What are character flaws and what makes a good one?

Question

I mean, what exactly defines a flaw for a character? I know that the character's flaws should have at least some impact in the story, instead of being just a mere detail, but what makes flaw X better than flaw Y? Is it how much it impacts the story or how interesting it is? Diseases or personal problems are considered flaws? Can a character have only one main flaw or should they have multiple? What are the characteristics of a good flaw?

" I know that the character's flaws should have at least some impact in the story, instead of being just a mere detail" -- there's no "must". If your intention is to sketch realistic people, then you'll also give them some character flaws that do not have any impact in the story. Not everything that characterizes us, including our flows, has to have an impact to each and every life story or adventure we have. — Hejazzman, May 15 '17 at 12:12
@Hejazzman There is indeed a must. A story is a lense, not a window. It should focus our attention on a particular crisis in the life of a character, and every detail it includes should point towards that crisis is some way or another. Irrelevant detail is the enemy. It is the telling detail that we want, the detail that in some way leads us towards the crisis and deepens our awareness, experience, and understanding of it. Our lives are not like that, but story lives are like that. — , May 15 '17 at 15:01
Have a look at "Hubris" (Wikipedia has an adequate, but small, article). That's one type of character flaw, widely used in the classics. It appears even nowadays, in real life. — , May 15 '17 at 18:13
Pride and Prejudice is a good example of different example of the varying importance of character flaws. Darcy's pride is made more evident and more crucial to the story than say, Lydia's naïveté, but both lead to a crisis. — Kys, May 15 '17 at 18:48
@Mark Baker Those are dictums in 19th century style storytelling. We have come a long way since then, including having award winning and best selling literature that is more like life than like what stories "are supposed to be". The idea of the linear story and the hero, where all details point to some ultimate revelation/crisis/resolution is very formulaic. — Hejazzman, May 16 '17 at 08:56
@Hejazzman These structures are the bones of story. A story must also have flesh. You are right that that there are some modern works (and some older ones as well) that are all flesh and no bones. They are not common or popular, but they exist. (Sometimes they charm with ideology.) There are also cheap potboilers that are all bones and no flesh. But durable mainstream literature has both. In some works, the bones are not obvious beneath a flesh, but a closer analysis usually shows that they are indeed there. You can read and write boneless books if you wish, but I think few here want to. — , May 16 '17 at 11:24
The reader needs to be able to identify with characters. In addition to the answers below, character flaws make a character "human" and believable. Without them, characters are boring and stereotypical. You just don't want to draw too much attention to anything that doesn't contribute to the story in some more direct way. — Joe, May 16 '17 at 20:56

score 19 · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-15T17:28:42.423

The word "character" is used in two different senses. There is "character" in the sense of "characteristics" -- the way that a person does things that is different from how others do things. If someone whistles while they work, that is a characteristic.

The second meaning is moral character. A moral character is not a collection of distinguishing features, since we want everyone to have the same set of moral principles and behavior. Everyone's moral character should be the same.

The usual sense of the word character flaw relates to the second meaning. Another word for it is besetting sin. It is the sin or sins that the person is liable to make over and over again. Lady Mary's constant sniping at Edith in Downton Abbey is a character flaw (or the result of one). Of course, a character flaw in this sense of the word is also a characteristic in the first sense of the word: a piece of typical behavior.

A character trait in the first, non-moral, sense might also conceivably be considered a flaw in a particular situation. Someone of nervous disposition might not be best suited to the job of commando. Someone boisterous and clumsy might not make a good china shop assistant. Their character, in other words, may make them unsuitable for a task, even though it is not a moral failure. It is a flaw only in the context of the task.

In a sense, though, these two meanings converge, because in story terms a protagonist is faced with a challenge, something that they must do to gain a desire or avoid a loss, and the crux of the story is that trial they must face, that decision they must make, in order to succeed (or which will be the cause of their failure).

And so the character must come to some point, some task, some decision, for which they are in some important way unsuited. If they were well suited, the task would be easily accomplished without drama and we would have no story. Superman can rescue cats out of trees all day long, since it is a task for which he is eminently well suited, but by the time we have seen him do it the third time, we start to find it tedious. It is the task for which he is in some way unsuited that makes for an interesting story.

So, a good flaw is precisely the kind of flaw that makes it difficult, achingly and fundamentally difficult, for the protagonist to achieve whatever end they are compelled to pursue by the events of the story. Any flaw can be a good one if it plays this role, and any flaw can be a bad one if it does not.

So finish the following sentence:

My protagonist must ________________________ and this is extremely difficult for them because they are ______________________________________.

The second blank is your protagonist's character flaw.

"we want everyone to have the same set of moral principles and behavior. Everyone's moral character should be the same." Can you clarify that? — Lauren-Clear-Monica-Ipsum, May 15 '17 at 09:36
@LaurenIpsum I mean whatever our moral code, we think it applies equally to everyone. Otherwise the concept of a moral flaw would be meaningless. A flaw is a deviation from design intent. There has to be a consistent design intent in order to identify a flaw. — , May 15 '17 at 11:37
@storbror, you mean a character flaw as a bit of color? Well, a characteristic isn't a flaw except in relation to a task, so it would not come across as a flaw unless it was material to the arc. A moral flaw is always present -- the predilection is always there -- but how is is manifest except in action? If it comes out in action, presumably it is story relevant. If not, why are you bringing it up? I'm all for grace notes in character descriptions but I'm not certain how much random moral failures contribute. Don't we expect a revealed moral failure to matter in the story somehow? — , May 15 '17 at 11:47
"Lady Mary's constant sniping at Edith in Downton Abbey is a character flaw"—if anything, it is a behavioral pattern, caused by some flaw (I am guessing irritability), not the flaw itself. — Lew, May 15 '17 at 13:13
@LaurenIpsum he probably meant that in order to appeal to a majority of the people, a character should strive to comply with a set of moral principles, which are close to the readers' own? — Lew, May 15 '17 at 13:23
@Lew No, I mean moral principles are by their nature universal. Whatever your principles are, you think they apply to everyone. Again, a flaw is a deviation from a specification. Unless there is a specification external to the part in question, the word "flaw" is meaningless. A moral flaw or character flaw can only mean deviation from an objective standard of character or morality. Otherwise the term is meaningless. This does not mean that moral standards are or are not objective, It simply means that the term moral flaw is meaningless if they are not. — , May 15 '17 at 13:56
The usual sense of a character flaw in the writing of fiction is, IMO, not necessarily that of a moral flaw. For example a villain might have the "flaw" of being too moral in some area, thus undermining his villainy. (I also disagree with the idea that we want everyone to have the same morality or that morality is universal.) — RamblingChicken, Sep 05 '18 at 22:48

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered May 15 '17 at 14:34

I mean, what exactly defines a flaw for a character? Diseases or personal problems are considered flaws?

That's a fun question, isn't it? It's especially amusing when you consider that the answer will not only vary specifically from person to person, within reason, this will also vary from culture to culture. One reader may find your protagonist's swear-word-filled speech offensive while another reader may find it a natural result of the character's difficult past. It's difficult to foresee how people are going interpret every detail of your characters' personalities; I sometimes find it best to write traits, especially flaws, as simply genuine qualities of the person you're creating.

I know that the character's flaws should have at least some impact in the story, instead of being just a mere detail, but what makes flaw X better than flaw Y? Is it how much it impacts the story or how interesting it is?

Does describing a field of carnage after a massive battle between man-pig and centaur directly impact the story? No- you can describe the scene in a few sentences or a few pages. Just like descriptively conveying the details of a scene, character flaws first and foremost provide life to your characters. Jon's penchant desire to seek out the first brothel in every town may end up in him finding true love, contracting an STI, a subtle response to dealing with loneliness, or have no other meaning than he just likes sex (a lot).

Character flaws can be mentioned briefly in passing and never brought up again. Just like describing the color and health of a lily on a trail, you're just providing material for the reader to become more immersed into your world. With that said, it can also dictate or at least influence the actions of your characters. I don't think one often sees flaws directly impact the story, unless the story is somewhat built around that flaw (Man's lust for power in The Lord of the Rings, the influence of emotions in Star Wars). But for example, if Jessica Jones was stumbling through a fight due to being drunk (which is common given her alcoholism), then her flaws are impacting a scene but it need be the lead navigator for the rest of the story, depending on the significance and result of the fight.

Can a character have only one main flaw or should they have multiple?

That depends on your character and how much those flaws impact their decisions, or lack thereof. Ultimately both are up to you.

What are the characteristics of a good flaw?

Context really matters when considering this question. As a flaw, being late by 5 minutes to every situation seems a bit humorous but if Xandu Nax hails from a specie called GlorbZorb who finds it criminally offensive to be late... By and large a flaw should be believable, and this will depend on the setting of your story, the genre, and your ability to convey that flaw to the reader.

be careful not to confuse the literary definition of a character flaw with the tastes and opinions of the audience. A characteristic is not a character flaw because the reader disapproves of it, but because it hinders the character in successfully pursuing their character arc. A reader may not enjoy a book if they disapprove of the behavior of the characters (this is very common) but it has nothing to do with the role of character flaw in building the arc of the story. The character flaw is a structural element in the mechanical design of the story. It is not an incidental detail. — , May 15 '17 at 15:20
@MarkBaker This was the entire point of your post, which I disagree with, and which is why I wrote my own answer :) You seem to place extreme significance on character flaws while I feel that they can vary from a simple detail to driving the entire narrative. "It is not an incidental detail"- I believe it can be. I don't see why a flaw need always dictate the arc of a story; just like a singular, positive trait need not be the centerpiece of a character's arc or the story itself. — 8protons, May 15 '17 at 20:20

score 3 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 04 '18 at 20:20

In general, a "good flaw" will matter, meaning it will impair the hero in their quest, and presents an obstacle for them to overcome. Not necessarily permanently, but for the purpose of this story at least.

The flaw can be a disease or crippling, or it can be psychological: They hold a grudge, or they aren't very smart, or they are too impulsive, or they are too gullible or easily conned. Maybe they always look for the quick fix; maybe they are lazy. Maybe they don't pay attention to the feelings of others. For some fighting characters, they can be too prone to seeing violent solutions instead of other better solutions, like subterfuge. Maybe they joke too readily and offend people, or maybe they really don't have a sense of humor at all. The flaw can be they are a very poor liar, and people know when they are lying. The flaw can be they are too blunt with the truth, and think they should be. The flaw can be they are too judgmental of others, and this leaves them with very few friends. For many "nerd" stereotypes, their genius is balanced by a flaw of being terribly socially awkward and spurned. That could apply to a character that is NOT a nerd, too.

If the "flaw" doesn't really matter, it doesn't influence the plot or character and doesn't have to be overcome, it is less of a flaw and more of a trait; and probably doesn't need to be described.

The POINT of the flaw is two-fold; it humanizes the hero (they aren't perfect in everything), and it is used to cause many small conflicts that slow them down or denies them information or resources they need to complete their mission, or shuts down certain paths to that information. The socially awkward nerd isn't going to somehow seduce the hot secretary to get into her boss's office.

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 05 '18 at 23:04

My view of flaws:

A character should not be perfect. They should not be so lovable, powerful, intelligent, etc., etc., that the reader rolls their eyes and hopes that they die a horrible death.

And a character should not go sailing through the story with perfect ease, overcoming every obstacle without really noticing it.

When you combine these two concepts--the character shouldn't be perfect, and character's progress through the story shouldn't be effortless--then you come to the idea that, OK, the character's imperfections may well have a role in the fact that the character doesn't have an easy time of it.

And that leads you to the idea of a "flaw".

But when you separate out that concept, it can lead to thumbtacking artbitrary negative things on the character, merely because you feel the character should have flaws. And that can feel artificial.

So I go back to the idea that the character should be imperfect. And, yes, they shouldn't have just one imperfection--they should have a whole box of them. Ideally, those imperfections should come into existence along with the character concept.

You generally shouldn't start with a character who is breathtakingly handsome/beautiful with genius intelligence, perfect pitch, and the ability to defeat sixty-seven armed men in a fight and then declare that, oh, but he also has debilitating migraines.

A character who's kind of good looking, who barely managed to finish high school because his parents didn't care to get help for his learning disabilities, who has nevertheless found a trade that lets him make a pretty solid living, who has conflicts with those same parents... is IMO infinitely more interesting. You can also give him both the perfect pitch and the migraines if you want to.

And then you may decide that the story is going to strain his areas of vulnerability--academics and his parents--because that looks interesting.

What are character flaws and what makes a good one?

4 Answers4