Creating characters that resonate with readers means giving them imperfections. As Alexander Pope said, "To err is human," or as Pam Beesly humorously put it, "Pobody's nerfect." This principle holds true in storytelling; your characters will feel more authentic and relatable with a few flaws.
At first, it might seem challenging to impart defects to your cherished characters, but these imperfections will ultimately enhance your narrative. They provide your characters with goals and motivations, strengthen their interactions, and add depth to their struggles. With an abundance of interesting character flaws available, you might even enjoy introducing some complexity into your characters' lives.
Before we dive into our extensive list of character flaws, let's define what a character flaw is and explore the different types you'll encounter in stories.
What is a Character Flaw?
A character flaw is a negative trait in a character that affects them or others negatively. The impact of this flaw can vary greatly. For instance, a long-winded character might be annoying to converse with, whereas a character with murderous intentions would be far more dangerous.
Despite the disparity, both "chatterbox" and "homicidal" are on the spectrum of character flaws. In between, there are numerous flaws like pride, foolishness, irritability, selfishness, aggression, obsession, or naivety. Each flaw has expected consequences, but the intriguing part is how each flaw manifests differently in characters based on their unique traits, backgrounds, and circumstances.
Types of Character Flaws
Character flaws can be categorized into three types: minor, major, and fatal. A minor flaw has a minimal impact on a character's life, a major flaw significantly affects them, and a fatal flaw leads to their downfall (though this downfall isn't always literal death; it could be a moral fall, the end of a relationship, etc.).
Minor flaws include traits like poor hygiene and forgetfulness. Major flaws are more serious, like hypocrisy and envy, while fatal flaws are severe, like self-sabotage or extreme hubris.
However, the outcome of a flaw depends on how the character manages it. A minor flaw for one character could be fatal for another. For example, in "Little Women," Amy's vanity is a small, amusing flaw she mostly overcomes. In contrast, for Narcissus, vanity is his undoing.
Thus, while we've categorized the following list by severity, remember that any flaw can become fatal if unchecked, and even the worst flaws can be managed. Some of the most compelling stories arise from subverting expectations about how a flaw will unfold.
The Almost-Good 🤷🏻♀️
These character flaws are generally more annoying than harmful. Some are even endearing, while others have the potential to cause harm but rarely do. If you’re looking for a minor flaw to round out your likable protagonist, this section is perfect for you!
Awkward – Socially uneasy and uncomfortable. Example: Cath Avery in Fangirl.
Boring – Dull and uninteresting. Example: Mary Bennet in Pride and Prejudice.
Capricious – Given to impulsive behaviors. Example: Lily Bart in The House of Mirth.
Childish – Immature or innocent. Example: Peter in Peter Pan.
Clumsy – Uncoordinated and often accident-prone. Example: Bella Swan in Twilight.
Foolish – Lacking good judgment. Example: Bertie Wooster in Jeeves and Wooster.
Gossipy – Inclined to spread rumors. Example: Mrs. Jennings in Sense and Sensibility.
Gullible – Easily fooled. Example: Valentine Michael Smith in Stranger in a Strange Land.
Humorless – Lacking a sense of humor. Example: Percy Weasley in Harry Potter.
Lazy – Unwilling to work. Example: Gervaise Macquart in L'Assommoir.
Meek – Overly gentle and submissive. Example: Charlie Kelmeckis in The Perks of Being a Wallflower.
Mischievous – Playfully troublesome. Example: Tom Sawyer in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
Naïve – Childlike and trusting. Example: Wilbur in Charlotte’s Web.
Obnoxious – Highly irritating. Example: Eustace Scrubb in Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
Prideful – Having a lofty opinion of oneself. Example: Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.
Shallow – Caring only for insignificant things. Example: Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby.
Skeptical – Doubtful or disbelieving. Example: Lucy’s siblings in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.
Spacey – Absent-minded. Example: Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter.
Spoiled – Self-centered due to overindulgence. Example: Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden.
Stubborn – Headstrong and refusing to give up. Example: Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables.
Tactless – Not sensitive in dealings with others. Example: Hermes in Circe.
Vain – Preoccupied with appearance. Example: Amy March in Little Women.
If these flaws seem too extreme, perhaps you’re looking for a quirky trait or mannerism to bring your characters to life. Check out our list of 150+ character quirks and mannerisms for more ideas.
The Bad 😬
These character flaws can significantly impact a character’s life and those around them. From greed to pure stupidity, choose these flaws carefully to shape your character’s story and determine whether they’ll overcome or atone for them.
Adulterous – Cheating on one’s partner. Example: John Proctor in The Crucible.
Anxious – Frequently nervous. Example: Craig Gilner in It’s Kind of a Funny Story.
Apathetic – Lacking interest in life. Example: The narrator in Fight Club.
Arrogant – Conceited and self-important. Example: Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter.
Belligerent – Hostile and aggressive. Example: Curley in Of Mice and Men.
Bitter – Resentful due to past experiences. Example: Miss Havisham in Great Expectations.
Cowardly – Lacking courage. Example: Arthur Dimmesdale in The Scarlet Letter.
Dishonest – Deceitful behavior. Example: George Wickham in Pride and Prejudice.
Envious – Wanting what others have. Example: Gene Forrester in A Separate Peace.
Greedy – Desiring more even to detriment. Example: Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Hedonistic – Indulging in pleasure. Example: Dorian Gray in The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Hubristic – Excessive self-confidence. Example: Icarus in the Metamorphoses.
Hypocritical – Acting against one's beliefs. Example: Mr. Brocklehurst in Jane Eyre.
Ignorant – Lacking practical knowledge. Example: Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games.
Incompetent – Unable to perform tasks. Example: Mr. Poe in A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Inconsiderate – Caring little for others' feelings. Example: Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes.
Judgmental – Critical and disapproving. Example: Holden Caulfield in The Catcher in the Rye.
Lustful – Overwhelmed with sexual desire. Example: Humbert Humbert in Lolita.
Morally Gray – Neither good nor evil. Example: Kaz Brekker in Six of Crows.
Obsequious – Excessively deferential. Example: Uriah Heep in David Copperfield.
Possessive – Overprotective and controlling. Example: Edward Cullen in Twilight.
Quixotic – Overly idealistic. Example: Emma Bovary in Madame Bovary.
Rigid – Inflexible in principles. Example: Javert in Les Misérables.
Selfish – Solely concerned with oneself. Example: Scarlett O’Hara in Gone With the Wind.
Short-tempered – Quick to anger. Example: Jack Torrance in The Shining.
Spiteful – Bitter and malicious. Example: Severus Snape in Harry Potter.
Stingy – Mean and ungenerous. Example: Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol.
Stupid – Lacking intelligence. Example: Joffrey Baratheon in A Song of Ice and Fire.
Vengeful – Seeking revenge. Example: Edmond Dantès in The Count of Monte Cristo.
Weak-willed – Timid and spineless. Example: Peter Pettigrew in Harry Potter.
If you’re unsure about your character, consider our primer on the 12 types of characters commonly featured in stories.
The Ugly ☠️
These flaws are often seen in outright villains: cruelty, treachery, and a lack of remorse. If you’re looking for a challenge, consider these flaws, but be cautious. Some readers may not forgive protagonists with these traits, even over a long arc.
Abusive – Habitual cruelty or violence. Example: Alphonso in The Color Purple.
Bigoted – Fierce prejudices. Example: Dolores Umbridge in Harry Potter.
Cruel – Willfully causing pain. Example: Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights.
Disloyal – Failing to remain true. Example: Brutus in Julius Caesar.
Fanatical – Zealous to delusion. Example: Annie Wilkes in Misery.
Intolerant – Narrow-minded. Example: Bob Ewell in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Machiavellian – Cunning and unscrupulous. Example: Tom Ripley in The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Manipulative – Conniving and controlling. Example: Amy Dunne in Gone Girl.
Murderous – Desiring to kill. Example: Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs.
Neglectful – Failing to give care. Example: Paul Dombey in Dombey and Son.
Obsessive – Consumed by a subject. Example: Captain Ahab in Moby-Dick.
Oppressive – Brutally authoritarian. Example: The Commanders in The Handmaid’s Tale.
Paranoid – Unusually suspicious. Example: Raskolnikov in Crime and Punishment.
Remorseless – Feeling no shame. Example: Anthony Marston in And Then There Were None.
Sadistic – Taking pleasure in pain. Example: Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
Self-destructive – Destroying one’s own health. Example: Anna in Anna Karenina.
Treacherous – Deeply disloyal. Example: Iago in Othello.
Violent – Viciously harmful. Example: Patrick Bateman in American Psycho.
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