In literature, a character flaw is an undesirable trait to their personality. However, note that the outcome of a flaw depends entirely on the character’s handling of it! Vain characters can easily have you rolling your eyes. Weak-willed – timid and spineless. Other common character trait flaws found in literature include: It’s important for a character to have some flaws. Example: Edward Cullen in Twilight. When thinking of fear in a character, you might think of Piglet in Winnie-the-Pooh. Example: Kaz Brekker in Six of Crows. Uncle Ben from Spiderman, for example, is not a tragic hero. 61. 66. 67. Envious – wanting to possess what another has (may be a physical object or a character trait). Example: Dorian Gray in The Picture of Dorian Gray. memoir texting and driving summary gender equality is college worth it autobiography assisted suicide poetry analysis long eagle scout soccer social issue personal experiences national honors society sociology. Don't know how to write a literature essay on "Macbeth"? Screenwriters often treat introversion as if it were always a character flaw. But don’t say we didn’t warn you — and consider getting a sensitivity reader if you’re working with a flaw that involves a delicate issue, like bigotry or abuse. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book. 34. Lastly, think about the reason for the character’s downfall. He died in a random act of violence, not because of any flaw … Example: Captain Ahab in Moby-Dick. Classic literature is full of examples of characters with a tragic flaw. Look no further than Othello’s jealousy in William Shakespeare’s Othello. to. 36. He thinks he is completely invincible, but he has a weak spot-his ankle. 11. Example: Miss Havisham in Great Expectations. His excessive pride led to his downfall. Examples of character flaw in a sentence, how to use it. Lazy – unwilling to work; slothful. Example: Joffrey Baratheon in A Song of Ice and Fire. Belligerent – hostile and aggressive, even when unprovoked. Vanity, like many other character flaws in this list, is everywhere in stories. Examples of vanity as a character flaw. Example: Icarus in the Metamorphoses. Vengeful – seeking ramifications for others as a form of revenge. In Reason to Breathe by Rebecca Donovan, Aunt Carol is abusive to Emma. Hubristic – excessively self-confident in one’s ideas or abilities. Well, a lust for power, of course. If you read such sentences, the flaws are too easily recognized and I often get surprised how writers are still making them. A famous character in literature with incompetence is Peregrin (Pippin) Took in The Fellowship of the Rings. Sadistic – taking pleasure in inflicting pain or humiliation upon others. Check out these posts: Among these 35 popular book genres, there's bound to be one that fits your book like a glove — so let's find it! Home All categories Order Now. Tragic Flaw Outside of Literature. And while she should join the Abnegation faction like the rest of her family, she rebels to join Dauntless instead. 47. 1. Example: Edmond Dantès in The Count of Monte Cristo (though to be fair, he’s pretty justified). Explore some of the most common character flaws along with common examples of character flaws in literature. Our imperfections as humans are what make us unique, and the same is true of imperfections in our characters! Example: Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby. 57. Tragic flaw - Every tragic hero must have a tragic flaw or hamartia. Treacherous – deeply disloyal and traitorous, usually for personal gain. In this character flaws list, here are some examples of good character flaws to consider: Pokes fun of everybody, but is an equal opportunity offender Tells entertaining but largely invented stories about her past Maxes out credit cards buying dinner and drinks for friends Literature is filled with flawed characters. Character Flaws List - Dark World RPG offers a solid collection of character flaws with descriptions. Example: Arthur Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter. From adultery to greed to pure stupidity, if you choose one of these flaws for your character, make sure you’ve carefully considered how it will shape their story — and indeed, whether that journey will end with them overcoming their limitations or atoning for their sins. Stupid – showing little intelligence in one’s decisions or actions. These character flaws should be taken more seriously: they can impact a character’s life quite heavily, as well as the lives of those around them. Quixotic – overly idealistic and hindered by their own expectations. Example: Uriah Heep in David Copperfield. Not to mention that there are so many complex and fascinating character flaws to choose from, you might even find yourself excited to “mess up” your characters! 64. We gather our favorites in this detailed guide, so you can start learning today. 60. However, there is nothing wrong with needing alone time to recharge your batteries. Prideful – having a lofty opinion of oneself and rarely admitting to being wrong. 25. You’ll be a Freytag expert in no time! 24. Having a literary character with no flaw would be like having a short story, novel, movie, with not conflict. 2. Example: Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web. In classic literature, this was typically their pride. If you’re looking for a minor flaw to round out your likable protagonist, this section is for you! For your reference, here are some examples of the term fatal flaw being usedin sentences. So while we’ve attempted to divide up the following list by degrees of severity, remember that a seemingly innocuous flaw can turn fatal if not kept in check, and that even the grimmest of flaws may still be managed. Hedonistic – indulging completely in the pursuit of pleasure. Example: Brutus in Julius Caesar. 50. Cruel – willfully causing pain and suffering to others. Example: Lily Bart in The House of Mirth. Whatever flaws you invoke in your story, don’t be afraid to dive deep to create truly distinct, memorable characters — characters that readers will remember forever, even if they’re not always well-behaved. Example: Cath Avery in Fangirl. But, let's be honest: we can all improve how we present ourselves in our communications and interactions with family, friends, business associates, and others. For example, if a character cannot stand dirt, they might obsessively clean their house until they drop from exhaustion. Example: Severus Snape in Harry Potter. Boring – dull, tedious, uninteresting (not to be confused with a flat character, who’s not even developed enough to be boring). Shallow – having few profound thoughts and caring only for insignificant things. 16. Spoiled – bratty and self-centered as a result of overindulgence. Incompetent – unable to perform basic tasks. 68. Example: Anthony James Marston in And Then There Were None. As you’d expect, minor flaws are typically things like poor hygiene and forgetfulness. 46. He’s so vain he can’t even begin to understand why Elizabeth would refuse him. "His friends all told him that he shared Hamlet's fatal flaw: although he was brilliant, he thought too much and acted too little; and as a result, all of the best opportunities of life tended to pass him by, as he just stood aside as if paralyzed." Where an individual has many strengths a few weaknesses can be charming. While pride could be a good thing, excessive pride proves to be fatal to their character. Malory, however, designed characters with obvious, as well as realistic, flaws. While it’s certainly fascinating to think about how such deep-seated flaws can be effectively balanced with other traits, take caution! Judgmental – critical and disapproving, often in an outspoken way. Abusive – engaging in habitual and extreme cruelty or violence. Explore common character flaws found among literary heroes, villains, and sidekicks. Rebels can start a great story. Greedy – always desiring more (food, wealth, attention, etc. 51. Take for instance, Mr. Collins from Pride and Prejudice. In Macbeth, the protagonist suffers from hubris (excessive pride ), and murders the king. Cowardly – lacking the courage to stand up for what’s right. Example: Tom Ripley in The Talented Mr. Ripley. Ginevra tells Lucy: Examples of Tragic Flaws from Famous Literature. But before we get to our extensive list of character flaws, let’s go over what a character flaw is and the different types you’ll see in stories. 13. He then becomes paranoid, which causes him to … Macbeth. Learn more…, Find the perfect editor for your next book. 54. His greed defines him in the beginning, but through his time spent with the ghosts, Scrooge is able to see the error of his ways. Looking for more character-building resources? Example: Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter. For example, in Little Women, Amy’s vanity is a small, amusing aspect of her character, out of which she (mostly) matures; for Narcissus, on the other hand, vanity proves fatal. Lustful – overwhelmed with sexual desire. Example: Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice. 27. Great post! Awkward – socially uneasy and uncomfortable. Example: Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. A minor character flaw is an imperfection which serves to distinguish the character in the mind of the reader / viewer / player / listener, making them memorable and individual, but otherwise does not affect the story in any way. It might involve an obsessive focus on a narrow interest, excluding … Clumsy – uncoordinated and fumbling; often accident-prone. A romantic might start an affair and cause complications in their relationships. Of course, the degree of this effect varies hugely based on the flaw itself. Pro tip: Choose a flaw for one of your characters, then try a few character development exercises to see how it might manifest. 29. Examples Of Character Flaws In Fiction. Bonus!) With all that in mind: here are 70 fascinating character flaws to use in your story, with examples from literature to demonstrate each one. Want to know how to write a mystery? 43. Example: Mr. Brocklehurst in Jane Eyre. Words. Without those flaws to make heroes and villains likable or relatable, you wouldn’t read a story. 2. Example: Charlie Kelmeckis in The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Dishonest – lying or behaving in a deceitful manner, usually to take advantage of others. Morally gray – neither good nor evil in a conventional sense; characterized by moral ambiguity. Pro tip: Choose a flaw for one of your characters, then try a few character development exercises to see how it might manifest. Oppressive – brutally authoritarian toward a group of people considered “lesser.” Example: The Commanders of Gilead in The Handmaid’s Tale. 3. 37. Rigid – utterly inflexible in one’s principles, even when presented with reason to change. This information could create conflict and might force them to act or react. Perhaps they even clean other people’s houses without permission, making them seem r… 23. What functions as a minor flaw for one character could be a fatal flaw for another. This archetype usually follows a young or naive character who sees the world through rose-tinted glasses — until reality comes knocking. Blog Example: Emma Bovary in Madame Bovary. Murderous – desiring to kill; homicidal. 14. 20. > Perfecting your Craft Without this rebellious streak, the story wouldn’t exist. Mischievous – playfully troublesome; rascally or roguish. 69. Example: Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter. A story must also have flesh. Often this is accompanied by a list of personality traits and/or physical attributes, like so: These character description examples aren’t bad, but they’re not great either. Example: Curley in Of Mice and Men. Example: Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables. Example: Bella Swan in Twilight. Compared to the flaws we’ll talk about next, minor flaws are little more than negative traits. Example: Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. (That second one hints at some bigger issues, too! For example, extreme introversion might lead to poor social skills for lack of practice. Example: Anna in Anna Karenina. Obnoxious – highly irritating and unpleasant. Tactless – not very nuanced or sensitive in dealings with others. Manipulative – conniving and controlling others to get what one wants. Her lust for power causes her to create the same problems as the previous leader, President Snow. Machiavellian – cunning, manipulative, and unscrupulous in one’s schemes. Obsequious – so deferential and flattering as to be unsettling. He plots with his wife to murder the … 6. Search Categories . Spiders, frogs, worms, blood, dirt, corpses, disease. Search Categories . 52. Hypocritical – acting in opposition to one’s beliefs or proclamations about others, typically because one believes they are “above” them. Some readers may be unable to forgive protagonists who demonstrate these flaws, even over the course of multi-book character arcs to show they’ve changed. While incompetence can be a fatal character flaw, it can add humor to a work. 49. A helpful or scrupulous character may inadvertently find out information when they are lending a hand. This example will help you. Search Pages. 19. 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