I decided to come here for tips on how to write a ruthless character. Every time I try to Google this, all I get are results for writing evil characters. Said character is not evil, but they are ruthless. Apparently the brain trust at Google can't tell the difference. Here's a bit of basic info about the character. Name: Edgar Luther Bane Occupation: Syndicate Enforcer (First Enforcer of City Block 67) Location: Empire City, Earth, 25th Century Setting: Post Apocalypse Dystopian Future What I'm trying to do is present a character who is ruthless because he has to be. It's how he's survived up to this point. I could also use some tips on what to write about until the story kicks into high gear with the inciting event which comes at the very end of chapter one.
Sounds like he's the MC? Are you in his POV for narration and such? What I would do is have him enter various crises across scenes, and then he flashbacks to similar situations and how they were resolved. Then he dwells on the negatives and why those solutions weren't correct. He then bluntly takes care of business in the present, whatever that entails, and the reader will understand his motivations. For me that would be the key trick. Showing other examples of how such situations play out. That would give you a great chance to mix in a big swath of story settings and define your setting by showing the story world outside of the main plot. The MC then has a chance to show poor alternatives, and you'll understand why he's doing what he does.
If I understand correctly, he is ruthless in his actions, but these actions do not leave him unmoved. There are different ways to take this character arc. His ruthless actions might harden him and make him darker. Emotion and reflection become his enemies. In effect, he does not allow himself to be human anymore. The darkness wins. Conversely, his actions might send him on a journey into the light. He can no longer live with the regret. Perhaps, the terrorized look in someone's eyes that he hurt haunt him. He desperately tries to reform or find a better way. Maybe his goal becomes to change the world - or at least his world.
I guess Gregory House of the show House MD would qualify as ruthless. I did a big study of him and the show a while back, after watching the entire series straight through. I was specifically focusing on his character traits and personality, and the way he manipulates people around him. AKA ruthlessness. Here are a few posts I did about it, that might be of some help: @ What Are You Reading Now Moral Dilemma (the whole thread is good) How to make my asshole antihero lovable?
A few good links: Writing the Unlikeable Character (and Why You Should) Does the main character have to be likable? Kick the Dog
I think a big part of getting your head around this character will involve figuring out their moral code. You've heard it said, I'm sure, that no one thinks they're the villain in their own story. This character would no doubt have lines they won't cross (or think they won't.) They'll also have justifications for the lines they do cross. They won't hurt for pleasure, but they'll do certain things others would have a problem with either for the greater good, because they value their job or simply because they don't know any better. Deciding their motivations will be important, too. So, Why do they do what they do? What actions do they find acceptable in their line of work? What behaviors would they view as morally abhorrent? Where's the line? Is it even a line, or is it more of a gray area they cross into when they need to? How do they feel about themselves when they've come close to the line or wandered into that gray area? Do they think about it at all, or is their conduct at work so compartmentalized from the rest of their brain that it doesn't bother them? I would think a more interesting character would be affected in some ways, but that's totally up to you.
If you want him to be ruthless but not evil he has to have a motive the reader can empathise with for his ruthlessness… like for example Mitch Rapp in the Vince Flynn books who having lost his fiancée in the Lockerbie bombing will do anything to stop terrorists from attacking other innocent people it’s also possible to humanise him through showing his non professional relationships when he isn’t ruthless… like say John Kelly in Tom Clancy without remorse who kills drug dealers etc without compunction but is humanised through his attempt to save victims or you could show his internal dialogue and feelings which contrast to his external ruthlessness and explain why he is what he is ( via the hero in the emperors sword books who’s a ruthless assassin for the emperor Carracalla but internally has doubts which grow to the point where he eventually kills the emperor himself.
I think this is at the heart of what "ruthlessness" is (and isn't). Ruthlessness isn't a real thing, it's an opinion on behavior. It's someone saying the actions taken showed no pity, compassion or mercy. When you call someone ruthless, you're not necessarily calling them evil, but you are saying their actions lack moral integrity, and it is a matter of perspective. In a very conflict heavy environments being "ruthless" is often prized as a necessity "If you are not ruthless you won't survive" This can and will be debated by philosophers and ethicsist until the end of time, but the same action can be viewed as ruthless or not ruthless between two people, and depending on the situation two people disagree on if ruthlessness is justified or not... the point is what is "ruthless" is a matter of perspective. And I think the goal for this story would be from who's point of view is the character being called "ruthless." If it's other characters in the story - then the MC has to be doing things with the story society are viewed as extreme, but don't have to be by the readers standards. Example: he to kill to survive but he talks to others who call him a ruthless killer, but they live in a secure protected city, while he is from the Mad Max style wastelands, they their limited perspective. If it's the reader - then you are probably doing some version of a GrimDark story where 'mercy is for the weak' and you have to show if he had compassion he would be harmed. example: After a fight a bad guy is down begging for mercy, and he starts to backdown and as soon as he does the bad guy tries to kill him (or make it a friend/partner who shows mercy and is actually killed). In short, the more justified the action, the less "ruthless" it is... but it is a matter of perspective all around.
I don't think this is something you can google. Think about what makes this character ruthless and what that means within the confines of your story. There are many ways for a character to be ruthless, and I do agree with others who have said basically that this is something you present through the actions of your character. In what ways is he ruthless? It doesn't have to be a negative character trait. Writers can be ruthless during the editing and revision process of their work. Teachers can be ruthless when it comes to grading papers. People can be ruthless when it comes to downsizing their belongings. I know these examples probably don't apply to your character, but a clearly defined pattern of behaviors should illustrate what makes your character ruthless. As for your characters need to be ruthless, I think this is a matter of stakes for your story. What's at stake will justify your characters need to be ruthless and behaving in such a manner.
Thanos is a good example of ruthless. His intention was to 'weed' out half of all life in the universe in order to 'save' it from over-population which was creating a strain on resources. Kind of short-sighted compared to the vastness of the universe, but his motive was in a way benevolent even as his means were extremely violent/ruthless. He dehumanized everyone else, seeing himself as merely a gardener, and if it was all for the greater good, then the ends justified the means.
