The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was making people believe that they'd know him when they saw him. The fast one that's been pulled on us is that good and evil, right and wrong, positive and negative are not always clear cut or readily apparent, especially when it comes to people.
Girl, you put the icing on the cake right there! I'm gonna have to direct my students in the future to this entry--adding it to my memories as soon as I finish commenting! I never really thought about it but you're right--the thinking involves an additional leap beyond the surface.
I also know now why I can like some things but not LOVE them. I remember reading a book about a character who was constantly late and he, on the surface, was flawed but he didn't feel real enough to make me care about him.
In fact, I would venture to guess that what some writers are doing is not giving their characters flaws but quirks instead. Quirks are simply mannerisms, personality traits--but your post makes me understand that flaws are much deeper than this. Flaws require the balance or the blur between what's "good" and "bad" about our humanity.
I mean, take that devoted parent. What if that embezzled money that is paying for her kid's costly medical needs is coming out of the pension fund for retirees who won't have anything else but that and some meager social security to live on when they're forced to retire? What if that money is coming out of the pockets of people who also need it really badly?
So true! This makes me think of one of my FAVORITE movies--"Say Anything" with John Cusack. Remember the dad and how he was totally ripping off...well, I won't say in case you haven't seen it. :)
ETA: Okay, so there are always exceptions to the rule and I just thought of a perfect example that defies the point I made about quirks vs. flaws, i.e. Bridget Jones. This character is quirky and her quirks I think definitely make her flawed. Whaddaya think?
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Girl, you put the icing on the cake right there! I'm gonna have to direct my students in the future to this entry--adding it to my memories as soon as I finish commenting! I never really thought about it but you're right--the thinking involves an additional leap beyond the surface.
I also know now why I can like some things but not LOVE them. I remember reading a book about a character who was constantly late and he, on the surface, was flawed but he didn't feel real enough to make me care about him.
In fact, I would venture to guess that what some writers are doing is not giving their characters flaws but quirks instead. Quirks are simply mannerisms, personality traits--but your post makes me understand that flaws are much deeper than this. Flaws require the balance or the blur between what's "good" and "bad" about our humanity.
I mean, take that devoted parent. What if that embezzled money that is paying for her kid's costly medical needs is coming out of the pension fund for retirees who won't have anything else but that and some meager social security to live on when they're forced to retire? What if that money is coming out of the pockets of people who also need it really badly?
So true! This makes me think of one of my FAVORITE movies--"Say Anything" with John Cusack. Remember the dad and how he was totally ripping off...well, I won't say in case you haven't seen it. :)
ETA: Okay, so there are always exceptions to the rule and I just thought of a perfect example that defies the point I made about quirks vs. flaws, i.e. Bridget Jones. This character is quirky and her quirks I think definitely make her flawed. Whaddaya think?