Jonah Patel
Female characters in books are often subject to clichés and stereotypes, making them unrelatable and unmemorable. However, some female characters stand out as strong, complex, and inspirational. So, what constitutes a difficult female character in books? A difficult female character might be one who defies stereotypes and challenges societal norms, like Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter, known for her authenticity and unapologetic embrace of her individuality. A difficult female character might also be one who is brave, independent, and outspoken, like Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games, or one who is strong, smart, and outspoken, like Lizzie Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. These characters often have layered personalities and multifaceted identities, making them stand out in the literary world and leaving a lasting impression on readers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brave | Katniss Everdeen, Lucy Pevensie, Luna Lovegood, Anne |
| Outgoing | Madeline |
| Funny | Madeline |
| Problem solver | Madeline, Hermione Granger |
| Compassionate | Luna Lovegood |
| Intelligent | Lizzie Bennett, Hermione Granger, Matilda Wormwood |
| Quick-witted | Hermione Granger |
| Independent | Jo March, Anne |
| Outspoken | Jo March, Lizzie Bennett |
| Strong | Lizzie Bennett, Luna Lovegood, Anne |
| Knows what she wants | Lizzie Bennett |
| Mentally strong | Ayla |
| Selfless | Katniss Everdeen |
| Kind | Luna Lovegood |
| Wise | Luna Lovegood |
| Has emotions but they don't define her | N/A |
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What You'll Learn
Avoid clichés and tropes, like the 'pure flower'
When creating a female character, it's important to be aware of common tropes and clichés in order to avoid them. One such cliché is 'the pure flower'. This trope refers to a young, innocent girl who is portrayed as being too naive or innocent for the world around her. This trope is not only found in fiction but is also perpetuated in the media. It often involves an emphasis on the character's virginity or purity, which most women may struggle to relate to.
To avoid this cliché, it's important to create female characters who are multidimensional and complex. Instead of focusing solely on their innocence or purity, explore other aspects of their personalities, such as their strengths, flaws, interests, and experiences. Give them agency and allow them to drive the plot, rather than being passive participants in the story.
For example, consider a character like Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter series. Luna stands out for her authenticity and individuality. She embraces her uniqueness and challenges conventional norms with her ethereal wisdom. Her character provides a refreshing take on loyalty, friendship, and bravery, and she encourages readers to value what is often unseen or misunderstood. Luna's distinct perspective and unapologetic self-acceptance make her a memorable and relatable character, avoiding the 'pure flower' trope.
Another way to avoid this cliché is to create female characters who are proactive and take charge of their own narratives. Give them agency and allow them to make their own decisions, even if they make mistakes or face challenges along the way. For instance, Lizzie Bennett from Pride and Prejudice is a strong, smart character who speaks her mind despite living in a world that was unfair to women. Her character demonstrates that it's possible to create strong female roles that exist outside of the 'pure flower' trope, even when the societal context is restrictive.
Additionally, it's important to avoid overdramatizing your female character's appearance. Instead of focusing excessively on their physical beauty or attractiveness, explore other aspects of their personality and character arc. By shifting the focus away from their appearance, you can create more relatable and multidimensional female characters who break free from the 'pure flower' cliché.
In conclusion, to avoid the 'pure flower' trope, create female characters who are complex, proactive, and multidimensional. Explore their strengths, flaws, interests, and experiences, and allow them to drive the plot with their agency and decisions. By doing so, you can create female characters that readers will find relatable, inspiring, and memorable, steering clear of the 'pure flower' cliché.
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Ensure emotions are present but don't define her
When creating a difficult female character, it is important to ensure that her emotions are present but do not define her. This means that the character should have a full range of emotions and that these emotions should influence her actions and decisions in the story. However, the character should not be solely driven by her emotions or let them consume her entirely.
One way to achieve this balance is to avoid writing the character in extremes. Instead of portraying her as "too happy," "too sad," or "too mean", depict her as experiencing a range of emotions that are appropriate to the situations she encounters. For example, it is normal for a character to feel grief after witnessing a death, but it should not be the only emotion that defines her. By showing your character's emotional depth, you add complexity and relatability to her personality.
Additionally, avoid the trope of the "pure flower" or the innocent young woman who is too naive for the harsh world around her. While innocence and purity can be aspects of your character's personality, ensure that they do not overshadow her other traits and experiences. Allow her to make her own decisions, navigate complex situations, and learn from her mistakes. This will showcase her emotional intelligence and adaptability.
It is also crucial to avoid overdramatizing your character's emotional reactions. While intense emotions can be a part of the story, focus on portraying them in a relatable and authentic manner. Explore the nuances of your character's emotional responses, such as feeling both grief and confusion after a loss or experiencing conflicting emotions during complex situations. By doing so, you provide a more realistic and multifaceted portrayal of your character's emotions.
Lastly, remember that emotions should not be a negative trait. Avoid portraying your character's emotions as a weakness or something to be ashamed of. Instead, showcase how her emotions give her strength, influence her relationships, and shape her journey throughout the story. By doing so, you will create a difficult female character who embraces her emotions as a source of power and personal growth.
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Avoid overdramatising her appearance
When creating a difficult female character, it is important to avoid overdramatising her appearance. This means steering clear of overly detailed and exaggerated descriptions of her physical appearance. Instead of focusing on her looks, emphasise her personality traits, strengths, and flaws.
Readers want to connect with a character's inner life, not just their outer shell. A female character's appearance should not be the only thing that defines her. Reducing a female character to her physical appearance is a disservice to her complexity and depth. It reinforces the idea that a woman's worth is primarily determined by her looks, which can be detrimental to young readers who may internalise this message.
By avoiding overdramatising her appearance, you allow the character's personality and actions to take centre stage. This empowers readers to connect with the character on a deeper level and appreciate her for who she is, not just how she looks. It also helps to avoid falling into clichés and stereotypes, such as the "pure flower" or the "beguiling charm", which can be limiting and one-dimensional.
When describing a female character's appearance, it is essential to do so in a way that is relevant and meaningful to the story. Focus on details that reveal something about the character's personality, background, or the challenges they face. For example, describing a character's calloused hands may indicate a history of manual labour or a practical, hands-on approach to life.
Additionally, it is crucial to avoid using appearance as a shortcut to convey a character's emotions or internal state. While it is natural for emotions to be reflected in physical ways, be mindful not to rely solely on physical cues to convey a character's feelings. Explore other ways to express their emotional state, such as through their thoughts, dialogue, or actions. This adds depth to the character and avoids the pitfall of reducing their emotions to mere physical manifestations.
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Make her relatable and believable
To make a female character relatable and believable, it is important to avoid common female character tropes and stereotypes. For example, the "pure flower" trope, which portrays a young girl as too innocent for the world around her, is overused and can result in a flat, boring character. Similarly, female characters are often written as being overly emotional, with their emotions portrayed as negative character traits. To make your female character relatable, portray her as having a range of emotions that are neither too extreme nor overdramatic. It is also important to avoid overdramatising her appearance, as this can make her seem unrelatable.
When creating a relatable and believable female character, it is crucial to avoid writing her through the male gaze. This means avoiding making her "unusually beautiful", "beguiling", or "plain but strangely attractive to men". Instead, focus on creating a real woman with her own full, rich, and grounded life. While she can have special powers or skills, avoid making the story revolve around how desirable these traits make her to men.
Another way to make a female character relatable is to give her a strong sense of agency. This means portraying her as having control over her own life and making her own decisions. For example, a relatable female character might realise that she can choose her own direction in life, rather than following a path that has been planned out for her by others. This sense of agency can also be reflected in her personality, such as by making her brave, outgoing, funny, or an excellent problem solver.
To make a female character believable, it is important to give her a well-developed personality that goes beyond her appearance or her relationships with men. This might include portraying her as intelligent, compassionate, resilient, or optimistic. You could also give her unique interests or hobbies that set her apart from those around her. Additionally, consider giving her flaws or imperfections that make her more relatable and human. For example, a female character might be known for her knowledge and quick-witted problem-solving skills, but she could also be portrayed as being unapologetically true to herself, even if it means challenging conventional norms.
Lastly, consider the context in which your female character exists. For example, is she living in a world that is unfair to women, and if so, how does she navigate those challenges? By considering the societal constraints your character faces, you can create a more believable and relatable portrait of a woman striving to achieve her goals despite the obstacles in her way.
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Avoid the male gaze
To avoid the male gaze when writing female characters, it is important to recognize the concept of the male gaze and its pitfalls. The male gaze, as theorized by British director and feminist activist Laura Mulvey, is the process of portraying female characters through the lens of desire orchestrated by and for the male gaze, specifically the white, heterosexual gaze. This often leads to female characters being objectified and portrayed as desirable objects for male characters and viewers.
- Avoid overly focusing on a female character's physical appearance and body parts. While descriptions are important, there is no need to detail a character's bra cup size or indicate the way her breasts move. Instead, focus on giving her an inner world with thoughts, emotions, and motivations.
- Question the use of masculine gender for small roles. Unless their gender is relevant to the overall story, consider mixing it up with female judges, doctors, or professionals.
- Remove men from your text temporarily to visualize the impact of their actions and vision on the female characters. This exercise can help ensure that the female characters have their own agency and are not dependent on the male characters for their existence in the story.
- Justify and explain any scenes where a woman is objectified. Regularly ask yourself if it is necessary for your plot and adjust accordingly.
- Avoid falling into clichés and stereotypes when writing female characters. Stay away from tropes such as the "virginal young woman" or the "pure flower", as these can lead to boring and flat characters.
- Portray female characters as multidimensional, with a range of emotions and experiences. Avoid writing them in extremes, such as being "too sad" or "too happy." Recognize that having emotions is normal and that women can be affected by events and experiences without being overly dramatic or emotional.
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Frequently asked questions
Some examples of strong female characters in books include:
- Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
- Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
- Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Jo March from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
- Lizzie Bennett from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
- Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Some common female character tropes to avoid when writing a female character include:
- The "pure flower": a young girl who is too innocent for the world she finds herself in.
- The "virginal young woman": a popular figure in many books, but most women struggle to relate to her because of her emphasized innocence.
- The "emotional woman": women are often written as being overly emotional, with their emotions portrayed as negative character traits.
- The "overdramatized physical appearance": an overly detailed and exaggerated description of a woman's physical appearance.
Some tips for writing strong female characters include:
- Avoid falling into clichés: it's easy to fall into clichés when trying to create a female protagonist, but this will result in a boring and flat character.
- Create a well-rounded character: give your female character depth and complexity, just like you would with any other character.
- Make her relatable: consider what would make your female character relatable to your readers, such as giving her strengths and flaws that are universal and relatable.
- Avoid the male gaze: write your female character as a real woman living her own full and rich life, not just through the lens of how men perceive her.
