What Character Are You?
Understanding who we are on a fundamental level can be tricky. What motivates us? What drives us to be who we are? What character traits do we embody and live out each day? Often, our own self-assessment of our character can be skewed. When we look for an unbiased assessment, literature can be a great resource to explore.
Understanding Literary Characters
Reading a great piece of literature can teach us a lot about character and about ourselves. Characters in literature often become reference points for our own behaviour, actions and experiences. Paying attention to the development of a character can be the start of a journey to understanding ourselves, our motivations and our values.
How Can You Determine Your Characters?
When determining our characters, it can be useful to pay attention to the following elements:
* Who do I idolize? Who do I admire? It could be a literary character, someone you look up to or a close friend or family member.
* What type of responses do I have to certain situations or people? Are you caring, compassionate or confrontational?
* What values do I stand for or strongly believe in? Are these values abstract or concrete?
* What kind of action do I take when faced with important decisions? How do I deal with conflict or an upset?
Looking for these moments and elements of character can be a great way to evaluate who we are and what we stand for. A character that stands out to you could help you to understand something important about yourself.
Unwrap the Character
When looking to find a character that resonates with us, we must be willing to do a little investigating. To uncover the character traits of a character, you can ask yourself the following questions:
* How would they respond to a particular situation?
* What would they gain from a given experience?
* Are they loyal or selfish?
* What kind of conversations do they love to have?
As you uncover these answers, you will start to paint a picture of the type of character the individual embodies. You may even start to draw links with your own character and behaviours.
Reflect and Identify
Once you have identified the character traits of a character or a few characters that you relate to, it’s time to reflect. What does this character’s values and motivations say about you? What do you have in common? Use this as an opportunity to explore your own character, identify areas of growth and celebrate the values and principles that you stand for.
Conclusion
Understanding our character is an important part of the self-discovery process. Looking to literature, particularly the characters within literature, can be a great way to gain insight into our own core values and behaviours. By critically analysing the traits of someone like you, you can uncover the character traits that you possess and come to a greater understanding of yourself.