Your Speech, Your Character

Good dialogue is inseparable from good character.

--A.K. Savage

You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Truth is stranger than fiction.”  The full quote from Mark Twain is,

"Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is

because Fiction is obliged to

stick to possibilities; Truth isn't."

--Mark Twain

Fiction is limited to what “can be.”  There could have been a Tom Sawyer wandering around Missouri in the 1840s.  But truth has no limits.  Years ago, we didn’t understand the atom.  Now we do (mostly).  Years ago, we couldn’t fly.  Now we can.  Truth’s boundary never stops expanding, while fiction is its doting child following behind.

What does this have to do with character and speech?  Everything.

Every decision we make, including what we think, feel, and do, eventually defines our character.  If you don’t like your character, change your actions.  Over time, you’ll feel better about yourself.  Because your character is truth, your character is limitless!  All from your own decisions you make every day.

This is especially true about the words you say.  If you enjoy being lectured brutally, read what the Bible says about the tongue:

• Proverbs 18:21: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

• Proverbs 26:20: “Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”

• Matthew 15:11: “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”

• James 3:5-6: “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things.  Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Genuine speech reveals character

If someone speaks honestly and genuinely, that person’s character becomes apparent to those listening.  Throughout the movie Star Wars IV: A New Hope, every character speaks consistently with his or her character.  This is one reason why the movie is so popular.

The following are examples of some of the most famous spoken lines in cinematic history.  In each case, picture the character in your mind as he or she speaks the words.  I believe you’ll agree with me that the words match the character’s character:

• “That’ll do, pig.” – Farmer Hoggett, Babe

• “To infinity and beyond!” – Buzz Lightyear, Toy Story

• "You're gonna need a bigger boat." – Chief Brody, Jaws

• “Go ahead, make my day.” – Dirty Harry, Sudden Impact

• "There's no place like home." – Dorothy, The Wizard of Oz

• “I’m not bad.  I’m just drawn that way.” – Jessica, Who Framed Roger Rabbit

• “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” – Rhett Butler, Gone With the Wind

• “I find your lack of faith disturbing.”  – Darth Vader, Star Wars IV: A New Hope

• “Bond.  James Bond.” – James Bond, Dr. No (and every James Bond movie thereafter)

• “Take your stinking paws off me, you damn, dirty ape.” – George Taylor, Planet of the Apes

• “There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.” – Samwise Gamgee, The Two Towers

• “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.” – Rick Blaine, Casablanca

• "Hello.  My name is Inigo Montoya.  You killed my father.  Prepare to die." – Inigo Montoya, The Princess Bride

• “All human wisdom is summed up in these two words – ‘Wait and hope.’” – Edmond Dantès, The Count of Monte Cristo

• "You'll have bad times, but it'll always wake you up to the stuff you weren't paying attention to." – Sean Maguire, Good Will Hunting

Meaningful and memorable speech is, in fact, a manifestation of character.

“You seem a decent fellow.  I hate to kill you.” – Inigo Montoya

“You seem a decent fellow.  I hate to die.” – Dread Pirate Roberts

– The Princess Bride

Imagine speaking with someone and knowing how he will respond because you know his character.  How beautiful that would be.

What about fictional dialogue?

It is said that the best dialogue is what the viewers or readers want to hear or read.  It is that very same dialogue which is consistent with the character’s character.  And when this happens, the reader or viewer is locked to the character, and magic happens.

What else can be done with speech?  For variety and interest, we can add touches of subtext, allegory, understatement, metaphor, enthusiasm, and persuasion.  This is where the art of speech comes in.  But all such niceties must be built upon the backbone of character.  The remaining trinkets are the icing and colorful candy sprinkles.

Most of the time, the extras are not necessary.  Consider Darth Vader’s quote:

“I find your lack of faith disturbing.”

  – Star Wars IV: A New Hope

The words themselves contain no subtext, allegory, metaphor, enthusiasm, or persuasion.  Yet they provide a powerful punch!

Timing

There is another matter: timing.  Notice in the above video that Darth Vader delivers his statement at exactly the right moment—just when his words have the greatest impact.

How can we achieve such verbal perfection?  The answer is a lot of practice.  The most opportune time to speak profoundly is when your audience is in the process of thinking—not too up-front to sound pushy, and not at the end to sound desperate.

Give yourself time

Don’t be so concerned right now about what you should say or write.   Instead, search within yourself for who you really are, or about whom you are writing.  Then, speak or write the deepest truth.  If you don’t like what you hear, then improve your character by improving your actions, thoughts, and feelings.  Over time, you’ll become more confident in your interactions with people.

I can’t stop pondering over the above quote from Good Will Hunting:

"You'll have bad times, but it'll always wake you up

to the stuff you weren't paying attention to."

– Good Will Hunting

The quote becomes more profound to me the longer I think about it.  Do most of our problems come about because we’re not paying enough attention to what matters the most?  How are we capable of paying better attention when our characters are flawed?

Maybe this is why we like fiction, because it is there that we find characters who have progressed far in mastering how they communicate with those around them.