What Tropes Would You Use To Describe This Character?

I have this character that I am seriously considering using. I was wondering what would be a sensible direction to take his characterization, so I thought I'd might get help from you guys.

Let's name the character Martin for now. He grew up in an impoverished neighborhood plagued by gangs and corrupt police.

His father was a strict man who was obsessed with discipline, he also constantly told Martin about horrible things people have done in a misguided attempt at teaching him right from wrong.

Martin spent his childhood obsessed with morality and punishment, at one point being expelled because he got in a fight with a boy when he caught him bullying another student.

Martin's obsession with punishment and morality only grew as the years went by. He studied criminal law, and became fascinated with the various torture devices used during the Inquisition. He saw the Judicial System as ineffectual and corrupt, this is where he started entertaining thoughts of vigilantism.

He began a series of murders using the pseudonym "The Hand Of God" He would select a person he viewed as wicked (such as sex offenders,gang members, neo-nazis,corrupt businessmen) and hunt down and torture and kill that person.

Martin carried out several murders over a decade's time before finally being apprehended. He proudly confessed to every one of his crimes and even lamented that he hadn't made his victims suffer enough.

So that's Martin's character in a nutshell. What kind of tropes would fit him? That way, I'd have a good point of reference for writing him.

edited 17th Jun '11 3:45:59 AM by Catarrh

Hmm, I'm not good at understanding characters, but I'd say either:

• He Who Fights Monsters: At least the way I see it; unauthorized vigalante activities is illegal, PERIOD. If you commit crime to punish crimes, you still are a criminal no matter what.

• Kight Templar or Well-Intentioned Extremist: with emphathis on extremist.

That's... not really consistent with the Christian message. I realise that that doesn't stop some people (and some whole churches), but if he's in a relatively 'mainstream' faith the vast majority of teaching he would get in a seminary is going to outright contradict that.

Well, I really didn't intend Martin to be a very good Catholic. I was also thinking of changing his backstory to say that he got kicked out of the church.

Excellent point that I didn't notice.

Why is that no one associates Christianity with non-violence and forgiveness nowadays?

So, you're intending that he is Catholic, then? Well there seem to be quite a few of them about on T Vtropes.

I know. It is very strange to me, because all the priests I've ever met spouted love and forgiveness non-stop.

Actually, scrap that whole catholic priest thing. I now think that it was a huge mistake. I edited my original post. I'm sorry if I offended anyone.

I never had any personal experience with Catholic but I'm pretty sure that it (does it?) at least follows Jesus following.

Here's a question for ANY writer who tries to make a character associated with C & C. Yes, especially you, Japanese:

1. Whose teachings do Catholics and Christians follow?

2. What is that guy known for?

It's a simple question you should all ask yourself and it should come BEFORE artistic license and if you are not going to care about it, don't fucking use any motifs from those religions (no, no, it's not directed at you Catarrh, you are cool).

Fuck To Aru Majutsu No Index.

edited 17th Jun '11 3:49:43 AM by dRoy

Catarrh, nobody is offended - I'm Catholic myself and I'm not offended. I just thought it was a bit of a hole in the story.

Perhaps he intended to be a priest, but left the seminary early or in some way decided that it wasn't compatible.

That'd work.

Same here.

Interesting thing is, Nitesche himself originally planned to be a pastor but disillusioned with it and decided to become a nihilist (a philosophy that no one (yes, I'm generalizing) bothers to do any fucking research on it), as far as I know.