What does it mean to have a, "Dark side?"?

Question

I'm in a creative writing class, and my story involves a romance between two of the main characters. The problem is I don't know how to write about that sort of stuff. My teacher says to give the male character depth by giving him a, "dark side," but I don't know what that means. When I think dark, I think things that don't sound sexy or romantic at all. I think of twisted things, mostly.

Is dark something involving death, like being a closet murderer? Or maybe dark is a sort of depression, and I make him melancholic and a depressed drug addict who is suicidal? Maybe just occasionally rude and mouthy and the opposite of a Mr. Nice Guy?

What do you think of when you think of dark in the romantic sense? Everything that seems dark and twisted to me seems very unattractive.

Answer 1

A dark side is often referred as being the opposite of yourself. Others would see it as a kind of "dirty" side that i don't really like. anyways, if you want to find the dark side of your male character by giving him attributes that involve (if it comes to romance) liking love from other girls or like being a masochist; someone who wants and craves adventure through love. Though, this is really not to my taste. Dark doesn't really have to emphasize the 'dark'. dark side can just be a devious side of someone or maybe opposite like I said before. For example, if your character is a kind, shy and generous person and all that stuff, then it comes to the point that he/she is all upbeat, open, and all rough and 'sneaky' (like stealing stuff and then acting all innocent and nice in the end). Dark in a romantic sense would be sometimes seen as being 'dirty' but don't use that for a story for school assignments. if you want to get ideas, get some romance novels from the library or in your mom or dad's bookshelf whatever it is. In my opinion, i think a dark side romance good for a story for grades 7-12 would be giving more "hunky", "hot", vivid physical details to express his/her dark side along a certain middle or climax of the story. try not to overdue though. making it too seductive or it will make a bad impression on the teacher or reader. in personality, the character should probably have misunderstanding with the other character in which climbs up to have them getting to know each other even more and end up "loving" each other. there could be a could be a complaint of personality in which makes them disgusted of each other. for example:



"Ugghh!! Just look at you! Your all big and brawny and too tall for your age! You're like those narcissus people who like to look at themselves!" yelled ashley



"well..umm...how about you! you're not all that great either! l-look at those things you call hips! i mean you are so stuck up thinking your all that, being a princess and acting so 'modest'"



Then in the near end:



"Oh and I suppose you are the angel and i'm the black sheep then! look at you all dirt covered and ashes all over that...beautiful face and that...slim body of yours." he exhaled brethe as to be in awe



They have a realization that they do have feelings for each other and can see a ligtht under all that darkness( even if those insults weren't really true entirely). Now you can see what i mean of a romance. a dark side added was that after their understandment they would show a bit of romanicism to each other( an opposite of them, a wilder side, or dark side)



Don't try to copy me but i suggest that you use something that fit your personality and not choices pressed upon by others

Answer 2

Ignore her, give the girl a Dark Side. Don't you think guy with a secret or troubled past is a bit cliche?

If she wants a Dark Side, make it female. Think outside the box, maybe it isn't something she did, but something her family or mother did and she's kept it a secret, it affects her. More realistically maybe she was raped or assaulted and it's made her tough so she doesn't trust people that easy, adds conflict to her emotions over this guy.



Don't be afraid to go beyond what you think is acceptable. When I was in year 10 (16 years old) for my creative writing coursework I wrote a story about Bloody Mary, it was gruesome, slightly sexual and had some swearing and controversial ideas but I got top marks for originality and not being afraid to tell the story how it needed to be. You English teacher will see the flair in your writing if you go beyond the simple, fairy stories you tend to end up with in school. The key is to make all characters relatable. If you give someone a Dark Side, show us WHY they're like that.

Answer 3

To have a 'dark side' can sometimes mean to posses a secret, more deep and hidden side to ones character as opposed to the person people see on the outside.



For example - a male character can outwardly have traits such as being soft-spoken, sophisticated and modest, while on the other hand he enjoys things such as Tango/Lambada, hi-speed racing or gambling.



Actually, in a good sense, having a 'dark side' can be possessing a daring, risk-taking, adventurous streak; albeit with a mixture of intelligence.

Answer 4

Hey, Kylafith! Here is a list of names, with the language they came from! Light: Cindy- Latin Kiran- Sanskrit Lucy, Lucinda, Lucille- Latin Dark: Cierra, Ciara- Gaelic Kierra, Keira, Kira- Gaelic Here are a few with similar meanings: Light: Claire- Bright, Clear Chiara- Bright, Clear Lena- The bright one Roxana- Star, Bright dawn Zahra- Shining Dark: Nisha- Dark night Melanie- dark/ black Good luck on your book!

Answer 5

All of us have a dark side; Jung wrote of the Shadow. This is the whole gamut of repressed urges, longings, unacknowledged desires and pain. Such pain can be things like broken hearts, crime, hatred, phobias. Dark doesn't have to be either evil or twisted. Think about people you know, about the secrets they hide from most people.

Answer 6

I think she meant to broody, moody, serious kind of dark.

Like Edward Cullen.

Plz don't.

Your 'dark' is awesome though! I mean, dilemma much? Only if you want to include it though.

Otherwise, just make him deep and multiple-faceted, not a really flat character. Dark isn't a necessity.

Answer 7

i recently bout a book about writting the bad guy. its called bullies bastards and bitches. anyway it says in every story there is a bad guy to add spice and make the hero sound better.



sometimes the main character has something bad about them

here are some characteristics....

-hurtsw everyone around them except their close friends

-able to hide their dark fanties very well

-smooth

-good actor-great lier

-uses loralty with friends to get what they want

Answer 8

Dark dosent have to be evil. I think they mean like a bad boy type of thing. Like a rebel who dosent always follow the rules and does what he wants. Not necessarily evil

Answer 9

Your teacher is clearly an undersexed middle-aged woman who cries over her degree.

Answer 10

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