This is a guest post by Rayne Hall. You may know Rayne from her successful Writer’s Craft series. And you may remember how we wrote together Copywriting: Get Paid to Write Promotional Texts. Rayne is also the author of Storm Dancer, one of the finest fantasy books I’ve ever read. It features a flawed hero, which is the subject of her post. The book will be on a special 99c offer until April 30, 2022, to celebrate the launch of the new edition.
Flawed Heroes
I like characters with weaknesses, because they’re like real people, and their flaws make the story vivid. What would Charles Dicken’s tale ‘A Christmas Carol’ be without the sour stinginess of Scrooge, or Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ without Mr. Darcy’s arrogance?
Unlike those dull characters who are already perfect at the novel’s start, flawed heroes need to learn lessons, often difficult and painful ones. They have to wrestle with their weaknesses, make harrowing choices, adapt, and mature. The selfish person learns consideration, the hard-hearted one compassion, the coward courage, and the miser generosity. I can grow with them, without having to suffer the actual anguish and embarrassment.
Many novels feature the main character’s journey of growth, sometimes between the lines, sometimes as the main plot. This journey fascinates me. The character cannot begin to change until he acknowledges his weakness. When he changes, he is tested, often to the extreme.
The classic novel Four Feathers by A.E.W. Mason is the story of a coward growing and redeeming himself. Henry Feversham (spelled “Faversham” in some movie versions) is afraid of fighting in a war, and also frightened to admit to his father that he doesn’t want to follow the family tradition of becoming an army officer. About to be sent into battle, he resigns his commission. Shunned for cowardice by his family, his friends, and his fiancée, he redeems himself with acts of courage in the face of dangers and hardships far greater than those he had sought to avoid.
One of my favourite novels, The Kite Runner, is another story of a coward who grows and redeems himself, but his guilt goes deeper. As a young boy, Amir failed his friend, witnessing him being raped rather than coming to his aid. Shamed by his cowardice, he frames his friend for a crime, so he would not constantly be reminded of his shameful cowardice. When he realises the full extent of his betrayal and seeks to make amends, it’s too late: Hassan is dead. Then a situation opens up which replicates what had happened in childhood, but on a much larger scale. The danger and suffering he must undergo to rescue Hassan’s son from the clutches of a Taliban paedophile are so great that few humans could bear them, but he is determined to do what it takes. As readers, we root for him that this time he’ll get it right.
The flawed character needs to find the will to change within himself, but another person’s love and trust are often the catalysts. Especially rewarding are the stories in which the love of a good woman gives a flawed man the courage to change. In real life, bad men seldom change, and they often drag the good woman down with them. But in fiction, we can see it happen. We root for those characters and cheer for them.
Storm Dancer
In my dark epic fantasy novel Storm Dancer, warrior Dahoud is a troubled hero with a dark past. He has a conscience heavier than a bricklayer’s tray, and more curses on his head than a camel has fleas. How can he learn to control the evil inside him? What will he have to sacrifice to redeem himself?
Magician Merida is the only woman who can defeat the demon in Dahoud – if he doesn’t destroy her first.
Do you like to read about flawed heroes? If yes, what attracts you to them? Who is your favourite flawed hero in fiction? Tell us about this in the Comments section. Leave a comment, and I’ll reply.
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Perfection is sooooo dull. There was a lovely Dally Hawkins film a few years ago – Happy Go Lucky – with an ever optimistic cheerful heroine who seems to be perfect helping everyone and remaining happy whatever is thrown at her. But at some cost. It’s funny and poignant and works because hers is not a perfection that works. Flawed is best for sure. Nice piece Rayne and Nick.
Geoff
I have to look it up! Thanks for the tip, Geoff 🙂
A perfection that doesn’t work? That’s a new take on the ‘flawed hero’ concept. I’ve never seen this in action. I’ll have to check out that film, thanks for the tip.
“Storm Dancer” lets you escape to a world with a wonderfully flawed Dahoud.
#RayneHall sets an eerie underlying tension at the very beginning of this tale. I’m looking forward to finishing this story to see what Dahoud chooses.
I’m so glad you’re enjoying it as much as I did 🙂
What Dahoud chooses may not be what he gets… life throws challenges at him he doesn’t expect. We authors are cruel that way. We don’t make it easy for our heroes. 🙂
I think the appeal of a flawed character is their relatability, as I think most of us would admit to having a flaw here or there.
That is so true, Pia!
I think most of us have more flaws than our fictional heroes have. 😀
I do like to read about flawed heroes. The flaws deepen the characterization and the drama. One of my favorite flawed heroes is Captain Ahab from Moby Dick. Dahoud is also the perfect example of a flawed hero. (Storm Dancer is an awesome read!)
Well said, Priscilla!
I’m glad you like Storm Dancer, Priscilla. — It’s 40 or 50 years since I read Moby Dick, and I can’t remember much about Captain Ahab. At the time, I knew nothing about fiction character development. Maybe now would be a good time to re-read Moby Dick, this time paying attention to the characterisation of Captain Ahab.
Flawed heroes are the best, and they don’t come much more flawed or heroic than Rayne’s Dahoud. If you like dark fantasy, give Storm Dancer a read.
In my own work, fourteen-year-old Alisa carries a strong father-figure vulnerability due to her own father dying before she can remember. When her city is sacked in a violent pillage with her one of the few survivors, she is deeply marked by the experience. The latter works its way out when she is later equipped to do something about the wrongs she sees.
Perfect characters are boring. Give me a flawed one any day.
Hear, hear! Agree on all counts. Your book sounds fascinating – what’s the title?
The Bandit Little Red
Thanks!
Hi John,
I’ve read your novel ‘The Bandit Little Red’ and I know that Alisa has a much bigger flaw than a father-figure vulnerability. A teenage serial killer – that’s as flawed as it gets. 🙂
Alisa says she only kills someone who needs killing. I describe her as quite traditionally feminine when she isn’t killing some SOB who richly deserves it.
I should say that serial killing (even of people who ‘need killing’ in the killer’s opinion) is a serious character flaw. Though Alisa doesn’t seem to think so, and doesn’t seem to work on overcoming it. 🙂
Agreed. In the end, she must learn to forgive and turn her back on what she’s been doing, or she will destroy herself.
I take it this will happen in one of the later books in the series, not published yet? Because as far as I’ve followed Alisa’s journey, she’s only just warming up with the serial killing, and shows no signs of mellowing. 🙂
I take it this will happen in one of the later books in the series, not published yet? Because as far as I’ve followed Alisa’s journey, she’s only just warming up with the serial killing, and shows no signs of mellowing. 🙂
Thanks for featuring my article, Nicholas. I look forward to hearing what your readers think of flawed heroes.
Many thanks for the guest post, Rayne! It was a pleasure as always having you on my blog 🙂
Good morning Rayne. I’m so glad to see you here. Somehow we lost touch and I’m glad to find you again.
I cannot wait to read this book.
Hope you have an awesome day.
Hi Patty, now I’m trying to remember where we know each other from. It’s embarrassing, but I can’t remember! Please give my memory a nudge. 🙂 Rayne
Hi Rayne, no worries, aren’t you the rain who used to host the posts from my clients?
I worked with a blogger named Rayne who once monthly did a Patty’s Picks post where we picked a favorite piece to share.
This was so good, I went straight away and got the book.
Now, my only problem will be stopping reading so I can do my work.
I love these sorts of books. In the Dark Tower, I think Roland is a flawed hero so I cannot wait to see what happens here.
Thanks much for sharing.
Thank you, Patty! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did 🙂
Good morning, Nicholas and all.
You’re most welcome.
I’ll probably wait until the weekend to begin reading. I’ve begun taking 24 hours off from all online stuff except maybe for a peep at FB every once in a while and during this going dark phase I read like a feend.
Flawed heroes are much more realistic. We can more easily relate to them.
I just finished reading a book by a best selling romance author, and the male protagonist is perfect from the start. I could find no fault in him at all. However, I could not really believe in him either.
Romance novels provide more escapism than realism, and the ale leads tend to be too good to be true: handsome, intelligent, perceptive, gentle, wealthy, powerful, fair, caring… not to forget great in bed. 😀
I’ve never been able to really believe that this kind of man exists, I think a dragon or unicorn is more plausible. 😀
Fortunately, most Romance authors give their male leads at least a token flaw – arrogance or impulsiveness or some such. It doesn’t make those men fully realistic, but at least it provides enough connection to reality that the readers can suspend their disbelief and daydream. It sounds like this author didn’t do even that. I wonder how many other readers felt like you did.
Now, now, ladies, let’s not be hasty. We do exist 😉
😀
Careful Nicholas – you’ll have females queuing to put you to the test.
Lol – they’ll have to go through the missus first 😀
Not fair, Nicholas! True Romance heroes are always single and available until they meet the female lead. 🙂
Erm… sorry? 😀
So, Nicholas, since you’re obviously taken, may we clone you?
I’m with Rayne, a little unbelieveable are those perfect characters. And it goes for the women kind as well.
If you ever were at my house first thing in the morning before coffee, you’d know it was so true.
🤣🤣🤣
Lol – I think my wife would definitely agree with you that there are no perfect characters… including me 🙂
My ideal Romance hero is one who enjoys housework. He doesn’t need to be rich and powerful, not even dark and handsome, he just needs to cook fantastic dinners, he also makes breakfast, washes the dishes, mops the floors and cheerfully cleans the bathroom.
It can be surprisingly offputting when the hero has no bad qualities. I had that problem with Toasters, but then again Leo is an android, not a human, so I think I got away with it 🙂
Wow, Patty, that was a strong and fast reaction.
I’m curious – did you download the free sample pages first, or did you go straight for the book based on this article?
Do you generally like flawed heroes? You mention The Dark Tower. I haven’t read this. Do you recommend it?
Hi again, Rayne. For me, when I see a book and the synopsis grabs me and causes me to want more, I tend to go and grab it before I can get distracted and forget it.
I bought the book. It’s in my Kindle library now. I plan to begin it over the upcoming weekend.
The Dark Tower, is a book series by Stephen King and Yes, I recommend it 100% I’ve read the entire series which contains 7 books at least three maybe four times. Not only the entire series, but book 5 in the series is my absolute favorite.
I reviewed this years ago and still have those files so I may put them back up sometime.
Speaking of that, I have two blogs.
If it is OK with Nicholas I’ll come back in the comments and put their links here.
In the meantime, I’m seriously glad to get a new book for the weekend. I love to read ebooks with my echo. The voice is good and each update brings more inflection and tone to the reading.
Of course, I’d love for you to share your links here!
I have read a lot of Stephen King’s books and admire many of them. I haven’t read The Dark Tower series yet, so I’ll put that on my TBR list, thanks for the suggestion.