Whether you’re a newcomer to roleplaying games or an enthusiast of the fictional realms of fantasy, writing your characters’ manners is a crucial step in shaping their personalities, identities and guiding their moral compasses. In this simple, friendly, and nerdy guide, we’ll examine character alignments and understand their importance to our character writing.
Imagine a grid where characters’ moral inclinations meet their approach to rules and authority. That’s the “Character Alignment Chart”. Here we’ll discover the three moral options on the Good-Neutral-Evil axis and the three rule styles on the Lawful-Neutral-Chaotic axis. The best thing about this chart is that we can see it in absolutely everything in life. Everything. Let’s break it down.
Good, Neutral, or Evil
The first step is to determine where your character falls on the Good-Neutral-Evil axis. Good characters are the heroes with hearts of gold who spread kindness and compassion. Neutral characters walk the middle ground, making decisions for practical reasons or simply following their instincts. Evil characters… They’re the evil ones who seek power and wreak havoc.
Lawful, Neutral, or Chaotic
Next, it’s time to decide where your character falls on the Lawful-Neutral-Chaotic axis. Lawful characters are all about order, following rules and maintaining honour. Neutral characters embrace freedom and balance, adapting as needed. Chaotic characters are rebels, rejecting authority and forging their own path.
The Grey Areas
The real fun begins when you explore the grey areas. Neutral characters often balance the line between good and evil, making them fascinating and unpredictable. They challenge traditional notions of right and wrong, keeping us on the edge of our seats.
Real-Life Applications
You may ask, “How does this apply to real life?” Alignments can teach us valuable lessons about choice, ethics and understanding others. Just like in role-playing games, we face moral dilemmas every day. But not to worry, exploring different alignments may help us empathise with different perspectives and make wiser choices. They also have a lot to say about human identity and character.
As we continue to explore the field of alignments, we begin to see how they play an important role in fiction writing. As we create compelling characters for our stories, understanding them helps us to breathe life into their personalities. A good protagonist (main character) with a strong moral compass can become a beacon of hope, inspiring readers to cheer on their noble deeds. You have some characters in mind as you read, don’t you? Conversely, an evil antagonist (anti-hero, anti-character) can evoke fear and anticipation, driving the plot to its thrilling climax. By carefully aligning our characters, we can create rich interactions, conflict and growth that resonate with readers.
The Character Alignment Chart also allows us to explore the complexities of character development. As writers, we shouldn’t be afraid to explore the grey areas of our characters’ morality. Nuanced and multi-dimensional characters can be far more relatable, adding depth and authenticity to our stories. The internal struggles between different alignments can mirror the dilemmas we face in real life, allowing readers to connect with our characters on a deeper level. Through their journeys, we can instil empathy and understanding, demonstrating that even fictional worlds can hold valuable lessons for the human experience.
Now that we understand what the Character Alignment Chart is, we can give some examples from well-known productions to help cement it in your mind. Don’t forget that characters’ alignments can change as they travel. Just as we do in our lives.
Lawful Good: Superman (DC Comics)— The iconic superhero Superman is the epitome of Lawful Good. With enduring principles and a strong sense of justice, he fights to protect the innocent and uphold the law.
Neutral Good: Frodo Baggins (The Lord of the Rings) — Frodo’s selfless journey to destroy the One Ring exemplifies his Neutral Good alignment. He seeks to do the right thing, regardless of the personal cost, and often finds himself in morally complex situations.
Chaotic Good: “Captain” Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean) —As the charming and unpredictable pirate, he can be a fitting example of Chaotic Good. Although he may seem unorthodox, he has a heart of gold and mostly finds himself on the right side of justice.
Lawful Neutral: Judge Dredd (Judge Dredd) — A futuristic law enforcement officer, Judge Dredd’s strict adherence to the law and its enforcement embodies Lawful Neutral. He upholds order without prejudice, even when it presents him with difficult dilemmas.
True Neutral: Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit)— Bilbo’s quest for treasure in The Hobbit shows his True Neutral alignment. He is not driven by a strict sense of morality or a desire for chaos, but adapts to the circumstances around him.
Chaotic Neutral: The Joker (Batman) — The Joker is the perfect example of Chaotic Neutral. With his unexpected and anarchic nature, he revels in chaos and seeks to disrupt order in any way he can.
Lawful Evil: Darth Vader (Star Wars) — The iconic Sith Lord Darth Vader is an example of Lawful Evil. He adheres strictly to the laws and orders of the Empire, even if it means committing heinous acts.
Neutral Evil: Cersei “Shame” Lannister (Game of Thrones)— Cersei’s cunning and ruthless pursuit of power in Game of Thrones exemplifies her Neutral Evil nature. She is motivated by self-interest and will stop at nothing to achieve her goals.
Chaotic Evil: Lord Voldemort (Harry Potter)— The dark and malevolent Lord Voldemort is the materialised form of the Chaotic Evil alignment. His lust for power and destruction knows no bounds, leading him to commit acts of cruelty and mayhem.
After all this, think about the people around you. You might even consider examining your own position in the chart on some occasions. Although life is full of reality unlike works of fiction, they may be more alike than we thought.
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