I'm kind of stuck in the brainstorming stage of a story. In it there are three mysterious characters who act as guides for the heroine. Each guide represents a different idea. Wisdom and Love are both women and Truth is a man. My question is this: I'm toying with the idea of making truth blind, wisdom deaf, and love mute. I thought I'd throw it out to other writers to see if that might be a good idea or a bad one. I have several thoughts on how to put my own twist on things but just wasn't sure if this idea was worth pursuing. Many thanks in advance.
Posted by ChrisOwens (Member # 1955) on :
Sounds interesting to me. But then I'm guilty of writing, reading, and enjoying cliches.
Of course, I don't know if I would agree that truth is blind, wisdom is deaf, and love is mute. But maybe there are good reasons for it I'm not getting.
Posted by Jeraliey (Member # 2147) on :
It depends on what you're trying to accomplish, but maybe you can mix it up a little. Do something unexpected, like making Truth mute, Love synaesthetic, or what have you. You can really turn heads with ideas like that if you do them well.
[This message has been edited by Jeraliey (edited December 11, 2004).]
Posted by mogservant (Member # 1739) on :
I was thinking each character would be missing the sense that they needed the least. Truth is always representative of truth and doesn't need to see to increase his knowledge of it. Wisdom doesn't need to hear to increase her wisdom, it's just there. And love doesn't need to speak because there are so many higher levels of communication that mean much more.
I also thought it would be interesting if from infancy Love spoke to the heroine by signing into her hand and the girl understood. Now years later when they meet again she would still have an understanding as love spoke to her through touch.
I appreciate the feedbak so far. I have a tendency (I think at least) to go sappy or take overused ideas.
Posted by wetwilly (Member # 1818) on :
This is the same answer I've given to a lot of different questions, all with the form:
Q: Can I do _________________?[fill in the blank]
A: Yes.
That's all there is to it. If the idea interests you, you can make it interesting. Besides, your idea doesn't sound cliche to me at all. I can't think of any story I've read that did what you are suggesting.
Posted by SteeleGregory (Member # 2049) on :
I can't think of a story with those elements, so I doubt it's cliche. I don't know where you're going with it either. Sounds intriguing.
Posted by mogservant (Member # 1739) on :
Well durn me, I'm going to do it then. Because I do like it. Thanks a ton for the input. I've been off the site a while because I've been on a writing hiatus, so it's good to be back. I'll try to jump in and return the favor.
Posted by ChrisOwens (Member # 1955) on :
It's fiction, so anything can happen.
Of course I disagree in real life about these assessments:
<Wisdom doesn't need to hear to increase her wisdom, it's just there.>
Wisdom comes from taking in knowledge, it's the application of knowledge. A wise person listens and takes in more knowledge. Someone who believes they do not need to hear, well they are not wise. Wisdom can from experience, and so takes time.
<And love doesn't need to speak because there are so many higher levels of communication that mean much more.> True love is expressed in unselfish giving. Sometimes the only thing we have the power to give are kind or supportive words.
<Truth is always representative of truth and doesn't need to see to increase his knowledge of it.> If truth is blind it is falsehood. The true truth enables people to see.
But then it's fiction, and in your story, it's your universe. Go for it.
Posted by mogservant (Member # 1739) on :
It's precisely those things you've pointed out that made me think of those characteristics for those characters. It's a little bit paradoxical I know but the Truth character is physically blind, but has immense sight beyond the physical, Wisdom may be deaf but she listens better than anyone. I think I explained that poorly before. It's a concept I'm kind of adapting from the book of Mark in the bible: “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind”.
Posted by Lord Darkstorm (Member # 1610) on :
I've never heard of the concepts before. Now if you wish to go full blown cliche...love would have to be blind.
I would find wisdome to be more blind than truth, or possibly mute. Love...I could see love being deaf. Since love can be shown without hearing any expressions of. The words "I love you" would not be something heard, but would have to be expressed in other ways.
Of course, your ideas are just as good. As long as you find good sound reasons for thier limitations, and how thier aspect can overcome that limitation.
Most of my crazy ideas fail from lack of understanding them myself. You have to be convinced before you can convince the reader.
[This message has been edited by Lord Darkstorm (edited December 11, 2004).]
Posted by ChrisOwens (Member # 1955) on :
<t's a little bit paradoxical I know but the Truth character is physically blind, but has immense sight beyond the physical, Wisdom may be deaf but she listens better than anyone.>
Explained that way, it makes perfect sense.
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
Make Truth a serial killer. Wisdom has lung cancer (the kind you get from smoking), and Love is an aging spinster.
Or, you know...just don't do the whole thing if it's going to be a cliche.
Posted by djvdakota (Member # 2002) on :
Doesn't sound cliche to me. Sounds like fun!
Posted by TheoPhileo (Member # 1914) on :
I really like your idea; wish I'd thought of it myself.
Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :
I wonder what would happen if you had a conversation with Wisdom, or one of the others, in play-acting. Would she turn out to be exciting, like the Goddess of Reason in the Pilgrim's Regress, or a dull moralist? Take her along to McDonald's, or when you're raking the leaves, or picking up your daughter when she gets suspended from school (no reason not to make up situations), and see what she's like. Could be fun!
