Lockdown 2: Isolation Boogaloo #3 – The Bar Fight Method
As Untitled Blackbird and the Ghost Book 2 grows ever-larger and further out of my actual control, I’ve been struggling a little to create a world that feels real. But I do, thankfully, have a trio of what seem like very nicely-formed characters on my hands, and in my view it’s good characters that are the most important part of any story. Better than plot, better than setting – the best characters are the ones who you can basically drop in any setting you like – the ones who will pick themselves up, look around, and make the plot happen themselves.
The introduction of a character is the most important moment in their story. That’s where you have to sum up who they are and what they do in just a few words, where you have to hook the reader as best you can. The introduction is often the absolute make or break – if you’re going to make an audience care about a character, you need to do it when they first meet.
I once wrote an essay back in college about character introductions. I talked about The Dark Tower, and I think I talked about Neuromancer. What I didn’t talk about, because there was a very low word limit, was what I was then convinced was the absolute best way to introduce a character (and what I still think is a pretty good intellectual exercise for figuring out how a character ticks): the bar fight. This section didn’t end up in the essay. But I wrote it anyway.
So, here you go. Please forgive me. I wrote most of this when I was 17, and while I’ve tweaked a few bits it’s still mostly in that voice. I hope I’ve improved as a writer since then…
Every writer has his or her own favourite method of introducing a character. Some use a long, descriptive paragraph which sets out some of the character’s particular traits. Others use a single sentence which sums up the personality of that character, and allow more depth to be explored as the narrative progresses, like Stephen King in the Dark Tower. Some writers will introduce a character from the perspective of others, like Mario Puzo’s introduction of Don Corleone in The Godfather, and some will provide a situation in which the prudent aspects of a character are revealed through the reader’s own observation. I tend towards the latter – and one of my favourite situations in which to place a new character is a bar fight.
A bar fight reveals many different things about a character. Firstly, the period before the fight can be used to show how the character behaves in a relaxed environment – i.e. the pub. Many aspects of the personality can be shown in the way the character reacts to their surroundings – are they relaxed and conversational, or content to sit alone in a quiet corner? Their social status can be measured by the friends they arrive with – or do not arrive with – and how they interact with the other patrons. Another important thing to look for is what the character is drinking. They might be teetotal, or they might be downing shots of whiskey left and right – but, if so, why? Are they trying to impress friends or romantic interests, or is their drink simply their favourite poison? How drunk is the character, and for what reason – sadness, pleasure, or a special occasion? By showing the reader these aspects of a character, the writer can provide an underlying personality to that character in a very commonplace environment.
Secondly, a bar fight shows how a character deals with the imminent fight – do they antagonise their opponents, or do they try for a peaceful solution – or do they ignore the situation altogether, and stick to their drink? This allows the writer to display the inherent aggressiveness of their character, as well as the extent of their wit and cunning. If the character insults someone, is it crude or devastatingly silver-tongued? Importantly, were they the one to start the fight, and if so, how? Are they capable of using mere words to incite violence? This also allows the writer to begin showing the relative bravery of their character, by showing whether that character’s reaction to imminent violence is one of avoidance or acceptance, or even aggravation.
Thirdly, and important most of all in the fantasy genre, is the character any good at fighting? The reaction to the outbreak of violence can be used to show an inherent skill with most fighting styles, or an inherent tendency to be rubbish. The fight itself can show how a character is affected by alcohol; whether the lowered inhibitions improve their reactions and increase their ferocity, or whether the character is so drunk that they can’t walk in a straight line. If the character is some kind of master swordsman and martial artist, their willingness to use their skills on a possibly drunken adversary can be used to show innate aggressive tendencies or, indeed, a more peaceful nature and a reluctance to use force. This reluctance can then be exploited by careful use of insults, attacks and numbers of opponents to find the breaking point of the character’s reluctance to act, either by direct insults to the character themselves or by attacking others – is the character willing to step in to aid someone else, thus showing an altruistic or protective aspect of their personality? This last point is extremely important in introducing a hero, who will usually step in to help the weak, or an antihero, who will most likely do nothing and carry on drinking.
Finally comes the aftermath of the fight. The way in which the character reacts to having won – or lost – is important to obtaining a full picture of their persona. If the character wins, are they magnanimous in victory, seeking to help their defeated opponent, or will they leave him in the dust? The ‘help’ can be a simple hand, a round of drinks bought or something similar. Equally, is the character gracious in defeat, accepting the helping hand or reprimand and doing something equally charitable, or are they angry, upset, or vengeful? Some characters might seek to use underhand methods to gain a dirty victory after the fight seems over. Some characters may be forced to react to such methods, and whether they use violence or words to avoid such an attack gives further insight into their character.
A bar fight is a way to show off showing almost every aspect of a character – their courage, their social interactions, their honour, pride and kindness. Perhaps especially useful in fantasy, it brings out the best – and worst – in the complex nature of the human being.
