Character Flaw/ Theme

[AmateurD]

Hello all.

Do you guys agree that the theme is the opposite value of character flaw? Or that doesn't apply to every story?

[FantasySciFi]

They are often unrelated. All characters have unique qualities--some good, some bad--that influence how they behave. The story's goal may follow a particular theme. Occasionally a story can have multiple themes if there are interweaving subplots. At times, their personality traits are central to the theme--always telling the truth. They are not opposite or the same. They are often in parallel and complementary.

Theme: Traveling from Madrid to Moscow
Plot: specific route to get there
Genre: mode of transportation if restricted.
Character: types of vehicles/transportation with pro's and con's
"Acts": stop-offs for sightseeing and excursions while traveling

Just my quick thoughts.

[Murdock]

Yes

[rayw]

No.

[Murdock]

Originally Posted by rayw

No.

Argumentative jerk.

[rayw]

Seriously, though.

A charater does not have to be "flawed" in order for a change or arc to occur.
A charater can simply have a standardly held belief, neither good or bad or popular or unpopular, that situations and experiences across the story change to either an opposing belief or simply a different belief.

The theme of the story may be heavily, lightly, or not at all related to the protagonist's change.

As far as it being "opposite", the two are as different as location and character; maybe yes, maybe no.

[rayw]

Originally Posted by Murdock

Argumentative jerk.

Am not.

[JoshL]

Originally Posted by rayw

Am not.

Are too ;-)

And for the thread, I think they CAN be related, but don't necessarily have to be. And things can get more complex (protagonists with LOTS of flaws or lots of major themes that aren't necessarily related to the specific flaws of the characters). But that's certainly not a bad way of looking at things, and connecting themes to character development is never a bad thing!

[rayw]

Originally Posted by JoshL

Are too ;-)

What, Luke?

[AmateurD]

Thanks guys. Well i think that the best movies i've seen follow that theory. I'm talking about movies like Pulp Fiction, It's a Wonderful Life and even The Godfather. The theme/moral of those movies is the opposite of their characters flaws.