#and doesn't give them space to be complex (or puts them through the ringer but somehow it doesn't affect them)

[langernameohnebedeutung]

Honestly, for me, one of the more ... uninspired and a little bit grating takes on problématique characters with sad backstories is: "well this other character experienced this and worse and they're not out there killing people!"

i mean, good for them, but I don't think we need a "best practice" approach to trauma

#'hero and villain experienced similar horrors but are mirror versions of each other and act differently' is a good trope for a reason #not to mention that the 'good victim' narrative can also be alienating and harmful #e.g. the case of one very famous book which basically boils down to: #'yes child abuse bad but look how wonderfully humble and kind Main Character is! Now let's never deeply engage with that again!' #and just to get this out of the way with: Obviously a character doesn't have to malicious or destructive traits #to be complex and interesting in regards to the way their backstory is incorporated into their character #there are a lot of really kind and moral characters who are allowed to be complex and strong and good in a way that reflects their past pai #but that's just the point: There is a difference between THAT and a character where the writer doesn't give a damn about them #and doesn't give them space to be complex (or puts them through the ringer but somehow it doesn't affect them) #and then it's looking pointing at a cardboard cut-out and saying: 'well HE doesn't act that way' yeah bc he's 2 dimensional