Thread:Love Robin/@comment-694244-20170524153802/@comment-366087-20170524200506

694244 wrote: Hey, how's it going? I understand what you're saying about in the Gaston Legume page that the categories I added last month don't define his character and traits. But does it ever occur to the fact that these categories actually *define* his actions? A character can constitute traits, but traits need to be defined through the actions that the character had done in the story. Think about Gaston's actions:

- he manipulated, tricked and betrayed his fellow villagers into attacking the castle (Master Manipulator, Oppressors, Trickster, Traitor, Vandals, Control Freaks, Criminals) I would not call what he did as *master* manipulation. The village was already primed to follow his lead just out of their false sense of hero-worship. I would say it is more *Mongering*. *Trickster* is much more involved than misleading people, and he was not vandalizing for the sake of vandalizing, but because he had an objective and he *thought* it was the "right thing to do" and he was not presented as a "criminal". - he abused his right-hand man LeFou and his buddies whenever things go wrong (even when it's not their fault); he even left LeFou for dead during the castle battle (Abusers, Failure Intolerant) While somewhat "abusive", I still would not call him "Abusive", and "Failure Intolerant" is much more *over-reactive* than what he did - he tried to kill both Maurice and the Beast so that he can have Belle for himself (Psychopath, Mentally Ill) Obsessive, yes. Egotist, yes. Psychopath or Mentally Ill? Not really. I'd not diagnose a patient that way in a consultation based on that criteria - he shot down a waterfowl and hoisted up the animals' heads on his tavern wall (Animal Cruelty, Murderer) He's a *hunter* presented as for food and not *just* for the sport of it, even if he might enjoy it. There is a difference between the two. "Murder" does not apply for standard hunting of non-anthropomorphic animals, nor is mounting heads as trophies "animal cruelty". "Cruelty" means inflicting pain upon animals for no good reason, for the sake or lulz of doing so. - he was an former army captain who lead the French army in attacking the Portuguese forces in the live action film (Warlords, Fallen Heroes) That makes him "Military" or "Soldier", NOT a "warlord" which is presuming/wresting power over/from others unjustly, nor does the profession alone make him a "hero" which he's fallen from. Does the narrative indicate he was decorated for anything? - he pathetically begged the Beast to spare him so that he sneak up and attack him from behind (Cowards, Strategic) "Strategic" required much more than just acting a convenient distraction. It means "Planning" and a large degree of foresight. And just begging to not be killed is not "cowardly", it is *human*. Because being willing to *die* when on the losing end of a situation is actually stupid when it is not necessary. - he also acts as the embodiement of hyper-masculinty (Symbolic) That's audience reasoning which is not really presented in the Narrative. Sure *he* thinks highly of himself, that's where "egotist" comes in. I know it may seem a little much, but it would be a little exaggerated to think he doesn't fit all these categories because they're "every little thing" that can be implied about them. That's like saying Gaston's not really much of a coward, even though he is actually a dirty coward because he has no qualms in taking "cheap shots" to get what he wants. Even the Cowards category page has a quote of Gaston that can prove the point. Yeah, that quote should probably be changed.

Just think it over and tell me what you think. That is *my* assessment. Ofc, I'm just one admin. Feel free to ask others to join this discussion. Like Queen Misery or Magma Dragoon