Characters
A member of cloud recently wrote that their charcter was handsome -
I like handsome - but it led me all weekend to wonder what handsome
is and how it can best be portrayed in my writing.
Before I begin a story I know I need to know my characters , heart and soul.
I think it is easier to describe their souls.
ie. 'Lucy Henderson is convinced that every time she walks across the park the man collecting litter follows her. She has felt this since she was ten, even then she knew that the spot she had on the right hand side of her cheek had appeared because he was looking at her. Now, at 44, she should know better, but this morning he followed her again. Reasoning, that after all these years it couldn't be the same man, doesn't help. Taking a different route to the library doesn't help either because the man in the travel shop watches her. '
Knowing how much money Lucy carries in her purse describes a trait but it is the personal details of the character that helps me, and eventually the reader, to know them intimately.
But, this question is about a handsome character.
Is Heathcliff handsome?
Some women will like Heathcliff and others prefer Edgar Linton.
Does their like of the men depend on looks or the behaviour of the characters?
I was watching a series of Daniel Barenboim taking a master class. The camera kept going up close, enabling me to study his features - I spent a long time trying to describe his looks; it was difficult. He is mature, and I consider him not to be very handsome, however my friend does and will travel far and wide to watch him conduct; is that his looks, or personality, or both?
Steve McQueen was considered the archetype of a handsome man but I never thought so.
Does describing the character as 'handsome' without describing their features leave the reality to the reader? Or do we need to describe them in deatil? Have the best and most well known characters had in depth descriptions of their looks or only of their character through actions?
i.e, 'he always wore a top that accentuated his muscles so as not to draw attention to his thin legs.'
I don't know where I am going with this but I will take a closer look at Barenboim; he has strong features and a gentle mouth. ??
Obviously I could just describe all you handsome chaps on Cloud. :)
Before I begin a story I know I need to know my characters , heart and soul.
I think it is easier to describe their souls.
ie. 'Lucy Henderson is convinced that every time she walks across the park the man collecting litter follows her. She has felt this since she was ten, even then she knew that the spot she had on the right hand side of her cheek had appeared because he was looking at her. Now, at 44, she should know better, but this morning he followed her again. Reasoning, that after all these years it couldn't be the same man, doesn't help. Taking a different route to the library doesn't help either because the man in the travel shop watches her. '
Knowing how much money Lucy carries in her purse describes a trait but it is the personal details of the character that helps me, and eventually the reader, to know them intimately.
But, this question is about a handsome character.
Is Heathcliff handsome?
Some women will like Heathcliff and others prefer Edgar Linton.
Does their like of the men depend on looks or the behaviour of the characters?
I was watching a series of Daniel Barenboim taking a master class. The camera kept going up close, enabling me to study his features - I spent a long time trying to describe his looks; it was difficult. He is mature, and I consider him not to be very handsome, however my friend does and will travel far and wide to watch him conduct; is that his looks, or personality, or both?
Steve McQueen was considered the archetype of a handsome man but I never thought so.
Does describing the character as 'handsome' without describing their features leave the reality to the reader? Or do we need to describe them in deatil? Have the best and most well known characters had in depth descriptions of their looks or only of their character through actions?
i.e, 'he always wore a top that accentuated his muscles so as not to draw attention to his thin legs.'
I don't know where I am going with this but I will take a closer look at Barenboim; he has strong features and a gentle mouth. ??
Obviously I could just describe all you handsome chaps on Cloud. :)
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9 Comments
I frequently don't describe a character at all unless it is in comparison with another character, "Jonas had never thought of Dwight as being anything less than average height but next to Usil, he might as well have been a dwarf. Jonas was unsure whether this was a purely physical observation; Usil radiated confidence, an almost tangible power that suffused him, adding to his stature..."
But you were talking of handsome. I like to use actions to attribute charcter traits and allow those character traits to slowly find there way into flesh and bone in the form of expression and looks. "...a kindly face, his eyes sad, yet bright as dewdrops and a mouth that was always only a heartbeat away from breaking into a smile..."
I'm always wary of pretty/handsome people as they frequently have major character flaws, seemingly to balance out their attractive visage and I'll occasionally use them to portray an aesthetic perfection with a rotten core. But then again, I'm no pretty boy, perhaps I'm just jealous and am subconciously taking it out on my characters!
No idea who Bareboim is, sorry :C(
In real life I see a person's positive aspects first, I don't know why. I feel right stupid sometimes when sb says "Did you see how fat she was" and all I can say is "No, but did you see that regal posture/those beautiful eyes/that pretty dress". I genuinely notice good points first; given enough time I'll also register the rest. So for me most people are neither handsome nor ugly but have individual traits that are handsome/ugly.
The only time I like more description is for aliens or fantasy creatures - I want to see what the author's world is like; I need help when it's completely and utterly strange.
I guess if an author says handsome, I want the "glasses off" description and form my own picture of a handsome guy with hair/soandso tall or heavy etc and if you describe the features that make him handsome I don't need the generic description anymore - the authors idea of handsome and mine might clash and then my rational mind kicks me out of the story. Does that make sense to you?
I do get a bit bored with the rugged/muscled/brawny/husky/sexy stuff in romcoms/chicklit and if I read one more book describing how the heroine goes all wobbly-kneed because the hero smells of horse and male sweat, I'll scream!
My mum used to warn me not to only consider good looking men as they might not be very 'nice'. Perhaps it is because they have lots of attention when they are young and become narcisstic.
I was asking the question as there are lots of books where the character is not described as such and yet one can still care about what happens to them, and I too hate the chick lit descriptions and the heroine going weak-kneed etc, and yet, the books are published and read.
The old chestnut of trying to make the character real and interesting.
I have fallen for your description already AW :)
Lovely......or is he a psycho?
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