Okay, the final elements of CHARACTER are PHYSICAL BEINGand HISTORY/PSYCHOLOGY. This can also be referred to asNATURE and NURTURE.
Our bodies can have a profound impact on what we are as individuals. If we turn out tall and handsome we are going to develop differently than if we turn out skinny and near sighted. Also, if we are born into a family of junkies, on the one hand, or a tight knit Mormon family on the other, it will also affect who we become.
It’s not as simple as it appears on the surface, of course. Those from challenging backgrounds and with physical limitations can rise to great heights in the same way a person born into a handsome and rich family might, but his past and his limitations will still help define who he is as a person. Stephen Hawkinghas done astounding things in spite of limitations of body, and health.
It’s also quite possible for someone who has all the advantages of good genes, great education and monetary stability to end up being a spoiled deadbeat. Like, Paris Hilton, for instance.
Still, whether we follow the obvious or less obvious interpretation of NATURE and NURTURE, it is another important aspect of developing a character. Some of this history may not even come out in the text of our story, but it will still affect how that character behaves in any given situation.
Exploring the permutations of these indicators of character, either in the text of the story or not, is all part of good character creation.
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