A Character Study
To help with an essay I was writing, I decided to do a character study of one of my characters. Any relation to non-fictional characters is probably not a coincidence.
Name: Jerry W.S. The W is his grandfather’s name, a man he feels a distinct connection to. The story is that Jerry felt W.’s spirit push his car a little back from a cliff edge, thus saving his life, and proving that he was his grandfather’s favorite. S., of course, can be traced all the way back to the Mayflower…
Age: Thirty something. Jerry S. is old, and wise, he has traveled the world, and seen a lot of things. Of course, that doesn’t stop him from partying “like a rockstar,” or dating the twenty-year-olds he meets on Match.com. Or the ones he meets in the bar. And it certainly doesn’t stop him from telling us just how much respect he deserves. He still hates his father.
Eyes: A beady, darting, yet intense pair of brown eyes trained to fix on both intellectual and sexual prey with unblinking clarity, full of the lust and rage so well portrayed by Christian Bale in American Psycho. Close together, it is possible to believe that those eyes have never looked apologetic. Quite possible.
Face: White, and don’t you forget it. Sort of weaselly too. He looks like a more ferret version of Will Ferrel. His smile – bright, white, but between unchanged chubby cheeks and amongst a neat goatee – could be mistaken by the lesser man as somewhat fake: more a tentative appreciation of what he hopes you might find funny than a relaxed display of humor. It is quite depressing to look at, nestled uncomfortably under those beady eyes. His face is often found sporting late night cigarettes, bottles of light beers, and the stubble rash of misguided drunk women.
Hobbies: These include, although not exclusively, calling other people gay, making racist remarks (either preceded or proceeded by the words “you know I’m not a racist, but”), lying about sex, lying about where he meets women, lying about having friends, demanding respect, drinking, arguing with his father, losing respect, sleeping overnight at work, paying his father’s investment back, and jogging in the morning with his dogs. He loves ice hockey and surfing, plays tennis and golf, and drives a large toy-looking SUV. The last book he read was not written more than two years ago.
Life: Grew up under a wealthy and imposing father, went to College (history and hockey), got injured, grew out his hair, and went traveling to Australia. Came back and sold insurance to youths about to go into the army. I’m sure that was ethical. He made good money, but then quit, deciding to see “his name in lights” in Manhattan. He bought a pool hall.
Pros: Is, in fact, conscience of his insecurities. Thankfully for his workers, he also had no idea that everybody was stealing off him – although he probably assumed it.
Cons: Is not, unfortunately, able to deal with his insecurities. Has no idea how to run a business, but is convinced he is the most reliable member of his workforce. Has never said sorry for something in a sentence without other clauses. Does not sleep with sober women, and sleeps with as many as he can find. Might, one day, beat me up. Especially if he reads this.
