What do we talk about when we talk about characters?

[Bêthberry]

How do we talk about characters and characterization so that Lord of the Rings is opened up for us, so that we come away with a better understanding of how the book works its wonders rather than simply talking about our own ideas?

Maril has provided a link to a good article about writing characters on the RPG Resource thread in the Freestyle RPG Forum. For reference, here's her link:

"Strong Characters versus Weak Character" by C.J. Cherryh

I think we can take Cherryh's ideas and use them to analyze Tolkien's characters. Cherryh's main idea is that a character's virtue must be won by experience. Here's the basic idea:

So, 'well-drawn' and 'morally strong' adult characters of whatever gender carry swords and banners only for local colour. More importantly, they carry principles or hypotheses of behaviour as the useful and significant tools of their trade, and they test those principles for validity constantly against the situation posed ....

This main idea allows us to ask many different kinds of questions about Tolkien's characters. I don't intend to answer them here, but I would like to raise them to see what kind of discussion they engender.

1.) Is Saruman morally weak but strongly drawn? Does he have a "tragic virtue" or a "tragic flaw" or does his characterization depend upon the bad application of a "moral virtue"?

2.) Are there any "weasels" in LOTR? That is, are there characters who don't pay the consequences for their actions?

3.) Who are the foils in LOTR and how does this function limit or proscribe what the character can do?

4.) How many characters face dramatic vulnerability? Do we fear for them? If we don't, is this a way of identifying a character who is not well-drawn?

5.) How are the characters' traits useful or detrimental to their cause?

6.) What are the proportions of weakness and strength in the characters? Does this proportion vary depending on the role the character plays or the particular narrative thread the character inhabits?

7.) How does Tolkien create sympathy for his heroes? Does he create sympathy for his villains?

8.) Is LOTR an event-driven novel or a character-driven novel?

Essays are due in two weeks. Value: a ticket to your own barrow. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Bethberry