Character Dimensions with the Moral Spectrum. This shows which characters on the Moral Spectrum are able to fall under a specific character dimension.
•Red: The character is highly likely to fall under this dimension.
•Purple: The character is not as likely to fall under this dimension because of specific characteristics but can still have a chance to fall under this dimension.
•Blue: The character is unlikely to fall under this dimension.
Character Dimensions is about the three types of characters who appear in the story with varying degrees of character depths, characterization, and character development in the story. The three types of characters are one-dimensional characters, two-dimensional characters, and three-dimensional characters. The depths and dimension of the character coincides with important traits to the characters such as their actions, motives, and personality. All characters are classified under one of the three dimensions despite what moral concept they may fall under on the moral spectrum.
Three Dimensions of Characters
One-Dimensional Characters
One-dimension to the character.
- See Also: List of One-Dimensional characters
One-Dimensional Characters are characters who have one generalized characteristic that sums of their entire character (personality, actions, and motives). The generalized characteristic of the character is a simple characteristic that describes the character overall. This character does not have any other element to the character beyond the generalized characteristic. These characters are flat and do not grow. These characters are often written solely to drive the plot of the story with little to no focus on the character's distinct traits or any internal conflicts.
Any character on the moral spectrum could fall under this, especially Pure Neutral (Rank 0) characters who lack any human qualities or personality. Some completely ambiguous (Rank 0) characters, heroes, and villains can fall under being one-dimensional.
With the exceptions of some non-personified non-human characters, and exceptionally flat and static characters, it is challenging for Pure Evil (Rank 1 -) and Pure Good (Rank 1 +) characters to qualify as one-dimensional. These characters require specific character traits that makes them distinct from other characters in the story. Being one-dimensional risks the possibility of the character going against the criteria on character traits for Pure Good or Pure Evil.
Two-Dimensional
Two dimensions to the character.
- See Also: List of Two-Dimensional characters
Two-Dimensional Characters are characters who have generalized characteristics and distinct traits. Along with their generalized characters, their distinct traits make it where these characters can be described more in detail based on their personality, actions, and motives. These distinct traits put more focus on the character's traits such as the character's likes or dislikes, the character's fears, goals, and interests. In addition, there is more focus on a clearer personality with these characters that is lacking in one-dimensional characters such as a villain's sadism, paranoia, arrogance or a hero's selflessness, sympathy, and standards.
These characters are all flat characters. They are also cliche and falls under any variety of common literature tropes for characters. These characters lack depth to their character and are written to be an integral part of the plot of the story with no focus on unique characteristics that gives a realistic depth to their character.
Many supporting and secondary characters are often two-dimensional. Main protagonists and antagonists who fall under common tropes with no unique depths to their character also tend to be two-dimensional. Due to how these character's fall under a common trope, the reader, viewer, listener would not consider these characters to have realistic traits.
These characters may not be fully developed unlike three-dimensional characters, either because they were written for a specific purpose in their story, their character arc was inconclusive, or their character arc is still ongoing.
Many characters on the Moral Spectrum, with the exception of Pure Neutral characters, are bound to fall under two-dimension. It is much common for Pure Evil and Pure Good characters to fall under this dimension since at this level these characters fall under specific literature tropes in their character and have the distinct traits to make them stand out.
Three-Dimensional
Three dimensions to the character.
- See Also: List of Three-Dimensional characters
Three-dimensional characters have characteristics that gives depth to their character. Unlike One-dimensional and two-dimensional characters who are all flat characters, these characters are round characters and are often described to have character traits that makes them realistic in the story they appear in. Not only do they have a generalized characteristic and distinct traits, but these characters also have specific conflicts that is a major point of focus in the story that gives depth and uniqueness to these characters.
The specific conflicts these characters have are both internal and external conflicts. These characters have a unique internal conflict that is presented along with an external conflict which could be a conflict with another person, conflict with a group, etc. The focus on the character's conflict sets them apart for them to have a unique story about themselves within the story itself.
With their specific conflicts, these characters have notable strengths and weaknesses. Their strengths and weaknesses often make these characters deviate from being part of a common literature trope to being unique. In addition, these characters also have flaws in their character and are crafted in a way for readers, viewers, listeners to note the character's realistic characteristics. Unlike the two-dimensional character that lacks the focus on a specific internal and external conflict, these characters possess this trait that makes them come across as realistic to audience members since they have defined strengths and weaknesses based on their personality and motives.
Most of these characters are fully developed characters and they may have had development in their character throughout the story they appear in. These characters are commonly considered to be complex characters because of their unique personality, motives, actions along with a specific focus on their own conflicts that tells their individual story within the story they appear in.
Characters with limited screen time, often would not count as three-dimensional since there was a lack of focus on the character's development in the story.
With the exception of Pure Neutral characters, characters on any part of the Moral Spectrum can be considered three-dimensional. It is challenging for Pure Evil and Pure Good characters to be considered three-dimensional. Due to how evil the pure evil villain is, they run the risk of not being realistic and instead falls under the common literature tropes that exemplifies their character traits. They often lack substantial depth to their character that would make the audience think they are realistic. For Pure Good character, the same risks for Pure Evil applies since they are often too noble and virtuous that the audience finds it to not be realistic. Other exceptionally heinous or admirable character also runs the risk of not having enough depth to their character.