To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. The character trait ambiguous refers to a person or a character who has multiple possible interpretations or meanings. It can indicate a lack of clarity or certainty, as well as an intentional vagueness or ambiguity that can create a sense of mystery or intrigue. Ambiguous characters can be complex and intriguing, as they often have hidden motives or conflicting emotions that keep readers engaged and guessing. However, it can also be challenging to write an ambiguous character effectively, as it requires a delicate balance between revealing enough to keep the reader interested while leaving enough open to interpretation.

Possible causes of being ambiguous

You might want to weave these into your character's back story to build a more believable character.

• Being exposed to conflicting or contrasting belief systems or values
• Being raised in a family where emotional expression was discouraged or repressed
• Growing up in a highly diverse or multicultural environment where adapting to different cultural norms was necessary
• Being in a profession or social role that requires constant adaptation or shifting of personas, such as acting or sales
• Past traumas or experiences that have led to a lack of clear identity or sense of self
• Struggling with mental health issues such as depression or anxiety that can lead to feelings of ambiguity or uncertainty

For detailed feedback on ambiguous characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's story pacing tool.

Behaviors associated with being ambiguous

You may be able to show your character's trait of ambiguous by using these.

• Using body language that is difficult to interpret
• Frequently changing opinions or beliefs
• Avoiding direct answers to questions
• Being difficult to read or predict
• Being elusive or secretive about personal information
• Speaking in vague or unclear terms
• Showing conflicting emotions or behaviors
• Behaving in a way that is difficult to categorize or understand

Attitudes associated with being ambiguous

You may be able to show ambiguous through their attitudes.

• Confusion
• Non-conformity
• Elusiveness
• Mystery
• Uncertainty
• Indecision
• Dualism
• Complexity
• Contradiction

Thoughts and struggles associated with being ambiguous

Here are some ideas for things your ambiguous character may think or struggle with.

• Tendency to be unpredictable or difficult to understand by others
• Internal conflict between different aspects of their personality or beliefs
• Difficulty in making decisions or committing to a certain path
• Struggle to understand their own identity or purpose
• Feeling like an outsider or not fitting in with any particular group
• Constantly shifting perspectives and difficulty in forming strong opinions
• Tendency to withhold information or hide their true motives from others
• Difficulty in forming close relationships due to their elusive nature
• Fear of being judged or rejected for their ambiguity

Emotions associated with being ambiguous

Here are some ideas for emotions your ambiguous character may experience.

• Vagueness
• Hesitation
• Equivocation
• Uncertainty
• Doubt
• Ambivalence
• Perplexity
• Confusion
• Indecision

Facial expressions associated with being ambiguous

Here are some facial expressions your ambiguous character may exhibit.

• Closed lips
• Squinted eyes
• Unclear or hesitant speech
• Tilted head
• Half-smile
• Raised eyebrows
• Sideways glance
• Furrowed brow

Body language associated with being ambiguous

Here is some body language your ambiguous character may exhibit.

• Fidgeting or shifting in posture
• Avoiding eye contact or making indirect eye contact
• Using non-committal phrases such as "maybe" or "I'm not sure"
• Keeping distance from others or staying in the background
• Using a neutral or monotone tone of voice
• Speaking in a vague or hesitant manner
• Smiling or nodding without expressing a clear opinion

For detailed feedback on ambiguous characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's story pacing tool.

Behaviors associated with being ambiguous

Here are some behaviors your ambiguous character may exhibit.

• Being elusive or secretive about personal information
• Avoiding direct answers to questions
• Being difficult to read or predict
• Frequently changing opinions or beliefs
• Behaving in a way that is difficult to categorize or understand
• Speaking in vague or unclear terms
• Using body language that is difficult to interpret
• Showing conflicting emotions or behaviors

Growth and evolution of ambiguous characters

Here are some ways that your ambiguous character may grow and evolve over time.

• Learn to embrace vulnerability and emotional honesty
• Develop a stronger sense of empathy and understanding towards others
• Confront and overcome their fears or weaknesses
• Gain a clearer understanding of their own motivations and values
• Make difficult choices that challenge their moral compass
• Become more decisive and assertive in their actions
• Learn to trust others and form stronger relationships
• Discover a new purpose or direction in life
• Overcome past traumas or obstacles that have held them back

Stereotypes of ambiguous characters to avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical ambiguous character like these examples.

• Characters who are intentionally vague to the point of being confusing or frustrating for readers
• Characters who are so enigmatic that they become unrealistic or two-dimensional
• Characters who are overly mysterious without any clear motivation or backstory
• Characters who flip-flop between good and evil without any explanation or consistency
• Characters who are wishy-washy and lack conviction or agency in their actions
• Characters who are morally grey but don't have any redeeming qualities
• Characters who are purely motivated by their own self-interest and don't show any empathy or compassion towards others

Negatives of being ambiguous

Here are some potential negatives of being ambiguous. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as positives depending on the context.

• Ambiguous characters can be confusing and hard to understand for readers.
• Ambiguity can lead to inconsistency in a character's actions, making them seem unpredictable or unreliable.
• Lack of clarity in a character's intentions or emotions can make them feel unrelatable or unrealistic.
• Ambiguous characters may not have a clear arc or character development, leaving readers unsatisfied with their growth or lack thereof.

Positives of being ambiguous

Here are some potential positives of being ambiguous. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as negatives depending on the context.

• Ambiguous characters can surprise readers with unexpected actions or decisions, making the story more unpredictable and exciting.
• Ambiguous characters can be relatable, as real people often have contradictory or unclear motivations and beliefs.
• Ambiguity allows for more interpretation and discussion among readers, encouraging engagement with the text.
• Ambiguity creates complexity in characters, making them more interesting and multidimensional.

Verbal expressions of ambiguous characters

Here are some potential expressions used by ambiguous characters.

• "There are different interpretations."
• "I'm still weighing my options."
• "I'm not sure."
• "It's a gray area."
• "I see your point, but I also see the opposite view."
• "I'm not entirely convinced either way."
• "I don't want to commit to a specific answer just yet."
• "It's a complex issue that requires more thought."
• "It could be either way."

Relationships of ambiguous characters

Here are some ways that being ambiguous could affect your character's relationships.

• Ambiguous people may have difficulty expressing their thoughts and emotions clearly, leading to misunderstandings in their relationships.
• Ambiguous individuals may also be perceived as unreliable, as they may change their minds frequently or avoid making commitments.
• They may have a tendency to keep people at arm's length emotionally, not fully opening up or committing to relationships.
• Ambiguous individuals may come across as mysterious or enigmatic, which can be intriguing to some people but confusing or frustrating to others.
• They may also struggle to make decisions, which can cause frustration for their partners or friends.

Examples from books of characters who are ambiguous

• Tyler Durden from "Fight Club" by Chuck Palahniuk
• Meursault from "The Stranger" by Albert Camus
• Patrick Bateman from "American Psycho" by Bret Easton Ellis
• Severus Snape from the "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling
• Scarlett O'Hara from "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell
• Hannibal Lecter from "The Silence of the Lambs" by Thomas Harris
• Jay Gatsby from "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Humbert Humbert from "Lolita" by Vladimir Nabokov
• Holden Caulfield from "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger

Writing exercises for writing ambiguous characters

Here are some writing exercises you might try for learning to write ambiguous characters.

• Show a character who is caught between two opposing sides of a conflict, and is unsure which side to choose. Allow the reader to see the character's internal struggle as they try to make a decision.
• Think about a character that is torn between two conflicting beliefs or desires. Write a scene where they have to make a decision between the two, and show the internal struggle they face.
• Create a character who is constantly changing their mind or perspective on things. Show how this can be both a strength and a weakness for them.
• Create a character who has a mysterious or secretive past, and reveal it to the reader slowly over time. Allow the reader to question the character's motives and intentions.
• Develop a character who is an unreliable narrator. Show how their own biases and perspectives color their perception of events, and how this affects the story as a whole.
• Write a scene where a character is forced to confront their own biases or prejudices. Show how they react to this realization, and how it affects their relationships with others.
• Develop a character who is difficult to read or understand. Use body language, tone of voice, and other non-verbal cues to show their true feelings and intentions.
• Write a scene where a character is presented with a moral dilemma, and allow the reader to see the character's thought process as they try to decide what to do.
• Write a character who is both a hero and a villain. Show how their actions can be interpreted in different ways by different characters in the story.