A favorite depiction of strength was in ‘White Star’, by James Thayer. It boiled down to endurance and willpower. One of the better action stories I’ve read the last couple years.
Strengths causing weaknesses and vice versa way is one of the more pleasing ways to develop characters, I think. There's a kind of symmetry and natural order to it. Pushing a virtue too far can create its own perversion, and having a little big of a flaw can be beneficial. It's all about striking a balance. Or trowing it all out of whack, depending on what kind of arc or character is intended (growth versus a corruption arc). In many of the exaggerated "the flaw is them being clumsy" types of characters--who I do think have their place in fiction too--it ends up feeling a little too abstract/stylized and too cartoon-y for my taste. It's good to paint a quick and vivid picture in very short fiction or fiction fragments, but it often lacks depth. I think a competent writer can pull it off beautifully, but often people leave it at the "archetype" level and call it a day. Personally, I try the weaknesses-strengths dynamics in my writing as well. How successful I've been on conveying it, time will tell.
Raw Strength isn’t that compelling, it’s why someone wants it, or how they use it once they get it. Hulk is regarded as one of the strongest characters, but he has to tame himself. He knows if he goes berserk people get hurt, so half the time he’s running away and isolating himself. Once Loki stole “the hulk” and was surprised at how much mental fortitude it takes to stay in control when hulking out. Also Goku, people always say how he’s so strong and can kill any other universes characters, but Goku would never do that. Goku trains not just for himself, but to be strong enough to take on threats to earth or the innocent. Even when someone isn’t physically strong enough to beat someone, there is more strength shown when they fight anyways.
Here's a scene from one of my stories that shows a character I consider strong (Note: Kasy is 14 when this scene takes place): Kasy crouched over Master Intrion’s body and rested her hand on his chest. He was dead. She swallowed convulsively as she scuttled back from where he lay. How much blood had she gotten on herself? A full-length mirror covered the inside of the door. She stared at her reflection. Blood practically covered her entire body. She drew a deep breath and looked around. A stand by one wall held a pitcher and basin. When she investigated, the pitcher held water and a drawer in the stand contained towels. She used them to wash the blood off and dry herself. Once she’d gotten as much of the blood off as she could, she used a spare towel to mop up her spilled drink. _He told that man not to come back again tonight. I have until morning to get out of here._ Methodically, she went through the room, piling everything useful she found on the table. She took the clothes Master Intrion had worn and put them on. They fit her like a tent. She cut the excess cloth from the pants legs with a steak knife and used a curtain cord as a belt. The clothes were more comfortable after she tucked the shirt into the pants and rolled the sleeves up. She peeked out the window. It was still light outside. _Lots of time yet._ The body lying beside the bed drew her eyes, and she dropped to the floor, where she curled into a ball and wept. _Ma, Fiz, where are you? I need you. Rema lied to us. She dint bring us to a safe place._ By the time she regained her composure, the light had faded from the window. She pulled the curtains down and wrapped the items she’d gathered in one of them. She used a curtain cord to tie everything into a bundle and fasten it to her back. The window creaked when she opened it. She closed her eyes and whispered a brief prayer before climbing out.
I am reminded of when Peter Cullen got the job voicing Optimus Prime. He turned to his brother - a Vietnam vet - for advice. And his brother said, “Peter, if you’re gonna be a hero, be a real hero. Don’t be one of those Hollywood heroes pretending they’re tough. Just be strong and real. Tell the truth. Be strong enough to be gentle.” There it is - “Be strong enough to be gentle.”
Strength to me, is not about flaunting one's abilities, but recognizing the limits of those abilities and how temporary they are.
Strength is sharing a baja blast even when you want it for yourself
A favorite depiction of strength was in ‘White Star’, by James Thayer. It boiled down to endurance and willpower. One of the better action stories I’ve read the last couple years.
Strengths causing weaknesses and vice versa way is one of the more pleasing ways to develop characters, I think. There's a kind of symmetry and natural order to it. Pushing a virtue too far can create its own perversion, and having a little big of a flaw can be beneficial. It's all about striking a balance. Or trowing it all out of whack, depending on what kind of arc or character is intended (growth versus a corruption arc).
In many of the exaggerated "the flaw is them being clumsy" types of characters--who I do think have their place in fiction too--it ends up feeling a little too abstract/stylized and too cartoon-y for my taste. It's good to paint a quick and vivid picture in very short fiction or fiction fragments, but it often lacks depth. I think a competent writer can pull it off beautifully, but often people leave it at the "archetype" level and call it a day.
Personally, I try the weaknesses-strengths dynamics in my writing as well. How successful I've been on conveying it, time will tell.
Congratulations on 7k!!
Raw Strength isn’t that compelling, it’s why someone wants it, or how they use it once they get it. Hulk is regarded as one of the strongest characters, but he has to tame himself. He knows if he goes berserk people get hurt, so half the time he’s running away and isolating himself. Once Loki stole “the hulk” and was surprised at how much mental fortitude it takes to stay in control when hulking out. Also Goku, people always say how he’s so strong and can kill any other universes characters, but Goku would never do that. Goku trains not just for himself, but to be strong enough to take on threats to earth or the innocent. Even when someone isn’t physically strong enough to beat someone, there is more strength shown when they fight anyways.
Here's a scene from one of my stories that shows a character I consider strong (Note: Kasy is 14 when this scene takes place):
Kasy crouched over Master Intrion’s body and rested her hand on his chest. He was dead. She swallowed convulsively as she scuttled back from where he lay. How much blood had she gotten on herself? A full-length mirror covered the inside of the door. She stared at her reflection. Blood practically covered her entire body. She drew a deep breath and looked around. A stand by one wall held a pitcher and basin. When she investigated, the pitcher held water and a drawer in the stand contained towels. She used them to wash the blood off and dry herself. Once she’d gotten as much of the blood off as she could, she used a spare towel to mop up her spilled drink.
_He told that man not to come back again tonight. I have until morning to get out of here._
Methodically, she went through the room, piling everything useful she found on the table. She took the clothes Master Intrion had worn and put them on. They fit her like a tent. She cut the excess cloth from the pants legs with a steak knife and used a curtain cord as a belt. The clothes were more comfortable after she tucked the shirt into the pants and rolled the sleeves up. She peeked out the window. It was still light outside.
_Lots of time yet._
The body lying beside the bed drew her eyes, and she dropped to the floor, where she curled into a ball and wept. _Ma, Fiz, where are you? I need you. Rema lied to us. She dint bring us to a safe place._
By the time she regained her composure, the light had faded from the window. She pulled the curtains down and wrapped the items she’d gathered in one of them. She used a curtain cord to tie everything into a bundle and fasten it to her back.
The window creaked when she opened it. She closed her eyes and whispered a brief prayer before climbing out.
I am reminded of when Peter Cullen got the job voicing Optimus Prime. He turned to his brother - a Vietnam vet - for advice. And his brother said, “Peter, if you’re gonna be a hero, be a real hero. Don’t be one of those Hollywood heroes pretending they’re tough. Just be strong and real. Tell the truth. Be strong enough to be gentle.”
There it is - “Be strong enough to be gentle.”