The Fourth Dimension Of Character
1, 2, 3…4?
The FOURTH DIMENSION OF CHARACTER! *Insert epic music.*
It is a dimension that is rarely used, and when used by writers, it ends up being kind of funky. But what is the fourth dimension of character?
It’s time.
The first dimension of character is in the quirks, facial features, hobbies, and connections.
The second dimension of character is the soul. You write in a piece of yourself, personality, and weaknesses.
The third dimension of character is the ego defence mechanisms. The contradicting part of the character that hides the weakness. This adds depth to the character.
So how does the fourth dimension add to the character?
With Time
In the movie John Wick, we see a man who is retired and is mourning over the loss of his wife. He gets a dog and then loses the dog. This sends him on a path of vengeance.
A straightforward plot, but the writer uses the fourth dimension of the character very well in this story. There are no time skips, but we soon learn that John has a dangerous past, and he has killed a lot of people with household products. He’s resourceful.
This is the fourth dimension in use. It creates the past of the character, and when I say past, I don’t really mean the trauma. I mean everything.
This includes trauma, how they were raised, jobs they had in the past, lovers they had in the past, and how it changes the character, deaths, etc.
When I said writers don’t use this fourth dimension, I am not saying they don’t use it when creating the character. No, no, in fact, every writer creates an intense backstory. It’s like a habit, you just do it unconsciously.
Still, writers do not incorporate the fourth dimension in their novels, screenplays, or stage plays correctly. It’s usually placed in as exposition for the character, and that’s it. The fourth dimension must be weaved in like everything else. It’s a part of the character, and their actions are determined from their past.
Another great example that incorporates the fourth dimension would be J.K. Rowling’s character, Severus Snape. The character has an interesting background, but we don’t fully get it until later in the series. Still, his past influences his actions, and we, the readers, start to wonder what happened to this character to be so strict and cruel.
Conclusion
A concise article, but the importance of the fourth dimension is undeniable. I am not saying that every character needs the fourth dimension; it’s optional, but knowing that there is one is much better than not knowing. Remember, the fourth dimension is not exposition; it is a factor that is pushing the character to do things differently from others. It is weaved into the story and shown not by dialogue but by the actions of the character.
Alright, I’m done. Go, write and evolve. Thanks for reading.
