Activity

@rochellaine

I will need a better idea of the context. How important and impactful is the betrayal? What is the traitor’s reason for betraying them. Is it for purely selfish motives or does he think he is doing the right thing by changing sides? Do all the characters have an equal stake in the outcome or does your angry character have more investment in the traitor’s loyalty than the others ? How close were the characters? What was their relationship based on? If the traitor was someone your character placed much of his hopes and faith in, it would explain the greater anger.

I agree that having a ‘betrayal’ backstory is quite possibly the most boring path but I think it can work if (1) the backstory is unique and interesting enough on its own or (2) instead of putting the backstory later to explain why the character is reacting so badly, you reveal the backstory before the whole betrayal and use it as foreshadowing.

Another way to think about it is this: if your character is reacting so badly to treachery, it means that loyalty may be the highest virtue to him. In that case, you should consider why. For example, someone who is raised is a collective culture or who has been taught to belief in loyalty to the gang, family etc. above all else (e.g. Myeongwol from QOD) would react badly to betrayal. The “collective” mentality would also more naturally explain why your character is lashing out to the people related to the traitor (he is not viewing them solely as individuals that are separate from the traitor).

To use another example from my own writing, I have a villainous character who takes pride in the control she has over others, especially her loyal minions. So when that control slips away… yeah.