Creating Impolite Characters — Let’s shake things up

After several recommendations, I finally watched the TV program Lucifer. One thing surprised me. In spite of our living in uncivil times, I found the title character's unrestrained frankness amusing. Why?

Lucifer (who is the devil, after all) is rarely rude. By that, I mean most of his disruptive comments are not malicious or disrespectful. He simply has his own agenda, and doesn't “get” our rules. I love that he is often surprised when people take offense.

I think of this and contrast with many characters I come across in manuscripts. They are too genteel. They want to be liked. They follow all the rules, even unwritten rules. This can flatten out conflict.

To be clear, I am not calling for more rude characters. In fact, I see too many. Perhaps this is because people are angry or our culture he’s too eager to forgive and even celebrate rudeness. I’m also not advocating eliminating subtext from dialogue. That would be boring and, for scripts, where great actors work to bring out the nuances, disastrous.

I think there is a way to strike the balance on frank vs. rude to make stories more engaging. Genuinely impolite characters can, without becoming irritating, heighten conflict. They can add humor-and often do. They can provoke responses from other characters that are revealing. They can reveal new information and intentions. They can raise questions. I’ve formulated a few rules for creating impolite characters. Or let’s just call them guidelines.

    •    An impolite character should have other dimensions that make him or her likable.
    •    When offense is given, it should be unintentional.
    •    There should be a clear reason why the impolite character is naïve.
    •    In general, an impolite character should ”punch up.”
    •    Most impolite remarks should push the story toward justice.
    •    Impolite people should ask questions that uncover secrets or embarrass villains and powerful characters.
    •    If the impolite person sees that he or she has really hurt someone, they should clearly attempt to make it right through apology or restitution.

With these in mind, impoliteness can be used to say the quiet part out loud.  “Out of the mouths of babes” is a classic way to show speaking truth to power in the story. So impoliteness can be used to puncture the defenses of people who use propriety and etiquette to defend themselves or to maintain power. (Purportedly, Southern gentleman used exaggerated politeness to contrast themselves with the ”rough” Yankees, and thereby keep challenges the injustices of slavery or discrimination at bay. Today, employers have people convinced they should keep their salaries secret, which allows them to underpay those who work for them, often preserving inequalities.)

The value of having impolite characters is not complete unless other characters react. Those who expect to be kowtowed to may object to reaches of etiquette, fumble for answers to disarming questions, reveal themselves by reacting to quickly, or respond with disproportionate anger— even violence. All this is great for storytelling.

I’ll end with a thought on humor. One reason why impolite characters are fun is wish fulfillment. They say things we’d like to say, but wouldn’t dare to.