(Untitled)

[lit_gal]

We tend to think of a murderer who is someone who kills. Period. Nothing else. However, Dr. Linda Edelstein describes the various traits that tend to cluster around certain types of murderers.

Comments

[jans_intentions]

Oooh, I want to take part in this one. Looks good. I'll read all these types later.

You do know that in some lights, all the characters thus far have been on the negative side. Not that I'm complaining. Just noticed it.

[xocoatldreams]

Is it just me, or did anyone else realize that Spike and Angel can fit into all of those execpt female murderer?

[altyronsmaker]

I think murders, as characters I mean, are problematic. I think so many times, even professional (okay, published) authors make their murderers out to be one dimensional. Those dimensions vary from character to characters, but in my reading experience, the murder is a flat character, focused only on the kill or the reason for the kill. There's usually no other development.

I recently watched Kevin Costner in the movie Mr. Brooks and HE was an interesting killer of a guy. Smart, droll, a family man. In AA for his 'addiction,' and trying so hard to overcome his issues. But for all his problems, he's a likeable guy. Interesting even. Murder was something he liked, but there were other things besides the kill that he found fulfilling - though obviously not enough - and other things he found fascinating. That's how I'd like to read and watch my murderers. Faceted. If that makes any sense.

[xocoatldreams]

I agree. It always bothered me that murderers didn't have much character to them. They just were.

I remember there being an older movie about a hit man falling in love with a woman who happened to by a hit woman. They had character and were more than just the kill.

Truthfully I think writers make murderers, no matter which type, a flat character because it's easier to see them as such. If we start seeing personality in murderers then we start wondering if our neighbours or the mailman might be a potiental killer.

[lit_gal]

If we start seeing personality in murderers then we start wondering if our neighbours or the mailman might be a potiental killer.

Oh, that is a good point! I think that's why Dexter is both fascinating and so very, very creepy. He's a killer, but you feel so much sympathy for him. He's real and has all these issues that make you want to gather him up in your arms and protect him, and then he murders someone. >.>

[jitkajaylor]

Hmmm ... I've already written a few good murder characters.

( Want It No More )

( Wasurunagusa )

are the two that pop to mind. I may have to try my hand this month.

~JJ~