Suffering and Character Development

There was an interesting thread on Animesuki about character development and how it seems to tie into suffering. It seems that some of the most prolific tend to out their characters through the ringer in order to watch them grow. This has basis in real as some of us wouldn't be where we are if we didn't suffer or learn from our mistakes but that does not mean however that is always a good thing or that some of us turn out better for it. It is often not the suffering itself but rather how we respond to it that counts.

The thing about this is that all living beings in real life go through this cycle. We make mistakes, we get called out on it, we deal with the consequences and we learn from them. That is not to say that it is always a good thing as some writers cannot utilize it well. It seems that suffering is often linked to character development but how much of this is true?

edited 23rd Jun '12 9:54:50 PM by GAP

No offense, but I can barely understand what you're saying.

If it's a question of whether suffering is required for character development, I'd say no - but that partly depends on how one defines 'suffering'.

I wouldn't say that suffering is required, but struggle and difficulty is. Something has to drive us to change, to develop, to grow. Suffering is just a really big, obvious way to struggle.

@nrjxll

I was talking about suffering is soemwhat linked with character development.

edited 23rd Jun '12 11:21:00 PM by GAP

I agree with Morven.

Personally, I think that bad writers tend to go to extremes of causing characters to suffer (though probably to invoke audience sympathy, not to develop the character). In my opinion, suffering can indeed be an important part of character development, but it's not essential. And it should be used in moderation.

I also agree with Morven. It's like Drama really. There's no story (or development in this case) without some conflict, but suffering is not neccesary.

edited 24th Jun '12 2:34:44 AM by AtomJames

^ It is however one of the tools you can use. Inherently there's nothing wrong with running characters through the wringer in a serious or more adult type work.

And even in younger works, you can kill off the protagonist's parents, get her captured, induce a spectrum of emotions...all for getting him and her to be a better person in the end.

Oh I recognise the need for suffering, I mean everything Frodo went through in Lot R just made him all the more interesting and stringer as a character. What I am saying though is not every work requires it. Like you said, it is a tool; an effective one at that, but sometimes is not needed. Thats only my opinion anyways.

Oh yes — I didn't mean to imply that suffering should be ignored as a tool, just not looked at as the right tool for every situation. There are other forms of struggle.

That's basically what I meant about how one defines 'suffering'. The Trauma Conga Line "bad things by the dozen" approach isn't necessary, but something needs to shake up a character in order for them to develop.

^ Exactly. Sometimes a character needs to have a friend gunned down before them, get roughed up in the wrong part of town, or fail that pop quiz. Then they can begin to develop and overcome.

And failing that pop quiz is as valid a means of doing so as the other two.

I think the idea is that suffering or difficulty, and more importantly, how the character in question deals with said suffering/difficulty can be a great way of defining a character.

The idea that a strong person would emerge from a trial by fire even stronger, enough that they'd be prepared to face the trials ahead. With enough, they might become able to deal with just about anything, because it's no big deal anymore. A weaker person would just break from this, and be destroyed That's the tradional heroic take on it.

The Biblical Job, all his suffering is supposed to show just how strong his faith is, that despite everything that happens to him, he remains resolute and is rewarded in the end. Though another way of seeing this story is that God is a major jerk who would ruin a man's life to prove a point.

Which kind of leads into the more modern view that suffering, especially too much suffering at once, could turn someone into an anti-hero, or maybe a villain.

It's really how the author/creator wants to play it.

Ironically, the Anime Monster has it both ways, with the villain being created, becoming a complete monster through intense suffering, while the hero also endures horrible suffering, but only avoiding this fate due to his optimism(which is tested) and belief that all life is precious(which is really hard for him considering he spends years chasing the villain down so he can kill him).

edited 9th Jul '12 8:07:01 PM by hpl

Or you can use suffering to laugh at your character's pain. It's what I do.
I'm such a cruel god.