#boromir deserves better

[ao3statistics]

Lord-of-the-Rings-Event Week: Day 1: Boromir

Welcome to my LotR charts event!

Date of creation: 10.05.2024

He's supposed to live! Case closed I guess.

I assume no guarantee or liability for the completeness, correctness and accuracy of this chart despite my best efforts.

Includes fanfictions in all languages available on Ao3, NOT English only.

This sounds cute btw but also weirdly specific?

More charts will follow. :)

Want to have a chart for different pairings, headcanons etc. in your favourite fandom? Send me an ask!

[boromirswife]

Boromir + concern for the Hobbits

[aesthetic-bbyg]

he’s fine asf but y’all are not ready for that convo.

[e-louise-bates]

Recently I've been mulling over the way Faramir and Boromir are presented in the LOTR movies, and why I find even their brotherly relationship unconvincing (I'm sorry, Boromir fans, but I do). I feel that everything about Faramir in the movies is presented in narrative as though he is a lesser version of Boromir, and the big issue for him is that he's always trying to live up to his brother's ideal, and his father is always criticizing him and Boromir is always trying to build Faramir up. It isn't just that Denethor thinks of Faramir as a lesser Boromir, it's that he genuinely is, and he needs to come to terms with who he is (and I guess he sorta does that when he rejects the ring? but then fails when his father tells him to go retake Osgiliath? and then there's never really a satisfactory conclusion to his arc because he just gets healed and falls in love with Eowyn and decides there's hope for the future after all and everything's ok?).

Whereas in the books Tolkien tells us outright--Boromir is a lesser version of Aragorn, but Faramir is a lesser version of Gandalf. Faramir has the wisdom that his brother and father lack, and Denethor resents him for it, but Boromir respects him for it. Tolkien tells us that Faramir is certain that in all of Gondor there is no one like Boromir, and Boromir thinks the same (which I am pretty sure Tolkien means as Boromir thinks Faramir is the best of the best, but could also be interpreted as Boromir agreeing with Faramir that he, Boromir, is the best, which is kinda hilarious to imagine). Boromir is not always trying to build up his little brother, who is desperately trying to win their father's approval. Boromir recognizes the ways in which Faramir is superior to himself, the same way that Faramir recognizes Boromir's strengths.

Faramir in the books is a strong and capable leader of men (all of whom love him and are wholly loyal to him) as well as a mighty warrior, but his true strength lies in his wisdom. When he obeys his father's order to go attempt to retake Osgiliath, it is not a desperate attempt to win approval, but an acknowledgement that Denethor is still in command and he, Faramir, is bound by oath and virtue to obey his orders, even when they wrong. The quiet plea for his father to think better of him when he returns is a glimpse into the pain he feels at his father's constant rejection, but that pain does not control him, nor is it his driving motivation. Faramir's goal, in all things, is to be a man of virtue, even as Boromir's goal is to be a man of honor. Boromir finds that under the ring's temptation, honor breaks, and though he is redeemed it takes his death. When Faramir is confronted with the same temptation--a stronger one, even, as he has not spent weeks and months with Frodo as a companion and therefore has not built a relationship of trust and loyalty, and he has not heard with his own ears the strong warnings against using the ring!--virtue holds fast. Boromir redeems his own honor by his death, but by his life Faramir redeems the line of the stewards of Gondor, which is why he is able to receive the task of redeeming Ithilien once Aragorn is crowned king (and why he is actually a better husband for Eowyn than Aragorn would have been, but that's a whole other post).

All of this was lost in presenting Boromir as the superior-in-every-way elder brother, with Faramir as his shadow-self, who failed the same test with the ring but in a weaker way (and then passed at the last minute because ... Sam gave a moving speech about good in the world being worth fighting for and not giving up, and he decided that was a good reason to let them go destroy the ring after all?), and whose entire character was defined by desperately striving for his father's approval and never getting it, and then somehow just being ok at the end.

[breadbrobin]

if you could save one character and only one who would it be and why would it be boromir from lord of the rings

[annabawritersdream]

As today is Annual Day of Denial, I would like to share a basic edit I made concerning Gondor's finest, Boromir. Truth to be told, I didn't really care for him when I first watched the movies/first read the books. I was young and way too obsessed with a certain elf to pay attention to literally anything else. As I grew up and matured, I started to question a few things and realized Boromir was/is indeed one of the best characters every written. The love he has for his homeland and his people is inspiring and his dedication to protecting those he loves knows no bounds. As of today he is one of my favorite characters (Faramir too, but this is a whole other story) and I wish he had lived to see the glory of Gondor restored. Alas, I decided to follow canon in my fic and he doesn't really appear it except for flashbacks, visions or dreams. I thought of a few ways to honor him and one of these is naming a (very cute) OC after him.

So...

Here you go. This is Boromir. The cutest thing you ever did see. My main OC's (Enna) third surviving child and second son. His dad is obviously Eönwë because... because it is how it is. Elenwë's second boy, their sunshine, their cub, their little angel baby. Enna loves her late uncle dearly so naming her son after him felt like a good choice.

LOOK AT THEM. HOW ADORABLE.

In a happy AU version of my story, they would've definitely bonded. How can you not love this cutiepie to bits. Look at his cheeks, his eyes, his curls.

In my story they do meet though. They meet beyond Arda and the Circles of the World. Yes, this sweet baby dies. Insult me, go on. I know I deserve it. I would love for him to be safe with mamma and his papa, his papa teaching him how to shapeshift into an eagle and his mamma reading him books and telling him stories, combing his hair and tickling him. But, sadly, he has to die for the story to make sense.

I know I'm heartless and I hope you can forgive me. I did not include him in my other post about Elenwë and their family because he dies prematurely and...I'm cruel, I know. Sorry.

Boromir Eönwëion

(FoA. 29- FoA. 33)

🦅❤️

[nihilizzzm]

Excuse me i just need a moment to cry because how amazing older brother Boromir was 😭

They were both so misunderstood and miserable all the time just two brothers with a shitty father i am deeply and forever in love with both of them and i will not let anyone shit talk about either of them.

And don’t even get me started on how different everything would be if it was really Faramir who would go to Elrond.

Like— Boromir was just so broken at some point, weak of mind because of the weight of expectations on his back, so desperate to do everything perfectly so he just spiralled into the darkness.

And than Faramir, so used to being worse brother, so mistreated and so freaking sad.

And yet, they loved each other so much, something rare between siblings who have to carry a burden such as a father like that.

Yeah, sorry, just got a bit emotional there 😭

[lizardinthetub]

okay lads tonight we're crying about Boromir

[unseentravler]

Tage of the day

[samwises-potsandpans]

Welcome!

This is an LOTR/Hobbit blog! I will be posting things about my favorite characters and such.

Everything on this blog will be SFW, except for minor cuss words when necessary.

I am creating a tagging system of sorts. It’ll be for all of the stuff I’ve either reblogged or created. It’s still a work in progress:

#leggy your ada is here: Any Legolas content

#samwise my brave samwise: Any Samwise content

#kili how dare you die (angry/affectionately): Any Kili content

#tauriel deserved better: Any Tauriel content

#my dear frodo: Any Frodo content

#nearamir faramir: Any Faramir content

#aragorn son of arathorn son of….: Any Aragorn content

#arwen got what she deserved which is aragorn: Any Arwen content

#pippin you fool: Any Pippin content

#blibo baggins of bag-end: Any Bilbo content

#thranduil your leggy is here: Any Thranduil content

#eowyn is no man: Any Eowyn content

#merry you not-fool: Any Merry content

#boromir shouldn’t have died: Any Boromir content

Enjoy!

[fistfuloflightning]

Where’s the essay, OP? WHERES THE ESSAY!!!

you: boromir succumbed to the ring because he was faithless, selfish and the weakest member of the fellowship

me, an intellectual: boromir held such belief in the power of good over evil and the strength of the people of middle earth that he literally believed with enough willpower they could turn sauron's work against him. he was absolutely convinced that with enough goodness and love and solidarity they could overcome the most fundamental evil. the ring used those beliefs and used them to isolate boromir from the fellowship because that's what it does - it takes people's good attributes and uses them to twist them into something serving its own purposes. the ring literally could only corrupt boromir because he was a fundamentally good and faithful person at heart. in this essay i will

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Established Steddie, they have been living together for over a decade, did their best to heal their wounds from the Upside Down and learn to enjoy life again. It's not easy but they do it.

When the Lord of the Rings movies come out, it's actually Steve who suggests watching them to Eddie. He really tries engaging with Eddie's passions, but his focus is not the greatest when it comes to books. That doesn't mean he doesn't listen to Eddie ramble about them though - he knows all about hobbits, second breakfasts, the culture of smoking in the Shire...Eddie admires a lot of characters from the books, but ever since experiencing the Upside Down fuckery, he actually admits that the hobbits had a point. Good food, even better company and good tobacco? What else does one need? It also inspires Steve a few years later to prepare a full day of hobbit-inspired meals for their trilogy marathon when the extended editions come out. But this is about their first time watching the movies.

They both go to the movie theater excited. Steve is familiar with most of the characters, including Eddie's self-admitted crush on Aragorn. And Steve can see why, he can see so much good in all the members of the fellowship. After the first movie, he's wiping his eyes because Boromir deserved better. Eddie has a lot to say about what was lost in adaptation, but Steve knows Eddie loves those movies and would cut off his only remaining nipple before missing the next ones.

The Two Towers have Steve rooting for the ents and he feels strangely touched about how everyone underestimates Pippin, yet it's him who gets the ents to march. He really can't pick a favorite character. He can't wait for the third movie.

They go to the premiere of the Return of the King with Eddie. They secretly hold hands in the last row, and Steve watches the ride of the Rohirrim with bated breath. He clenches his hand in Eddie's when Theoden gets gravely injured, but then Éowyn is there and...oh.

He is staring slack-jawed at the scene. Éowyn's large, terrified eyes, the towering frame of the Witch King. Her posture was fearful, crouched, but still she faced him. And something surfaces in his head, something he's long forgotten.

He's unusually queit when they come back home, he still loves the rest of the movie, almost cries at "my friends, you bow to no one,", then definitely cries at Frodo leaving the Middle Earth. But there is still that something and Eddie can sense it. When they're falling asleep together, Eddie finally asks him. And Steve's had enough time to process what he felt.

"When Éowyn faced the Witch King...it reminded me of what it felt like. I mean, for the first time. I know it's stupid because saw so much unnatural shit, but...it's the first time that I have hard time forgetting," he admits quietly. "She reminded me of me in 1983 so much. I had no clue what I was getting myself into. I thought I'd do the right thing, but then I had a gun pointed at me, they both had blood on their hands...and then it appeared."

Eddie doesn't speak, he only holds Steve closer.

"It was so tall. I remember that petal-like mouth, those teeth, but mostly...I remember the crippling fear. I felt absolutely terrified. I couldn't move. There was even a moment when I thought of running away, but...I couldn't leave them there. Seeing someone go through something similar and being praised for being a hero...it makes me think. I used to be so ashamed for freezing in that moment. For even considering running away. But Éowyn...she was like me." There's awe in his voice and warmth, relief. "She had no idea what she was getting into. She froze. She didn't do everything perfectly and gracefully like Legolas or something, but when it mattered...she did what she had to."

He holds Eddie tighter and asks, almost shyly: "Will it offend you that I think she's my favorite character? Not Aragorn or Sam?"

Eddie just shakes his head and drops a kiss to Steve's hair. "Nah. She suits you well. And you're both amazing."

And if it becomes a silly endearment in their household, that Steve is sometimes called the Shieldmaiden of Hawkins? ("I'm not a maiden, Eddie!" "I'm not calling you a shieldboy or shieldbachelor, Steve!") Then Steve feels a hint of something that he thought he'd renounced, but now, for the first time he feels it's deserved - pride.

[live-laugh-legolas]

Omg this is literally my new favorite thing!! I love you for this 😘

Thank you so much @werkwerkelizaaa

If I could draw even a little good I would draw Aragorn and Boromir at Disneyland with the hobbits.

Aragorn has Frodo and Sam who are super well behaved. Sam has an autograph book and Frodo is on Aragorn’s shoulders.

Boromir has Merry and Pippin who are on leashes and absolutely feral. The character actors are scared of them and Boromir is trying his best.

[rivendell-poet]

Hello! Sorry if this is a weird request but I need comfort rn and would really appreciate it. Could you please write something about the Fellowship (+ Faramir and Eomer) with a s/o who suffers from hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. So like she constantly has to have food with her at all times because her blood sugar drops super fast. If you don't treat it right away hypoglycemia can send you into a coma or even kill you within an hour so it's pretty serious, and I think it'd be sweet to see them worry. It's something I suffer from so I'd appreciate it. Thanks!!

Hi! First of all, I want to apologise so much for the wait. Second, thank you so much for trusting me with this - I've researched the best I can, but please tell me if there are inaccuracies & I'm happy to adapt/edit this. I hope you enjoy it, and again my sincere apologies <3

*･༓˚✧ ❝𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 (& 𝐜𝐨.) 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐠𝐥𝐲𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐚❞ ‧͙⁺˚༓˚✧ « headcanons »

○ Aragorn ○ Legolas ○ Gimli ○ Boromir ○ Pippin ○ Merry ○ Sam ○ Frodo ○ Faramir ○ Éomer

GN!Reader | No TWs | Wordcount : 2k

𝐀𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐧

✧ Has heard of it before, but only in passing and has never pursued study about it. Until you tell him that you have it.

✧ To which he immediately begins to rectify the situation, which starts with asking you. He's very attentive the entire time, asking questions in the correct places and quickly getting a grasp on the basics.

✧ (Also goes to Lord Elrond for advise and to persuade the books and knowledge there. Although it's not a slight on your explanation at all, he simply wants to do the best he can to keep you safe.)

✧ Thanks you for honouring him with your trust, and promises that he's there if you need anything.

✧ Begins to also carry around sugary food. Predominantly dried berries and fruits while as a ranger, but he will buy you and sugar you want when he's king (and honestly most things you want anyway).

✧ One of the best at recognising your symptoms or when you've hit a low - and is quick to check you have what you need.

✧ Big believer in sitting down when your dizzy, as long as you aren't in a literal lake. Asks if you need anything else, before setting down his cloak as a kind of blanket.

✧ Very content to simply sit down for as long as you need.

✧ Is also understanding with more emotional symptoms of hypoglycemia, and one of the most helpful and understanding when it comes to this.

✧ Will stay with you and reassure you as well as he can. Has a good mixture of taking your worries seriously, while also recognising them as symptoms and encouraging you to get your blood sugar up.

𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐬

✧ Noticed something before you revealed it, with all the snacks you constantly have, but doesn't realise it's a medical condition.

✧ When you tell him he instantly asks if you need to eat something, before realising what he's said and apologising.

✧ Also asks a lot of questions, and gets progressively more and more concerned as you explain (he tries to conceal his facial expressions, which works somewhat well).

✧ Gets a lot of snacks for you, although they start off with being mostly berries. He is very open and asking for feedback on his snack selection.

✧ Very observant as to when you begin to exhibit symptoms, although he's better at recognising physical symptoms than mental symptoms.

✧ Doesn't entirely trust himself to recognise symptoms at the start, so regularly checks in on you to make sure you're ok (when you've last eaten, the exercise since then, etc).

✧ Legolas doesn't joke with your condition, but does express displeasure about the human body doing what it does ('but why? You don't deserve this').

✧ If you're having an low moment, you can see him struggling between wanting to leave you alone and wanting to keep you close to him.

✧ He will go with whatever option you want, but is always incredibly gentle with you when he's there.

✧ Often will sit in a tree, always remembers this is not the best option and somehow gracefully falls to the floor.

✧ (Also sits directly on grass but never gets grass stains.)

𝐆𝐢𝐦𝐥𝐢

✧ Has legitimate sugar-cubes for you when he first learns, although his repertoire eventually expands. (At the start there's also a lot of dried and candied fruit.)

✧ The most brusque about checking that you've eaten sufficiently.

✧ Tries to not be worried, doesn't do an incredible job of hiding it.

✧ Can practically seek his heart-rate spike when you get out something to eat. Instantly stops whatever he's doing to make sure that you're ok.

✧ Will check on you every few weeks, repeating his more basic knowledge and checking that you're still ok.

✧ Although he's the most worried - he's also one of the ones who is most ok with you joining in at combat and not treating you like you're fragile.

✧ He has faith in you destroying your foes - low blood sugar or not.

✧ Drinks a lot less around you, and when he does he researches as to what's best for you.

✧ (Would experiment with your tastes if you do drink.)

𝐁𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐫

✧ Hasn't heard of it - but is very responsive, sits down with you and talks it through with you.

✧ Checks in on you quite often, and if he's gone too long without checking you can feel his hand encompass yours. "How are you, my love?"

✧ If you're ever feeling dizzy or shaky because of a low he's there for you, and if you're ok with being touched he'll take you in his arms to keep you safe.

✧ Insists that you should sit down eventually, but even once you do he keeps you close to him.

✧ Buys a lot of sugary things for you (he actually has a very sweet tooth, so has a lot of recommendations).

✧ After every low, without fail, he takes some time to talk to you. To make sure you’re ok, if there’s anything he can do for you, and if there’s something he can do to prevent it next time.

✧ But, most importantly, he wants to make sure you know that you aren’t a burden. That he loves you, all of you, and he doesn’t care about little things like this.

✧ Nothing could make him love you less.

𝐏𝐢𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧

✧ Needs you to explain it to him (probably multiple times). Every time he apologises, but it’s just because he’s concerned - that he needs to know he can keep you safe.

✧ The most open about asking if you need anything, with a straightforward approach rather than just getting ready to care for you.

✧ Is more than happy to share the stash of sweets he keeps on him at all times, although over time you do notice it changing to compliment your tastes.

✧ Actually keeps a little journal of your lows, when they occurred and how long for. He even has a little symbol and colour chart to help keep track.

✧ Is a little embarrassed when you first find out about it. “I- I just wanted to make sure you’d be ok, that I could keep an eye on you. Here.”

✧ (Asks if you’re ok with him doing this afterwards, and completely respects your wishes either way.)

✧ Often asks for kisses after you’ve eaten something particularly sugary (if you’re up to it).

✧ Manages to guess what you’ve eaten with remarkable accuracy. You’re fairly certain that sometimes he gets it wrong simply to kiss you again.

𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐲

✧ Actually very responsible. Listens to you intensely, and then goes away and does a lot of his own research.

✧ Every now and then he’ll ask you a few clarifying statements, and when you ask how he always shrugs and gives (not deliberately) vague answers. Manages to understand the basics of your condition fairly quickly.

✧ Is always ready to talk if you ever need to complain or vent your frustrations, and has mastered the art of agreeing with you and making you feel heard without hijacking the conversation or making it darker than you want.

✧ Has a little stash of some hard sweet (like sherbets or humbugs) in the pockets of almost all his going-out clothes as an extra back-up. Sometimes accidentally gets multiple.

✧ Very good at staying calm in situations, and will stay as long as you need to make sure you’re ok or walk you through something.

✧ More than happy to offer up his coat if you ever need to sit down and there’s only grass.

𝐒𝐚𝐦

✧ The one who enjoys baking you the sweets you carry.

✧ Always slips you a pastry or tart whenever you leave the house, and makes sure you have something with you at all times.

✧ While perusing his recipe books, you notice little scrap notes - details of how much sugar there is, how well it works as a pick-me-up for you if you’re feeling down. It’s remarkably well-kept.

✧ Of course, if you comment on any of this he blushes as he denies it being a big deal.

✧ “It’s no problem! I just want to show how much I love you, is all. And- this is one of the best ways for me. Because I do love you, and what’s the point in loving without something to show for it?”

✧ Also very aware of when you being to display low blood sugar, simply gives your hand a squeeze and gently looks over to you. Asking if you need him for anything, anything at all.

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐨

✧ Is the one who you know will, without fail, stay with you until the end.

✧ Even if you need him to go get something for you he always says he’ll be back shortly, always gives a nervous glance before finally leaving.

✧ Asks if you were ok when he comes back in.

✧ Also gets quite worried when you first tell him, and you need to reassure him a little.

✧ Still, he always tries to bake for you - and also has quite a lot of food in his pocket. When he can’t get anything done, or the recipe is too complicated, he’ll sheepishly ask Sam.

✧ Quite often takes picnic blankets when he two of you are going on walks, and gets it out as soon as you need it.

✧ (Honestly, you sometimes wonder if he gets it out just so he can stop and sit down on a blanket or a while.)

✧ When the two of you are staying together he’ll often lie next to you, smiling and leaning on you while still staying awake. Very occasionally, if he hasn’t slept, you realise he’s fallen asleep on you.

𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐫

✧ Suspects you have a medical condition before you tell him, but won’t ever comment on it. (He does do some reading up beforehand.)

✧ When you tell him he takes it very seriously, and afterwards thanks you for trusting him. There’s a slight blush when he asks if there’s anything, anything at all, he could do to help you.

✧ You assure him that if you need him you’ll say so - and he holds you to that promise.

✧ Isn’t much of a baker, or that much of a sweet tooth, but enjoy going around and buying you things that he thinks you’ll like.

✧ Oftens ends up with highly decorated items (and has a weird tendency to get rose flavoured things) for you. You still appreciate it, and he always informs you of how sugar content there is.

✧ Panics the first time you’re very low on blood sugar, but keeps it fairly well concealed. The second time he’s much more put together.

✧ He’s the one you, generally, feel safest telling if you ever need anything. He always nods, gives you a quick kiss, and immediately gets whatever you were asking for.

✧ When you first mention you feel weak, he jokingly offers to carry you. You jokingly take him up on it, but to your surprise he immediately picks you up and takes you wherever you need to go. (Secretly enjoys this a lot.)

✧ If you’re quite out-of-it, having blurred vision or serious symptoms, he sits with you and tells stories to keep your mind of it. Stays as close as he can, often letting you lean against him.

𝐄𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫

✧ Will probably need quite a bit of explaining as to what your condition is, but you can tell that he’s trying.

✧ Is also the one who cares the least - not because he doesn’t care about you, but because he loves you for your personality, your smile, and the way you understand him. You having hypoglycemia doesn’t affect that.

✧ However, when you realise in a panic you’ve forgotten a sweet, he quietly offers you one of your favourites.

✧ You can see the blush on his cheeks as he insists it’s nothing, before looking away. And then asking if you’re ok about three seconds later.

✧ Checks up on you probably an excessive amount, but it’s out of a place of concern. (It’s also very easy to tease him about it.)

✧ “You’re still the person I love, and you’re still just as strong with or without it. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t love you for you?”

A/N : Hopefully you enjoyed! Also, sorry for the lack of updates this week - it's been quite busy for me, but I hope to get back to my regular schedule (and do something special for Halloween!)

« masterlist » thank you for reading *･༓˚✧ Taglist : @celestialhole / @starwars2222 / @xiaoseminence / @withasideofmeg / @nilintakan / @wordbunch / @bespectacledhuman / @ferns-fics / @stormchaser819 / @raikan624 / @chewgazellechew / @recordofragnarokfan2 / @fleurdemiel-145 ✧ wish to be tagged?

[medievalandfantasymelee]

THE HOT MEDIEVAL & FANTASY MEN MELEE

QUALIFYING ROUND: 72nd Tilt

Boromir, Son of Denethor, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) VS. Sir Percival, BBC’s Merlin (2008-2012)

Propaganda

Boromir, Son of Denethor, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2003) Portrayed by: Sean Bean

“The eldest son of Denethor, the Steward of Gondor; Boromir was a lesson that even the most honorable men could fall to the One Ring's temptation. There's nothing hotter than a tragic fallen hero.”

Sir Percival, BBC’s Merlin (2008-2012) Portrayed by: Tom Hopper

“I want to climb this man like a mountain.”

Additional Propaganda Under the Cut

Additional Propaganda

For Boromir:

“I love him your honor”

“HOT ALSO HE DESERVES SO MUCH BETTER”

For Sir Percival:

[Gifset]

[Gifset]

(+ Bonus Leon and Gwaine)

[physalian]

Humanizing Your Characters (And Why You Should)

To humanize a character is not to contort an irredeemable villain into the warped funhouse mirror reflection of a hero in the last 30 seconds to gain “narrative subversion” points. To humanize is not to give said villain a tragic backstory that validates every bad choice they make in attempt to provide nuance where it does not deserve to be.

To humanize a character, villain or otherwise, is to make them flawed. Scuff them up, give them narrative birthmarks and scars and imperfections. Whether it’s your hero, their love interest, the comic relief, the mentor, the villain, the rival, these little narrative details serve to make all your literary babies better.

Why should you humanize your characters?

To do this means to write in details beyond those that service the plot, or the themes, or the motifs, morals, foreshadowing, or story. These might be (and usually are) entirely unimportant in the grand scheme of things. So, if I wrote lengthy diatribes on pacing and why every detail must matter, and character descriptions and thematic importance, why am I now suggesting go free-for-all on the fluff?

Just like real people have quirks and tics and beliefs and pet peeves that serve our no greater purpose, so should fictional people. Your average reader doesn’t have the foggiest idea what literary devices are beyond metaphor, simile foreshadowing, and anecdote, but they can tell when the author is using motif and theme and all the syntactical marvels because it reads that much richer, even if they can’t pinpoint why.

And, for shipping fodder, these tiny little details are what help your audience fall in love with the character. It doesn’t even have to be in a book – Taylor Swift (whether you like her or not) never fills her music with sexual innuendo or going clubbing. She tells stories filled with human details like dancing in the refrigerator light. People can simultaneously relate to these very specific and vivid experiences, and say “not that exactly, but man this reminds me of…” and that’s (part of) the reason her music is so popular.

What kinds of narratives need these details?

All of them. Visual media, audio, written, stage play. Now, to what degree and excess you apply these details depends on your tone, intended audience, and writing style. If your style of writing is introspection heavy, noir character drama, you might go pretty heavy on the character design.

But even if you’re writing a kids book with a scant few paragraphs of setting descriptors and internal narration, or you’re drawing a comic book – if you have characters you want people to care about, do this.

Animators, particularly, are very adept at humanizing non-human characters, because, unlike live acting, every single stroke of the pen is there with intent. They use their own reflections for facial references, record their own movements to draw a dance, and insert little bits of themselves into signature character poses so you know that *that* animator did this one.

How to humanize your characters.

I’m going to break this down into a couple sections: Costume/wardrobe, personality, beliefs/behavior/superstitions, haptics/proxemics/kinesics, and voice. They will all overlap and the sheer variety and possibilities are way too broad for me to capture every facet.

Costumes and Wardrobe

In the film Fellowship of the Ring, there’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment where, after Boromir is slain by the Uruk-Hai, Aragorn takes Boromir’s Gondorian vambraces to wear in his honor, and in honor of their shared country. He wears them the rest of the trilogy. The editing pays no extra attention to them beyond a split second of Aragorn tightening the straps, it never lingers on them, never reminds you that they’re there, but they kept it in nonetheless. His actor also included a hunting bow that didn't exist in the book because he's a roamer, a ranger, and needs to be able to feed himself, along with a couple other survival tools.

Aragorn wears plenty of other symbolic bits of costume – the light of the Evenstar we see constantly from Arwen, the Lothlorien green cloaks shared by the entire Fellowship, his re-forged sword and eventual full Gondorian regalia, but all those are Epic Movie Moments that serve a thematic purpose.

Taking the vambraces is just a small, otherwise insignificant character moment, a choice made for no other reason than that’s what this character would do. That’s what makes him human, not an archetype.

When you’re writing these details and can’t rely on sneaking them into films, you have to work a little harder to remind your audience that they exist, but not too often. A detail shifts from “human” to “plot point” when it starts to serve a purpose to the themes and story.

Inconsequentiality might be how a character ties, or doesn’t tie their shoelaces, because they just can’t be bothered so they remain permanent knots and tripping hazards. It might be a throw-away line about how they refuse to wear shorts and strictly stick to long pants because they don’t like showing off their legs. It might be perpetually greasy hair from constantly running their fingers through it with stress, or self-soothing. A necklace they fidget with, or a ring, a belt they never bother to replace even though they should, a pair of lucky socks.

Resist the urge to make it more meaningful than “this is just how they are”. If I’m using the untied shoelaces example – in Spiderverse, this became a part of the story’s themes, motifs, and foreshadowing, and doesn’t count. Which isn’t bad! It’s just not what I’m talking about.

Personality

In How to Train Your Dragon, Toothless does not speak. All his personality comes from how he moves, the noises he makes, and the expressions on his face. There’s moments, like in the finale, when his prosthetic has burned off and Hiccup tells him to hold on for a little bit longer, and you can clearly see on his face that he’s deeply uncertain about his ability to do so. It’s almost off the screen, another blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment. Or the beat of hesitation before he lets Hiccup touch him in the Forbidden Friendship scene. Or the irritated noise he makes when he’s impatiently waiting for Hiccup to stop chatting with his dad because they have a giant dragon to murder. Or when he slaps Hiccup with his ear fin for flying them into a rock spire.

None of those details *needed* to exist to endear you to his character or to serve the scenes they’re in. The scenes would carry on just fine without them. He’s a fictional dragon, yes, but these details make him real.

Other personality tics you could include might be a character who gets frustrated with tedious things very quickly and starts making little inteligible curses under their breath. Or how they giggle when they’re excited and start bouncing on their toes. Maybe they have a tic where they snap their fingers when they’re concentrating, trying to will an idea into existence. Or they stick their tongue out while they work and get embarrassed when another character calls them on it. They roll around in their sleep, steal blankets, drool, leave dishes in the sink or are neurotic with how things must be organized. They have one CD in their car, and actually use that CD player instead of the phone jack or Bluetooth. They sing in the shower, while they cook, or while they do homework, no matter how grating their voice.

They like the smell of new shoes or Sharpies. They hate the texture of suede or velvet or sticky residues. They never pick their socks up. They hate the overhead light in their room and use 50 lamps instead. They hate turning into oncoming traffic or don’t trust their backup camera. They collect Funko Pops and insist there’s always room for more.

And about a million others.

Beliefs, Behaviors, and Superstitions

*If you happen to be writing a story where superstitions have merit, maybe skip this one.* Usually, inevitably, these evolve into character centerpieces and I can’t actually think of one off the top of my head that doesn’t become this beyond the ones we all know. A few comedic examples do come to mind:

The Magic Conch in “Club Spongebob” and the sea-bear-proof dirt circle in “The Camping Episode”

Dean Winchester’s fear and panic-driven actions in “Yellow Fever” and “Sam, Interrupted”

The references to the trolls that steal left-foot socks in How to Train Your Dragon

I’m not a fan of wasting time writing a religious character doing their religious thing when Plot Is Happening, but smaller things are what I’m talking about. Like them wearing a cross/rosary and touching it when they’re nervous. Having a specific off-beat prayer, saying, or expression because they don’t believe in cursing.

The classic ones like black cats, ladders, broken mirrors, salt, sidewalk cracks can all be funny. Athletes have plenty, too, and some of them, particularly in baseball culture, are a bit ridiculous. Not washing socks or uniforms, having a team idol they donate Double Bubble to and also rub their toes. A specific workout routine, diet, team morale dance.

Other things, too. A character who’s afraid to go back downstairs once the lights are off, or fear the basement or the backyard shed. Or they’re really put-off by this old family photo for no reason other than how glassy their eyes look and it’s creepy. They like crystals, dreamcatchers, star signs, tarot, or they absolutely do not under any circumstances.

They believe in all the tried and true ways of predicting the weather like a grizzled old sailor. They believe in ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches, skinwalkers, doppelgangers, fairies. They talk to the cat statue in their kitchen and named it Fudge Pop. They whisper to the spirit that possessed the fridge so it stops making all that racket, and half the time, it works every time. They wear yellow for good luck or carry a rabbit’s foot. They’re not religious at all but still throw prayers out to whoever’s listening because, you know, just in case. They sit by their window sill and talk to the moon and the stars and pretend like they’re in a music video when they’re driving through the city in the rain.

Haptics, Proxemics, and Kinesics

These are, for all you non-communication and psych majors out there, touch and physical contact, how they move, and how they move around other people.

Behold, your shipping fodder.

Two shining examples of proxemics in action are the famous “close talker” episode of Seinfeld (of which every communication major has been subjected to) and Castiel’s not understanding of personal space (and human chronemic habits) in Supernatural.

These are how a character walks, if they’re flat-footed, clumsy, or tip-toers. If they make a racket or constantly spook the other characters. If they fidget or can’t sit still in a seat for five seconds, if they like to sit backwards or upside down. How they touch themselves, if they do a lot of self-soothing maneuvers (hugging themselves, rubbing their arms, touching their face, drawing their knees up, holding their neck, etc) or if they don’t do any self-soothing at all.

This is how they shake hands, if they dance while they cook or work. It’s how much space they let themselves take up, if they man-spread or keep their limbs in closer. How close they stand to others or how far. If they let themselves be touched at all, or if they always have their skin covered. If they always have their back to a wall,  or are always making sure they know where the nearest exit is. If they make grand gestures when they talk and give directions. If they flinch from pats on the back or raised hands. If they lean away from loud voices or project their own. If they use their height to their advantage when arguing, puff their chest, square their shoulders, put their hands on their hips, or point fingers in accusation.

If they touch other characters as they pass by. If they’re huggers or victims of falling asleep on or near their comrades. If they must sleep facing the door, or with something solid behind them. If they can sleep in the middle of a party wholly uncaring. If they sleepwalk, sleeptalk, migrate across the bed to cuddle whoever’s nearest with no idea they’re doing it.

If they like to be held or like to hold others. If they hate being picked up and slung around or are touch-starved for it. If they like their space and stick to it or are more than happy to share.

Do they walk with grace, head held high and back straight? Or are they hunched over, head hung, watching their feet? Are they meanderers or speed-walkers? Do they cross their arms in front or lace their hands behind them? Do they bow to authority or meet that gaze head on?

I have heard that Prince Zuko, in Last Airbender, is usually drawn sleeping with his bad ear down when he doesn’t feel safe, like on his warship or anywhere in the Fire Nation, or on the road. He’s drawn on his other side once he joins the Gaang. In Dead Man’s Chest, just before Davy Jones drives the Flying Dutchman under the waves, two tentacles curl up and around the brim of his hat to keep it from blowing off in the water.

When they fight, do they attack first, or defend first? Do they touch other characters’ hair? Share makeup, share clothes? Touch their faces with boops or bonks or nuzzles and eskimo kisses? Do they crack their knuckles and necks and knees?

Do they stare in baffled curiosity at all the other characters wholly comfortable in each other's spaces because they can’t, won’t, or don’t see the point in all this nonsense? Do they say they’re happy on the outside, but are betrayed by their body language?

Voice

Whether or not to write an accent is entirely up to you. Books like Their Eyes Were Watching God writes dialogue in a vernacular specific to its characters. Westerners and southerners tend to be written with the southern drawl or dialect, ripe with stereotypical contractions. Be advised, however, that in attempt to write an accent to give your character depth, you could be instead turning off your audience who doesn’t have energy to decipher what they’re saying, or you went and wrote a racist stereotype.

Voice isn’t just accent and dialect, nor is it how it sounds, which falls more solidly under useful character descriptions. Voice for the sake of humanizing your characters concerns how they talk, how they convey their thoughts, and how they become distinct from other characters in dialogue and narration.

If you’re writing a narrative that hops heads and don’t want to include a big banner to indicate who’s talking at any given time, this is where voice matters. It is, I think, the least appreciated of all the possible traits to pay attention to.

First person narrators have the most flexibility here because the audience is zero degrees removed from their first-hand experiences. Their personality comes through sharply in how they describe things and what they pay attention to.

But it’s also in what similes and metaphors they use. I read a book that had an average (allegedly straight) male narrator going off and describing colors with types of flowers, some I had to look up because I just don’t know those off the top of my head. My immediate thought was either this character is a poorly written gay, or he’s a florist. Neither (allegedly), the writer was just being too specific.

Do they have crutch words they use? like, um, actually, so…, uh

Or repeat exclamations specific to them? yikes, yowzers, jeepers, jinkies, zoinks, balls, beans, d’oh!

Or idioms they’re fond of? Like a bat out of hell. Snowball’s chance.

Do they stutter when they’re nervous? Do they lose their train of thought and bounce around, losing other characters in the process? Do they have a non-Christian god they pray to and say something other than “thank God”? Are they from another country, culture, time period, realm, or planet with their own gods, beliefs, and idioms?

When they describe settings, how flowery is the language? Would this grizzled war hero use flowery language? How would he or she describe the color pink, versus a PTA mom? Do they use only a generic “blue, green, red” or do they really pay attention with “aquamarine, teal, emerald, viridian, vermillion, rose, ruby”?

How do this character’s hobbies affect how well they can describe dance moves, painting styles, car models, music genres?

This mostly matters when you’re head-hopping and the voice of the narrator serves to be more distinct, otherwise, what’s the point of head-hopping? Just use third-person omniscient.

If you really want to go wild, give a specific narrator unique syntax. Maybe one character is the ghost of Oscar Wild with never-ending run-on sentences. Just be sure to not go too overboard and compromise the integrity of your story.

In the book A Lesson Before Dying, a somewhat illiterate, underprivileged and undereducated minor has been given a mentor, a teacher, before they face the death penalty. At the end of the book, you read all of the letters they wrote to their teacher. There’s misspellings everywhere, almost no punctuation, and long, rambling sentences.

It’s heartbreaking. The subject matter is heavy and horrible, yes, but it’s the choice to write with such poor English that has a much bigger impact than perfect MLA format.

How to implement these details

Most of these, in the written medium, need only show up once or twice before your audience notices and wonders why they’re there. Most fall squarely under character design, which falls under exposition, and should follow all the exposition guidelines.

These details exist to be random and fluffy, but they can’t exist randomly within the narrative. If you want to have your character be superstitious, pick a relevant time to include that superstition.

Others, like ongoing speech habits or movements, still don’t overuse, especially if they’re unique. A character might like to sit backwards in a chair, but if you mention that they’re doing it every single time they sit down, your audience will wonder what’s so important and if the character is unwell.

And, of course, you can let these traits become thematically important, like a superstition being central to their personality or backstory or motivation. These all serve the same purpose of making your character feel like a real person instead of just a “character”.

Just think about tossing in a few random details every now and then and see what happens. One tiny sentence can take a background character and make them candidates for the eventual fandom’s fan favorite. Details like these turn your work from “This a story, and these are the characters who tell it” into “these are my characters, and this is their story.”