What techniques can writers employ to develop complex, multi-dimensional characters in short stories, and how do these techniques impact the narrative?
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Developing complex characters in short stories is crucial for creating engaging and relatable narratives. Here are some key techniques to help you achieve this:
Give Your Characters Flaws
Flaws make characters more human and relatable. No one is perfect, and flaws provide opportunities for character growth and conflict. Identify your character’s flaws and ensure they are integral to their personality and actions[3][4][5].
Create Contradictions and Conflicts
Contradictions add depth to characters, making them more interesting and complex. For example, a character who is both brave and fearful, or someone who holds conflicting beliefs, can create intriguing dynamics. Explore these contradictions through their actions and behaviors[1][5].
Develop Unique Voices and Personalities
Each character should have a distinct voice, including specific language, phrases, gestures, and mannerisms. This helps readers differentiate between characters and makes them feel more real. Focus on both dialogue and physicality to bring your characters to life[4].
Make Their Motivations Clear
Understanding why your characters act the way they do is essential. Clear motivations rooted in their backstory and personal experiences make their actions more believable and relatable. Ensure these motivations are realistic and aligned with their flaws and contradictions[3][4].
Use Relationships to Expand Their Backgrounds
How characters interact with others reveals a lot about their personalities, backgrounds, and motivations. Use these relationships to show character traits, conflicts, and emotional depth without resorting to unnecessary exposition[2][4].
Show Change and Growth
Even in short stories, character development is crucial. Characters should undergo some form of change or growth as a result of the plot. This can be an ascending, descending, transformative, or even a flat arc, depending on the story’s needs[2][3].
Avoid Unnecessary Exposition
Instead of telling the reader about your character’s traits, show them through action, dialogue, and body language. This organic approach keeps the story engaging and avoids lecturing the reader[2].
Create Tension and Dimension
Characters should not be one-dimensional; they should have multiple facets. Leaving room for ambiguity in their moral standing makes them more relatable and interesting. Characters don’t have to be 100% likable or 100% good all the time[2].
Explore Their Backstory
While not all of a character’s backstory needs to be explicitly mentioned, knowing it helps you understand their motivations and behaviors. This depth can be hinted at through their actions and interactions, adding layers to their character[3][4].
By incorporating these techniques, you can create complex characters in your short stories that are relatable, engaging, and memorable. Remember, complexity makes characters seem human, and it is this humanity that draws readers into the narrative.
