not cheesily so.
Don't worry about this. I have banged on in the past about my personal dislike for "evil" and "good" as entirely separable constructs. It's a mainstay of fantasy, I know, but the idea that all of the evil people would go and order themselves into a coherent society over here whilst the good people go and order themselves into a coherent society over there is, to my mind, somewhat unsatisfactory. Especially as the evil people seem to have no appreciation of nice views. They always get the blasted slag heaps and rotten marshes!

There is nothing wrong with characters (even demon characters) being a confusing mix of good and bad. Bear in mind that bad people can sometimes do good things for bad reasons. Also bear in mind that labels like "evil" and "good" are fairly subjective at the best of times.

Have a look at the first two books of Milton's Paradise Lost. The main character is the devil, but by the end of Book One, it is very hard not to sympathise with him and see him as the hero of the piece. As one might expect, the situation changes, but Milton's ability to make us see things through someone else's eyes is one of the hallmarks of his greatness as a writer. So don't be afraid of moral confusion. And don't be afraid to play games with the reader. And don't ever be afraid to avoid the awful "Star Trek" strategy of having the bad guys eventually realising (with the able assistance of Starfleet) that Being Nice To People Can Be A Good Thing and that perhaps beheading your own children for dishonouring a boiled egg is a tad excessive, not to mention being an Act Likely to Infringe Their Personal Dignity and Human Rights.

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If it's any help he's caught and killed.. so maybe his punishment could help reflect on how twisted he was?
Interesting. But in my view, a justice system based on revenge reduces everyone to the same level of moral uncertainty, no matter what our Penny Dreadfuls might say.

Regards,

Peter
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