CHARACTER TYPE AND TROPE THESAURUS

VIGILANTE



Never struggle with Show-and-Tell again. Activate your free trial or subscribe to access the Character Type And Trope Thesaurus, or visit the Table of Contents to explore unlocked entries.

CHOOSE MY PLAN

HELPFUL TIP:

Using a trope or archetype helps readers quickly understand a character, but stopping there creates a weak and predictable figure. Instead, add depth with a unique backstory, emotional wounds, and related fears and flaws. You can also break expectations with an unusual job, relationship, secret, or positive trait.
DESCRIPTION:
Vigilantes have lost faith in the establishment, so they take the law into their own hands and punish wrongdoers themselves. These characters have often experienced a grave injustice that drives them to seek vengeance. Despite their actions being antisocial, violent, and cruel, vigilantes are typically drawn as heroes or antiheroes rather than villains.

FICTIONAL EXAMPLES:
Robin Hood (the Robin Hood legend), Lisbeth Salander (the Millennium series), Mad Max (the Mad Max franchise), Zorro (The Curse of Capistrano), Beatrix Kiddo (Kill Bill), V (V for Vendetta)

COMMON STRENGTHS:

COMMON WEAKNESSES:

ASSOCIATED ACTIONS, BEHAVIORS, AND TENDENCIES:
Having a strong sense of justice
Adhering to a personal moral code
Working independently
Taking a stand, even in the face of opposition
Wearing a costume or disguise to protect their identity
Targeting a particular person, people group, organization, or system
Bucking a system they see as corrupt
Being a person of action
Risking their safety for their beliefs
Sacrificing personal comforts for their cause
Having tunnel vision for their cause
Inspiring others with their passion
Possessing special talents or resources they use in the pursuit of justice (superhuman abilities, wealth, access to technology, computer hacking skills, etc.)
...

FEARS THAT MIGHT LIMIT THE CHARACTER:
...

SITUATIONS THAT WILL CHALLENGE THEM:
...

INNER STRUGGLES TO GIVE THEM DEPTH:
...

CLICHÉS TO BE AWARE OF:
...

TWIST THIS TROPE WITH A CHARACTER WHO...:
...

UNEXPECTED OCCUPATIONS FOR THIS CHARACTER:
...

CREATE SOMETHING NEW:
...

...