(Taken from a notorious author's secret book)
There are many different ways to build character. Some people have called it torture, but they don't mind it when it happens to the fictional characters I write. If the things that happen in my books help people in real life, why wouldn't bringing it into the real world help even more? Here are a few things that you can do to a person/character a stronger human being. I modeled them after the seven deadly sins or rather the seven virtues as their a perfect jumping off point in understanding them.
1. Lust/Chastity
You don't have to have things such as rape or extreme sexual acts happen to your person of choice, but they do need to have the threat of it apparent if you wish to take this option. A person can feel weak and worthless if they feel attacked sexually. As a person, they feel like they have been violated and treated as an object of pleasure rather than a human being, therefore, they should feel the need to make up for this in some way. They might choose an evil path and treat others the way they were treated, which leaves you with another sexual predator. If they choose a good path, they'll overcome their pains and hopefully be a better person, but they may never have sex again or it'll take time for them to warm up to someone they love. One more thing. If they are the parent of a child they were forced to be the parent of, it might be a good idea to suggest to that person that they should kill the child. It'll bring their morality into question and force them to make a difficult choice. Of course, they can always pick the third option and give the child up for adoption but try not to make that option obvious or possible. Chastity can show self-control over emotions and desires of the flesh.
I've written stories that are borderline porn/hentai, but I've found that sex sells especially to perverted people who need a reason to justify their fetishes.
2. Gluttony/Temperance
A less extreme version of the previous category. You can give a person too much of what they want and they'll want for nothing and might depend on you for that, which may lead to them being your slave or a slave to whatever character gives them everything. Just like a drug addict, they'll keep getting what they want and never stop wanting as long as they still feel good about it. Mercy like gluttony has no bottom to it and can constantly be exploited for as ever long as you wish. The only way around it is if there are negative effects to what you are giving them such as; food-obesity, alcohol-drunkness, sex-constant need for it and the loss of the feeling of love, harmful drugs-severe physical effects, and much more. Most things will do this and once they see it, they might try to find their way out of it. If they don't, they will forever be trapped in their obsession. The best way I've found characters/people to get out of gluttony is with the help of others (people who've been through this are especially helpful). The best lessons gluttonous people can teach is how an obsession with anything can force you to depend on it in a negative way that can never fully satisfy you.
This bleeds into categories such as greed, lust, and sloth, so when that situation comes to that, just go with what's in that category. A person trapped in gluttony is similar to a person trapped in purgatory where there is no hope of escaping unless they pull themselves out of it.
3. Greed/Charity
Similar to gluttony, people who are greedy will take for themselves and never stop for there is no stop to this satisfaction. You cannot force a person to be greedy, but forcing them to be gluttonous is the best way to move them to this. A greedy character will always think about themselves and their interests. They may hide behind words such as, "I was doing this for my people" or "The people I care about", but their selfishness still shows. The best way I've seen characters/people get out of their greedy ways is by convincing them that they're wrong whether through dialogue or by forcing them to see it. People/characters defined by greed shows us the dangers of taking too much for ourselves and ours and how good intentions can pave the way to hell. Showing them that they should give to others is imperative in their change.
This particular category has the least health risks, but I won't promise that you will like the greedy person you've made or are helping.
4. Sloth/Diligence
This one is relatively easy to do assuming the person/character you are using it on doesn't know how to pray/meditate well. All you have to do is stick them in a room they can't escape from. You can force them to go without food and drink or force them to eat and drink things that will get them sick (if you want to go for something extreme). They'll get bored and be forced to slowly decay and die. Character can develop in this span of time with patience, reflection, and inner peace being the most likely characteristics that pop up. It is also possible that someone will go insane and/or try to kill themselves with their own hands. This is, of course, the most extreme way to get someone to fall to sloth. Another way is by doing everything major for them such as paying their bills, doing their chores, taking care of their needs, etc., but who has the time and money for such things? Besides, a person might do something else to fill that gap of responsibilities that you leave. The vice of sloth can show people how you waste away time and things that could be done because of laziness. On the other hand, the virtue of diligence shows how a fading resource like time can be used to do great things as precious resources slowly deplete.
I've written a short story that's just a man in a prison cell who's forced to starve to death. He goes through his entire life up to the present and wonders about the big questions in life. Since he's got all the time in the world, what else is there to do? As he's on the verge of starving to death, he gets rescued then shares his wisdom with the world. Hopefully, you'll get a similar result with your character/person if you use this method.
5. Wrath/Patience
Writing non-fiction or lies about real-world topics will get people angry. Assuming the situation and the group is right, a person or people will take out their anger on what you made them angry about. Violence is the obvious result of wrath while someone with good self-control will rarely be violent. A classic you can draw them into is killing innocent people or their loved ones. Angry people will only see surface issues on which they become violent on and don't think about the deeper ones until after the deed is done. Usually, in our anger, we say or do things that we'll regret later, which is a good thing to teach people before they let their anger get the best of them.
It's a simple issue that I've made a few short stories of though there are larger stories that have characters that act out of anger.
6. Envy/Kindness
I know that everyone is envious of someone so the previous tactic of looking on the internet works here expect you just play spectator. People have the habit of venting their jealousies online on forums and social media websites. You can see some envy in the real world, but people are more docile about it in public. People online, especially anonymous people, will say things they would almost never say face to face with a person. They'll say things like; kill yourself, you're so fake, I don't need what you have, etc.etc. I've also noticed that girls are more envious than men are. You can use the previous tactic of writing things about a topic to get people more envious, which will lead to bickering and possibly violence. The results and actions are similar to wrath but caused by a different emotion. The opposite of envy is kindness where a person will be similar to a person of temperance. If they want something someone else has, they'll obtain it themselves through their own efforts, get something different that's equally or better than what they want, or just be content with what they have. Envy can show people their own weaknesses and laziness for not being able to obtain their goals or dreams that someone else does.
Stories that involve thievery and forcefully taking things away from corrupt people are great stories for envy. There are some that are just fantasies for people who want to steal from others because they can't obtain what they want.
7. Pride/Humility
Pride is the vice that is the core influence for the rest of the vices. You can be; lustful because you want to be sexually satisfied, gluttonous because you want more of a good thing, greedy because you want everything, lazy because you don't think something is worth your time, angry because you've been offended, and envious because someone has something you think to be yours. Pride is worship of the self and you can see this in most people in different forms such as these. It is what causes all of these vices to come out and result in their respective outcomes. The way to enhance this vice in a person/character is by constantly telling or showing them how good they are. "Sucking up" to them and deifying their personality is what makes a man feel like he/she is a god and gets them to act on the various other vices. The thing is, however, is that some pride is good. You can be prideful in yourself, your works, your loved ones, and looks. You just can't be too prideful and this is where humility comes in. It sets the boundaries of pride so you don't deify yourself and place yourself above all. Being humble will control your pride and will help you see when you are acting hypocritically or out of line. Pride can show people how insignificant they are in the grand scheme of things, while on the other hand, humility can show how seemingly insignificant people can make a big difference in the world no matter how small it is.
Hundreds and hundreds of stories involve some form of pride as the enemy. Lustful pride, wrathful pride, or envious pride are different combinations you can use for the motivation for the characters you create. Pride is the most popular vice. It's the vice that the devil practices the most after all.
These are all just examples for you to use for your characters/people/stories. I've used a couple extreme examples to use and extreme is usually the best. People love seeing the underdog overcome the toughest odds. They love seeing a person go through hardships and pain. Pain and suffering are what sells the best stories whether or not the audience knows or likes it. We're all sadists in this way.
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