Trisana Chandler (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
stormyweather) wrote2012-11-26 11:12 pm
stormyweather) wrote2012-11-26 11:12 pm
Entry tags:
Personality
The first word that usually comes to mind when describing Tris is 'prickly'. She's incredibly blunt, snappish, and cares little for the opinions of others - or at least, others who aren't already someone important to Tris. And there are very few people who are important to Tris. She's not one to get close to others, preferring to instead keep other people at a distance, usually with an angry, annoyed glare.
Part of this is just her own nature - Tris is practically the textbook definition of 'introvert' - but it's also because Tris's upbringing has made her distrustful of others. Neglected and emotionally abused by her own family, who regarded her as worthless and spirit touched, Tris was passed around from family member to family member until they gave her up to the Living Circle temples. And those outside her family didn't help, taunting her for being fat or the strange effects her magic caused. From a young age, Tris was made to feel that she wasn't wanted. This all changed when she found her foster family - people who appreciated her for who she is, and knew that what she had wasn't a case of possession, but magic. The scars haven't disappeared - she's still prickly and curt, and feels the need to make herself useful - but they have been able to heal.
And one area in particular where Tris has had to work on a lot, is her anger. She had more reasons than most to be angry at the world, but she couldn't afford to let her anger rule her, because her magic is tied to her emotions. And Tris's magic, when out of control, has the potential to get lethal fast. So in addition to learning to manage her power, Tris had to learn to manage her emotions. This doesn't mean that she doesn't allow herself to feel anger - she still feels plenty of that - but she doesn't allow it to come so quickly, or to become the kind of anger that rules her rather than the other way around. It helps that she now has the kind of control that lets her be angry now, but she still knows how to let that anger go the moment it might influence her magic. She also meditates daily, to keep a good grip on her magic and her emotions.
And for all that she presents a mean face to the world, Tris does have a caring and protective side. She is, in fact, kind, although she will fiercely deny this accusation. In particular, she is most likely to show this softer side to animals, children, and people that society has left behind. When she was growing up, animals were the only creatures who didn't have nasty words for her, and she also appreciates the fact that they won't annoy her like humans do. And with children, Tris has a strong desire to not see them grow up unappreciated and unwanted like she did - to the point where she even takes care of a child whose mother and aunt were murdered, leaving her alone in the world. She also later shows this side to a man whose magic had led him to be institutionalised and labeled as mentally ill, taking the care to help him finally learn to master his magic.
In some ways though, Tris's ethics are more learned than innate. Even as she hated her own family, she internalised some of their prejudicers, such as those against Traders and the poor. But these weren't predjudices that she held on to - living with Tris taught her how wrong she was about Traders. And when her teacher Nico gently but firmly correctly her view on the poor, rather than digging her heels in, Tris listened. And more than that, Tris - more so even than her foster siblngs - received a very strong education in ethics. With her magic having such a strong potential for damage, it was considered particularly important for her to have a good grounding in ethics and the correct uses for her power. Events also helped to reinforce her principles - when Tris destroyed two pirate ships, killing not only the pirates themselves but their innocent slaves, Tris resolved that she would never use her powers for war, even though war is what her magic is most suited to. The end result of all of this is a mage who is expremely principled about her magic, always making sure that she doesn't hurt others or negatively interferre with the natural order.
One thing that has always been a part of her though is her love of reading and learning. Tris is an unrepentant bookworm, who has managed to learn not only the art of reading while walking and riding, but also reading while performing complicated magics. She is also capable of reading and paying attention to what's going on around her, although she nonetheless detests being interrupted. She's intelligent, but her knowledge comes through hard work and the endless desire to know more. She's also meticulous, always preferring to be slow and sure over quick and messy, and this extends to not only how she practices but also how she presents herself - Tris hates being dirty, and she is dilligent about her personal grooming.
Part of this is just her own nature - Tris is practically the textbook definition of 'introvert' - but it's also because Tris's upbringing has made her distrustful of others. Neglected and emotionally abused by her own family, who regarded her as worthless and spirit touched, Tris was passed around from family member to family member until they gave her up to the Living Circle temples. And those outside her family didn't help, taunting her for being fat or the strange effects her magic caused. From a young age, Tris was made to feel that she wasn't wanted. This all changed when she found her foster family - people who appreciated her for who she is, and knew that what she had wasn't a case of possession, but magic. The scars haven't disappeared - she's still prickly and curt, and feels the need to make herself useful - but they have been able to heal.
And one area in particular where Tris has had to work on a lot, is her anger. She had more reasons than most to be angry at the world, but she couldn't afford to let her anger rule her, because her magic is tied to her emotions. And Tris's magic, when out of control, has the potential to get lethal fast. So in addition to learning to manage her power, Tris had to learn to manage her emotions. This doesn't mean that she doesn't allow herself to feel anger - she still feels plenty of that - but she doesn't allow it to come so quickly, or to become the kind of anger that rules her rather than the other way around. It helps that she now has the kind of control that lets her be angry now, but she still knows how to let that anger go the moment it might influence her magic. She also meditates daily, to keep a good grip on her magic and her emotions.
And for all that she presents a mean face to the world, Tris does have a caring and protective side. She is, in fact, kind, although she will fiercely deny this accusation. In particular, she is most likely to show this softer side to animals, children, and people that society has left behind. When she was growing up, animals were the only creatures who didn't have nasty words for her, and she also appreciates the fact that they won't annoy her like humans do. And with children, Tris has a strong desire to not see them grow up unappreciated and unwanted like she did - to the point where she even takes care of a child whose mother and aunt were murdered, leaving her alone in the world. She also later shows this side to a man whose magic had led him to be institutionalised and labeled as mentally ill, taking the care to help him finally learn to master his magic.
In some ways though, Tris's ethics are more learned than innate. Even as she hated her own family, she internalised some of their prejudicers, such as those against Traders and the poor. But these weren't predjudices that she held on to - living with Tris taught her how wrong she was about Traders. And when her teacher Nico gently but firmly correctly her view on the poor, rather than digging her heels in, Tris listened. And more than that, Tris - more so even than her foster siblngs - received a very strong education in ethics. With her magic having such a strong potential for damage, it was considered particularly important for her to have a good grounding in ethics and the correct uses for her power. Events also helped to reinforce her principles - when Tris destroyed two pirate ships, killing not only the pirates themselves but their innocent slaves, Tris resolved that she would never use her powers for war, even though war is what her magic is most suited to. The end result of all of this is a mage who is expremely principled about her magic, always making sure that she doesn't hurt others or negatively interferre with the natural order.
One thing that has always been a part of her though is her love of reading and learning. Tris is an unrepentant bookworm, who has managed to learn not only the art of reading while walking and riding, but also reading while performing complicated magics. She is also capable of reading and paying attention to what's going on around her, although she nonetheless detests being interrupted. She's intelligent, but her knowledge comes through hard work and the endless desire to know more. She's also meticulous, always preferring to be slow and sure over quick and messy, and this extends to not only how she practices but also how she presents herself - Tris hates being dirty, and she is dilligent about her personal grooming.