Let’s explore the interesting balance between a character’s vices and their virtues. Aristotle believed that moderation was key. Too much of good thing can be just as bad as too little. When they’re taken to excess, Aristotle called a character’s trait a “vice.” When used in moderation, they’re “virtues.” Here are a few examples of character vices and virtues.
For our classrooms, virtues and vices offer an interesting way to discuss characters and historical figures. Plus, you could use it to sneak some life-lessons into your classroom!
Sample Virtues and Vices: Darth Vader
Let’s start with a great villain. What exactly makes Darth Vader evil? Or, using Aristotle’s language, we’d ask, “*what trait does Vader have too much of**?” Perhaps a hunger for power? A desire to control things?
Then, can students name a character with the opposite problem: someone who lacked any desire for power?
Finally, is there someone who is able to strike the perfect amount of ambition?
As a group, brainstorm vocabulary that describes a moderate desire for power, too much desire, or a complete lack of desire. Here are some ideas:
| Desiring Power | ||
|---|---|---|
| Too Much | Moderate | Too Little |
| Zealous, A meglomaniac | Ambitious, Driven | Apathetic, Listless |
A Character Vice: Too Much Giving!
The Giving Tree is a wonderful illustration of the virtuous trait of giving taken so far that it becomes a vice.
And perhaps Ebenezer Scrooge shows the opposite problem: a complete lack of giving.
What character strikes the balance and shows giving to be a virtue?
Again, this opens up a great opportunity to use some high-level vocabulary to express too much or too little giving.
| Giving | ||
|---|---|---|
| Too Much | Moderate | Too Little |
| Enabling, Wasteful | Thoughtful, Generous | Greedy, Miserly |
Here are some further ideas:
| Too Much | Moderate | Too Little |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | ||
| Hesitant | Prepared | Impulsive |
| Helping | ||
| Smothering | Thoughtful | Selfish |
The “Bad” Guy
I love how this idea highlights how really juicy villains are more complex than just being “bad guys.” They have some virtuous trait, but it’s gone too far or is underdeveloped. Vader’s love for his wife becomes a vice. It sends him to the dark side, Magneto‘s need to protect mutants turns him into a villain, and Queen Grimhilde‘s desire for beauty turns her into a murderer.