The Character of Character

9/5/2018

Daily Literary Quote
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

Journal Prompt
What does Dr. King mean by the famous quote above? What is character? Can it be seen? How does “character” relate to fictional “characters”? Provide specific examples.

63 Comments

Sarah

9/6/2018 10:10:03 am

Your character is who you are, your personality. It’s shown by your actions, how you talk, and your interests. Fictional characters aren’t real people but they are descriptions of personalities and actions a real person might have. So they are fake people who have characteristics of a real person.

Cherish

9/6/2018 10:15:07 am

I like how you pointed out that your character is who you are. Who would a specific example of a fictional character be to you? What could some of the other aspects of portraying character be?

Katelyn

9/6/2018 10:19:18 am

Well said and explained. I like how you wrote that fictional characters can relate to real people.

Hayes

9/6/2018 10:10:09 am

Dr. King is trying to get the point that skin color doesn’t matter it’s how and who you are as a person that matters. Character cannot be seen immediately but you can show it. “Character” relates to fictional characters because everyone can perceive them to all look different but their characters is the same. Some people may think that Hazel Lancaster in John Greens novel “The Fault in Our Stars” does not look the way she is deprived by popular culture, but who she is as a person and her chapter is the same regardless.

Kayla

9/6/2018 10:12:48 am

That’s true also

Brook

9/6/2018 10:16:08 am

I like the the description in the example you used.

Aimee

9/6/2018 10:10:52 am

He hopes that one day his children will be able to be judged based on who they are inside and not what they look like on the outside. Character is the qualities and personality traits that make up a person. Character is not visibly seen but it comes out in the things a person says and the way the person acts. Character is what helps to create the personality of a fictional character and helps us to relate to those fictional characters. For example, if a character in the book you’re reading has similar personality traits to yourself you may find it easier to relate to that character.

Nate

9/6/2018 10:15:49 am

Nice response

Robyn

9/6/2018 10:16:24 am

Do you have a fictional character that you relate to a lot?

Hailey Jo

9/6/2018 10:17:29 am

I agree it is definitely easier to relate and read a book if the character has similar real life traits as you

Nick

9/6/2018 10:19:45 am

Smart way to think about this.

Jennifer Auwen

9/6/2018 10:19:04 am

I like your comparison to fictional characters we can relate to them. You put a nice perspective on the question.

Hailey Jo

9/6/2018 10:11:07 am

He wants his kids to be judged by who they actually are not how this look. Character is how you are as a person, and yes it can be seen through actions. If you are a quiet person it will most likely be noticed or if your character is high energy. A fictional character has a certain personality that is given to them like if you’re in a mystery book, your character will probably be related to the book.

Aimee

9/6/2018 10:16:03 am

I like what you said about noticing trait in characters that are different than the ones you have as opposed to ones similar to yourself.

Katelyn

9/6/2018 10:22:05 am

You did well with the examples given about how noticeable their traits can be. Every person can relate to a fictional character.

Kelsey

9/6/2018 10:11:19 am

He wants his children to grow up with the same rights as everyone else and not be judge by their skin color. The character is who you are on the inside not just how you look. It can not be seen but every now and then it will shine through in the way you act around other people. In books they write so one character is sweet and another as the bully, the characters are based off emotions in the real world.

Hayes

9/6/2018 10:15:13 am

How you answered the last part of the question makes a lot of sense

Hailey Jo

9/6/2018 10:17:36 am

Yeah I believe when a character in a book has real life traits it’s easier for the reader to relate

Kayla Walchli

9/6/2018 10:11:46 am

I think that it that he wants his children to grow up in a better world and not have to worry that they have to pretend to be someone they are not and they can be themselves. Character is a persons personality and it can be seen by people, character can also relate to fictional characters because sometimes people tend to act like a fictional character rather than themselves. An example of that could be someone who is generally nice as a person when they are around a Serbian group can become mean around others.

Hayes

9/6/2018 10:16:17 am

I like how you said some people act like fictional characters, it holds a lot of truth

Robyn

9/6/2018 10:18:52 am

Yeah, I agree that a person’s character can be easily be changed by the people they hang out with.

Brook Boyd

9/6/2018 10:12:03 am

What he means by the quote is that he hopes there’s not racism in the future and that people of color will have a chance to be who they want to be. Character is how you act towards others and what makes you who you are it can be seen through acts of kindness and things like loyalty. Character relates to fictional characters by giving them certain personalities and giving them certain traits.

Sarah

9/6/2018 10:19:04 am

I agree character does give fictional characters personalities and traits. A fictional characters traits and personality are what make them real and let them exist.

Cherish

9/6/2018 10:12:18 am

Dr. King is stating that he hopes that there will be a day where judging by racial background is no longer relevant, but more so people are judged by their beliefs and actions. Character is the physical makeup of a person and how they behave on a day to day basis. Sometimes character can be seen by portraying certain actions. Character relates to fictional characters because they all need to have their own personal ways and actions. Some specific examples could be Superman and his taking action to help those in need.

Kiana Farnworth

9/6/2018 10:22:18 am

I liked how you gave an example of Superman’s character through actions and morals, in that he believes in helping other’s and that he takes action on it.

Konner

9/6/2018 10:12:54 am

Martin Luther king wanted everyone one to be treated equal. He wanted people to judge others by there actions and personalities not by the color or there skin. It takes time to see someone ones character so he wants everyone to be giving the same chance.

Nate

9/6/2018 10:16:39 am

Nice way to answer bean
Your responses make sense

Jennifer Auwen

9/6/2018 10:16:48 am

I agree with your statement about how it takes time to see someone’s character, nicely stated my friend.

Nick

9/6/2018 10:20:43 am

Good response I’m picking up what your laying down

Sarah

9/6/2018 10:21:09 am

Judging people by their characteristics instead of their physical traits is an important thing to learn to do. How does this relate to fictional characters?

Katelyn

9/6/2018 10:13:37 am

When he speaks of character, it means personality traits that someone displays uniquely. In a sense, it can be seen, heard, and observed through their actions and reactions towards an individual and their surroundings. Fictional characters aren’t technically real people, but their quality features are based off traits, emotions, and personality of that real people can have.

Cherish

9/6/2018 10:18:24 am

I completely agree with you that fictional character are in a sense “fake”. However, it is possible for them to still have character, it is just seen in a different way because they are not real in a sense. We can only relate to them on certain levels.

Kelsey

9/6/2018 10:18:43 am

I like the way you explained it.

Robyn Weiss

9/6/2018 10:13:45 am

He means that he wants to live in a society that doesn’t judge people based on skin color, but on how good of a person they are. Character is someone’s personality and morals and it can be seen through people’s actions and reactions. Character relates to fictional characters in that they also have personality and moral, just like real people do. For example, Tony Stark is shown as a guy who is sarcastic and super smart. Also as someone who is super loyal to his friends and always acts like he’s the best even if he doesn’t really think that.

Kayla

9/6/2018 10:17:06 am

People tend to have multiple personalities. That’s not always a bad thing but in some situations it definitely can be

Brook

9/6/2018 10:19:37 am

You explained the meaning of character well.

Jennifer Auwen

9/6/2018 10:15:00 am

In this quote Dr. King is stating that he hopes one day there will be equality between races. No one will get treated differently for the color of the skin or the way that they look. He wishes that people will look past all of that and judge ones “character”, or ones personality. You can’t truly see ones character by just looking at them, their actions and words will determine a persons true character. Characters can relate fictionally in certain aspects such as the part one would play in a novel or movie.

Nate

9/6/2018 10:18:14 am

Good response

Aimee

9/6/2018 10:21:01 am

Do you think that people will ever tryuly be able to judge someone solely on their character and not factor looks into the equation?

Alexis Anderson

9/6/2018 10:23:40 am

Your definition of character is a great explanation, adding in how “You can’t truely see one’s character by just looking at them” was a really strong addition.

Alexis Anderson

9/6/2018 10:16:18 am

Dr. King is is acknowledging that just because one is of color, does not mean they are any less human; we should place judgment on actions or character. Character is seen everyday through the eyes of everyone, how you present yourself and act will determine how you are seen in society by other people. Usually you can tell which characters in ficional novels is the antagonist and protagonist by how they act, including their outlook on the world as a whole. You may have a shy character who doesn’t talk much but once you see them throughout the novel, they grow into the antagonist, and vice versa. Depending on how a writer developed a character’s back story and personality will determine how we view them, as readers, quickly.

Kelsey

9/6/2018 10:19:56 am

I never thought about it this way.

Nutt

9/6/2018 10:22:25 am

It’s funny how the author defines how we as readers perceive the characteristics of fictional characters. In a way we are our own author and we can define how people view us as long as we hold a good character.

Kiana Farnworth

9/6/2018 10:27:07 am

Very well written. Your example was very fitting in that even in real life you may not know a person’s character without interacting with that person more thoroughly.

Kiana Farnworth

9/6/2018 10:16:32 am

Dr.King meant that he hoped that one day people will judge more based on actions, intentions and morals than by pigment of skin or any other prejudice. Character can be defined as the intentions, actions and morals that make up a person. Fictional characters are built on intentions, actions and morals to create a story and through that story we learn the person’s character.

Alexis Anderson

9/6/2018 10:25:56 am

Your aspect on character is a great one!

Nutt

9/6/2018 10:27:47 am

It is very true that fictional characters are built on intentions and morals. Characters are fake identities that represent real human characteristics.

Nutt

9/6/2018 10:16:47 am

Dr. King meant that he wants a world where people judge and treat each other according to their morals and social characteristics and not their physical traits. These characteristics includes good attitude, respectfulness, politeness, and basic morals. And I believe it can be seen through actions and claims that are a result of you’re character. The relation between character and fictional characters is that each fictional character in a novel or movie as a specific set of characteristics that really define them. We can tell a fictional character is evil if he claims and does wrong or malicious actions, and good if they commit acts of sacrifice or politeness.

William

9/12/2018 10:12:19 am

I agree with you. Dr King wants people to be judged by their actions rather than their skin color

Joe

9/6/2018 10:16:58 am

Character is like a persons moral traits that they have. Character can be seen through actions and things people do. Fictional characters are easy to see character in because we can’t physically see them so it’s harder to judge by appearance than actions.

Nick heble

9/6/2018 10:17:06 am

Character is the personality or the way they act. No you can’t see it.
Yes, characters in books can have the same characteristics or character as someone in real life.

Brandon Westfall

9/6/2018 10:17:12 am

He hopes that segregation ends in the near future. Character is how a person behaves and conducts themselves. Character can be seen. Fictional characters are fake people with personalities that can be seen in real life.

Connor born

9/6/2018 10:19:27 am

That’s very true

Saymen Clifton

9/6/2018 10:25:46 am

I agree with you character is how people act in their own ways in their life and more.

Connor Born

9/6/2018 10:17:42 am

He means he wants people to not be judged by they’re race but by how thy act. Character is how someone behaves and acts and it can be seen by their actions and also like how they dress. Fictional characters are 100% character it’s how the writers base there actions.

Brandon Westfall

9/6/2018 10:19:45 am

I agree with everything you said. People do often show their character in the way they dress.

James

9/6/2018 10:22:33 am

Good description of character

James

9/6/2018 10:20:05 am

He means that they will be judged by how they act and present themselves. Character can not be seen but can be perceived through actions and how they present their themselves. Fictional characters are a depiction of a real person’s personality.

Connor born

9/6/2018 10:21:16 am

You character explanation is good very true

Konner

9/6/2018 10:20:51 am

That first sentence about moral traits is well stated.

Saymen Clifton

9/6/2018 10:21:24 am

Dr. King quote was saying that one day in the future people who are the minority in this country or people whom they didn’t have the right to do what they desire in their live because they look different then most people they won’t be judged becomes of their color. They might be judged with what they do.

Brandon Westfall

9/6/2018 10:23:22 am

I agree. People should be judged by their actions and not the color of their skin

William

9/12/2018 10:07:14 am

Your character explanation is good and well stated

The Character of Character

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