Character Trait: Duplicitous

To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. The trait Duplicitous refers to someone who is deceptive or deceitful, often presenting themselves as one thing while secretly being another. A duplicitous character may have hidden motives or agendas, and they may lie or manipulate others to achieve their goals. This trait can add complexity and intrigue to a character, but it can also make them untrustworthy and difficult to relate to.

Possible causes of being duplicitous

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

• A habit of avoiding confrontation or conflict, leading to the use of deception to avoid difficult conversations or situations
• Insecurity or low self-esteem leading to the need to manipulate situations and people
• A tendency to see the world in black and white, leading to justifying dishonest actions as necessary for the greater good
• A belief that lying or deception is necessary to achieve one's goals
• A lack of empathy or disregard for the feelings of others
• A desire for power or control over others
• Past experiences of betrayal or dishonesty that led to the development of a defensive mechanism

Behaviors associated with being duplicitous

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

• Manipulating others for personal gain
• Saying one thing and doing another
• Keeping secrets and hiding information
• Using flattery or charm to gain advantage
• Lying and deceiving others
• Betraying someone's trust
• Playing both sides in a conflict
• Pretending to be someone else
• Concealing one's true intentions

Attitudes associated with being duplicitous

You may be able to show duplicitous through their attitudes.

• Cunningness
• Manipulative tendencies
• Lack of trustworthiness
• Double-crossing
• Hidden agendas
• Secretive behavior
• Betrayal
• Insincerity
• Two-facedness
• Deceptive behavior
• Dishonesty

Thoughts and struggles associated with being duplicitous

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

• Feeling like they are living a double life and struggling to keep their different personas separate
• Being paranoid about others finding out the truth and exposing them
• Constantly lying and manipulating others for personal gain
• Being willing to betray even close friends or loved ones if it benefits them in some way
• Feeling a sense of power and control when successfully deceiving others
• Struggling with feelings of guilt and shame over their actions
• Struggling with maintaining relationships due to their dishonesty
• Feeling a lack of self-worth and relying on their ability to deceive others for validation
• Struggling with their own identity and questioning who they truly are

Emotions associated with being duplicitous

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

• Double-dealing
• Two-facedness
• Duplicity
• Sneakiness
• Dishonesty
• Insincerity
• Disloyalty
• Secretiveness
• Betrayal
• Hypocrisy
• Falseness
• Manipulation
• Deceitfulness
• Cunningness

Facial expressions associated with being duplicitous

Here are some facial expressions your duplicitous character may exhibit.

• A smile that doesn't quite reach the eyes
• Narrowed or squinted eyes
• Averted gaze or avoiding eye contact
• Furtive glances
• A look of feigned surprise or shock
• Lips pressed tightly together
• A tilted head with a sly smile
• A fake laugh or chuckle
• Raised eyebrows with a smirk

Body language associated with being duplicitous

Here is some body language your duplicitous character may exhibit.

• Smiling insincerely or with tight lips
• Averting eye contact or shifting eyes quickly
• Leaning away or crossing arms defensively
• Tilting head slightly while speaking
• Using small, controlled gestures instead of larger, natural movements
• Pausing before answering questions or giving vague responses
• Mimicking the body language of the person they are speaking with
• Hiding hands or fidgeting with objects

Behaviors associated with being duplicitous

Here are some behaviors your duplicitous character may exhibit.

• Lying and deceiving others
• Concealing one's true intentions
• Pretending to be someone else
• Keeping secrets and hiding information
• Playing both sides in a conflict
• Using flattery or charm to gain advantage
• Saying one thing and doing another
• Betraying someone's trust
• Manipulating others for personal gain

Growth and evolution of duplicitous characters

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

• Developing a moral compass and making difficult choices based on what they believe is right rather than what benefits them personally
• Learning to trust others and build genuine relationships instead of relying on manipulation and deceit
• Learning to empathize with others and understand the impact their actions have on those around them
• Overcoming their fear of being vulnerable and revealing their true nature to others
• Facing the consequences of their actions and taking responsibility for the harm they may have caused
• Experiencing a genuine change of heart and becoming a more honest and trustworthy person

Stereotypes of duplicitous characters to avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical duplicitous character like these examples.

• Avoid making the Duplicitous character too obvious or one-dimensional.
• Avoid making the character's duplicity the only defining trait.
• Avoid making the character's duplicity too convenient for the plot.
• Don't make the character's motivations solely based on greed or power.
• Don't make the character's duplicity too exaggerated or unrealistic.
• Don't make the character's lies too complex or convoluted that they become confusing to the audience.
• Avoid making the character seem too evil or villainous without any redeeming qualities.
• Don't make the character's actions too predictable or repetitive.
• Avoid making the character's deceit too easy to spot or too difficult to believe.

Negatives of being duplicitous

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

• Risk of being caught: There is always a risk of being caught when engaging in duplicitous behavior. This can have negative consequences, including damage to one's reputation or legal repercussions.
• Difficulty maintaining relationships: Being duplicitous can lead to difficulty maintaining relationships. People may feel manipulated or used, causing them to distance themselves from the duplicitous individual.
• Loss of trust: When someone is duplicitous, they can lose the trust of others. People may become hesitant to share information or confide in them.
• Guilt and shame: Those who engage in duplicitous behavior may experience feelings of guilt and shame. They may struggle with their own actions and have difficulty reconciling their behavior with their values.

Positives of being duplicitous

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

• They are great for plot twists and unexpected reveals.
• They may be able to navigate complex social situations and manipulate others to achieve their goals.
• They can also be very resourceful and adaptable, as they are often forced to think on their feet and come up with creative solutions to problems.
• They often have a hidden agenda that can add depth to the story.
• Duplicitous characters can be incredibly cunning and can outsmart their opponents.
• Duplicitous characters can be very intriguing and captivating.

Verbal expressions of duplicitous characters

Here are some potential expressions used by duplicitous characters.

• "I'm on your side"
• "I was joking"
• "I was misunderstood"
• "I'm innocent"
• "You can confide in me"
• "I have no idea"
• "I swear"
• "I'll keep your secret"
• "I'm just looking out for you"
• "You can count on me"
• "I didn't do it"
• "I won't tell anyone"
• "I didn't say that"
• "Trust me"

Relationships of duplicitous characters

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

• They may struggle with forming genuine connections with others as they are constantly hiding their true selves.
• They may be charming and charismatic to win people over, but their intentions are often self-serving.
• They may have a tendency to use others for their own benefit and discard them when they are no longer useful.
• They may be perceived as unreliable or untrustworthy by others who have caught onto their duplicitous nature.
• They may have a tendency to form superficial relationships rather than deep, meaningful ones.
• Duplicitous people may manipulate and deceive others to gain their trust and loyalty.
• They may have a difficult time with trust as they are always expecting others to deceive them in the same way they deceive others.

Examples from books of characters who are duplicitous

• Jay Gatsby from "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Count Dracula from "Dracula" by Bram Stoker
• Amy Dunne from "Gone Girl" by Gillian Flynn
• Hannibal Lecter from "The Silence of the Lambs" by Thomas Harris
• Severus Snape from the "Harry Potter" series by J.K. Rowling
• Iago from "Othello" by William Shakespeare
• Tom Ripley from "The Talented Mr. Ripley" by Patricia Highsmith
• Sauron from "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Cathy Ames from "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck

Writing exercises for writing duplicitous characters

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

• Write a dialogue between your character and their best friend where the friend asks them about something they're hiding and the character has to come up with a convincing lie on the spot.
• Write a scene where your character is manipulating someone into doing something they wouldn't normally do.
• Write a scene where your character is caught in a lie and has to quickly improvise a believable explanation.
• Write a scene where your character tells two different people two completely different stories about the same event.
• Write a scene where your character is pretending to be someone else and has to keep up the act for an extended period of time.
• Write a scene where your character is torn between their duplicitous nature and their desire to be honest with someone they care about.