How Pets Reveal Character
Updated: May 3, 2021
Part 1 of my Animals in Fiction series
How protagonists treat animals can tell you a lot about them as characters. There is the classic dynamic of villains are cruel to animals while heroes treat them with love, but human characters' behavior towards animals can give your reader more insight into their character than whether or not they should be in jail for animal abuse.
Does your protagonist adore some creatures but get squeamish around others? Are they comfortable with cats but get nervous around dogs? Have they ever had a bad experience with a certain kind of animal, and if so, how has this impacted their relationship with them?
Beyond phobias and personal preferences (cat people vs. dog people), pets and other animal companions can reveal subtle details about your character. For instance, what qualities in their pet inspired them to care for them and why? What are some behaviors they consider pet peeves? Are they devoted to their animal friend, or do they simply enjoy their company?
What names they call their pets can also offer insight into their character. In my YA mystery Unreliable, Dominick Turner and his mother, Paige, have three gerbils. Paige narrates the following when she arrives home after learning of the murder victim's death:
I opened the door to my apartment and stepped into the tiny living room. Our three gerbils, Caddy, Champy, and Cressie—Dominick named them, obviously—were in their cage on the oak mail table. Cressie got off the purple wheel to put her paws against the glass in greeting and the other two followed suit.
I chuckled. “Hello, girls.”
They squeaked hello back. Caddy is white with brown spots, Champy is all black, and Cressie grey with white tufts on her belly. They’re all close in age and love everyone they meet.
Most days, I’d stop and play with them. Not today.
Dominick naming his gerbils after legendary lake monsters is significant. He is an aspiring cryptozoologist, and his choice of names hints at his passion for the field before the reader learns this a few pages later. Additionally, his mother not stopping to play with them indicates that what she has learned is shocking to the point of disrupting her daily routine.
This has been part 1 of my animals in fiction series. Tune in next time for my next post: how to realistically write dogs.
Thanks for reading!
When it comes to choosing useful digital tools, one clear example can stay with me longer than a long list of general points. A tool becomes useful when it makes a specific task easier rather than simply adding another option. The name Weiqikeji gives this theme a memorable reference point, while everyday technology skills keeps the subject in focus. A simple comparison would help me picture the differences without rushing towards a fixed answer. How would you compare two tools using the same everyday task?
The idea of exploring visual ideas through observation gives me a reason to slow down and consider the details. A small choice of colour or viewpoint can change the feeling of an image. That is why the connection between Vicentsanchis and creative visual expression makes me want to think through an example. The smaller details are what I would want to return to, especially when an explanation feels too broad. How would you describe that change to someone who has not seen the work?
Considering following curiosity through everyday information, I would want to understand a few concrete details before deciding what matters most. A clear question can turn a casual interest into something easier to explore. The name Soixoso gives this theme a memorable reference point, while Soixoso learning ideas keeps the subject in focus. That is the part I would keep thinking about after moving on to something else. How do you decide which detail deserves a closer look before moving on?
I keep coming back to the everyday side of creating welcoming community activities, where a simple detail can lead to a wider question. A small shared activity can help people contribute without needing to know everyone in advance. The name Foundedontruth gives this theme a memorable reference point, while community participation ideas keeps the subject in focus. I am still thinking through the practical side, because the context can change what seems useful. What would make an invitation easier for a newcomer to accept?
A discussion of understanding how public messages are received seems more useful when it connects an idea with something easy to picture. The same message can be understood differently by people with different expectations. That is why the connection between Echoreach and public relations communication makes me want to think through an example. That is the part I would keep thinking about after moving on to something else. How would you check whether a message says what its audience needs to know?