The Secret Formula for “Likable“ Characters

In the world of storytelling, some of the most captivating characters are those who, despite their flaws or challenging personalities, manage to win over the audience’s affection. Think of characters like Tony Stark from the Marvel Universe, or Sherlock Holmes from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous series. These characters are not traditionally ’nice’, yet they remain incredibly likable. This phenomenon can be better understood through Eric Edson’s theory of character likability, as presented in his book “The Story Solution.“ Edson proposes that a character becomes likable by possessing at least five out of nine positive traits. These include: courage, suffering an unfair injury, skill, humor, being nice, being in danger, loved by friends and family, hardworking, and obsession. The combination of these traits creates a complex and relatable character. This framework helps explain why even morally ambiguous characters can be appealing.