Prompt: Manipulator
Robert Greene's book talks about ways in which a person can grab at power. He makes no distinction between whether you use the power for good or evil, he just gives ways to collect power. Law #33 is to find others' thumbscrews and twist them to take control of the situation. As Greene says, "We live with a perpetual armor around ourselves to defend against change and the intrusive actions of friends and rivals." Every person, however, has a hole in the psychological defenses. There is one weakness that you can use. Some people expose the weakness, and others disguise these weaknesses. Those who try to hide their weaknesses are even more vulnerable than those who project their needs. If you can find the disguised weakness, they can be "effectively undone."
The first rule is to "pay attention to gestures and unconscious signals." Green quotes Freud at this point. "No mortal can keep a secret. If his lips are silent, he chatters with his fingertips; betrayal oozes out of him at every pore." Pay attention to how people tip, what they worship, what they want. Greene recommends that you spend time listening to the daily chatter and small-talk. Show sympathy in order to get the person to talk, and then observe what they talk about. Share a single secret with the other person, something small or insignificant to you, but something not widely known. This will encourage the other person to share.
Once you think you know their weakness, their fear, their insecurity-then probe. "If, for instance, you sense that a man has a need to be loved, openly flatter him. If he laps up your compliments, no matter how obvious, you are on the right track." Manipulative? Yes, but Greene only claims to give you tools. How you use them is up to you. Since most weakness starts when we're children, he suggests encouraging a person to talk about childhood, and listen to what they have to say. If they lacked something in childhood, like security or attention, offer it now and see how they respond. If they have a secret pleasure, indulge it. Fill whatever void this person has in their life.
He also suggests that you look for opposites. If someone is aggressive too much, probe their armor and test the theory that they might be a coward. The prude might actually be secretly sexual. And always look for uncontrollable emotions. If you find someone showing an emotion that isn't proportional to the situation, you have found a way to manipulate the person. Invoke that emotion any time you want to make them incapable of defending themselves.
He ends up by giving a lot of historical examples, but one fable really gives the heart of the matter. It's a fable recorded by Ivan Kriloff. The lion was chasing the chamois, anticipating a delicious meal. However, the chamois leaped across a chasm, landing safely on the far side of a deep ravine. The lion pulled up short, snarling his anger. The fox came out and saw this. "What?! With your strength and agility, is it possible that you will yield to a feeble chamois? Though the abyss be deep, I am certain you will clear it. I know your strength and dexterity." The lion, who was very proud of his strength and fearful of being seen as weak, gathered his strength and leaped for the far side of the ravine. He fell short tumbled to the bottom of the cliff and died. Carefully picking his way down, the fox reached the bottom and feasted on the lion's body.
So, are you ready to create a story of manipulation? You could have a character manipulate for the greater good or one who just is out for his or her own power. Any nominees for our fandom characters who are guilty of this particular personality trait?