Use of Emontion in Stories

When I say this, it is more in how the characters use them through out the course of the story. After all a decently fleshed out character will have a range to give a semblance to being 'realistic', as opposed to being robotic. Even so far the way they use their emotions to shape the persona of the characters.

I notice how my characters work based on there emotional states, at given points in the horrific setting that I have thrust them into. Like Cor using her connection to Marckus, as an excuse to willingly do everything that causes her inner turmoil and self loathing. Effectively weaponizing Love, and using it as a justification for doing horrible acts that under standard protocols would carry massive consequences. Even go so far as to outright explain this to Sarge at one point not too long after they meet. However, there is nothing wrong with having a complicated and conflicted character like Cor going a bit off the rails, since she is still working to understand how to manage her feelings, since she hasn't had them before. Funnily enough she won't ever call it love, even though everyone around her does. Perhaps by the end she may use it.

In a way having Marckus offer up himself, and his consequent imprisonment and torture, is kinda admission to the deep guilt he has carried. So in an odd back-handed fashion is seeking punishment for the things he had done in his past, and finding a way to allow the deep regret to finally come out in the open for all the terrible things he had done. I think at about the time he starts hallucinating in his pitch black cell in the sweltering heat, does he start to understand that he can't blame himself entirely for the choices he had made, sometimes there is no good choice, you just have to hope you're not completely wrong.

And well what can I say about Graxis, he is oddly enough the 'straight man', which is kinda odd. Even keel he is, with a few deviations here and there, but not overly off the rails. Of course he has been tempted to toe the line with his own morality, but at the same time has an impact on the other two MCs. He garners no ill will towards his role that he plays, and well in a way is just living through life (such as it is), and be able to have a life once all is said and done without too much mental and bodily scarring.

Perhaps I am just mad for seeing the depth to a story, that is probably not much more than a brutal messy affair of blood, guts, and chaos all wrapped up in a bow with good intention of the character's mind?

IDK.

What about you, how do your characters use their emotions to shape who they are in their universe?