【Essay】 The author’s recent thoughts and musings — on character analysis

【Important Notes】

The author likes Wolfgang.

This is a personal, informal essay written in a rambling style and does not constitute an official analysis.

This is a personal views archive; if the reader disagrees, then the reader is welcome to write an article on their own.

If this isn't your cup of tea, feel free to close the page.
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The following are some of the author's recent thoughts and musings. The content is casual and informal.

I actually really want to write a comprehensive character analysis for Wolfgang, including his thought patterns, psychological motivations, and behavioral patterns, but unfortunately, since Wolfgang's backstory is not yet complete, I cannot do this at this time.
— If I were to write it now, it would not be an analysis based on objective facts, but merely my personal subjective speculation.


Speaking of speculation, let me explain why I can't write an analysis based on the current information:

For example, based on the plot details revealed so far, all hints point in one direction—that Wolfgang’s father is the “negligent parent” or, as we might say, the “bad guy,” while Wolfgang’s mother is the “good parent.”
For instance, Wolfgang's abnormal emotional outbursts and unfounded conclusions (directly assuming the murderer is male) in the prologue, the vague hints in the motives disseminated by the Mastermind, or Wolfgang's reverence and closeness toward his mother in FTE.

However, the objective facts may not necessarily be as straightforward as they seem.


Let's consider a few purely hypothetical examples:

It is also possible that Wolfgang's mother is the 'negligent parent,' not the father, or both parents are negligent. And Wolfgang's psychological defense mechanisms cause him to ignore or distort the facts.

This is just an example; it does not mean the facts are necessarily this way.

However, as we can see, the character development in this work is sufficiently complex and realistic, making it entirely plausible for them to fall into cognitive biases and self-deception (like Eva).
What they say is filtered and processed through their own "subjective filter," and does not directly equate to objective reality.

Or should I say, the game itself may employ narrative tricks—such as an "unreliable narrator"—to mislead the audience. The creators of PEG have proven themselves highly skilled in this regard.

Therefore, before learning this "objective fact," I was unable to write an analysis for Wolfgang.

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When analyzing the psychological patterns of a person (or a character portrayed sufficiently well), the most important thing is not "what objectively happened in their past experiences," but "how this person perceives the event."

For example:
What do they believe happened?
What do they perceive the nature of the event to be?
What approach do they choose to deal with it?

By considering these questions, we can gain insight into their foundational cognitive abilities (such as empathy and rational thinking), their "subjective filters" (core values), and their psychological defense mechanisms (how they handle current situations)—thereby identifying their basic psychological patterns, or what could be called a "personality sketch."


The reverse is also true. A person's words and actions also reflect their psychological patterns, especially unconscious behaviors.

For example:
What are the consistent characteristics of their speech patterns?
What are their habitual expressions and gestures—how do they choose to present their self-image?
What methods do they choose to interact with the outside world?

These details can also reveal a person's worldview (what the world is like), self-perception (who they are/what kind of person they are), and attitude toward life (how they live).


— And these unconscious thoughts, perceptions, and habitual behaviors are far more revealing of a person's true self than their conscious "self-expression."



In summary, when analyzing someone's (or a character's) psychological mechanisms, fixating on whether what they say or do is "right or wrong" (i.e., whether it aligns with objective facts or moral standards) is meaningless—superficial judgments based on personal perspectives can lead one to overlook the deeper motivations of the individual.

The best analytical state requires the analyst to temporarily "empty themselves."


Therefore, when analyzing, we must not only see what the characters are "actually doing," but also think about "why they are doing it."

— What underlying traits does this reveal about the person? How do these traits combine to form a complete personality system and psychological pattern? What consequences will their chosen approach bring? How do these consequences serve the individual in maintaining their psychological pattern?


Of course, during analysis, we cannot ignore social norms, universal values, or the nature of behavior.
After all, humans are social beings who both influence and are influenced by their surroundings. To conduct a more comprehensive and multidimensional analysis of the individual, we must consider multiple factors, not based solely on a psychological perspective.




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Additionally, people (or well-crafted characters) are complex beings. Reducing them to purely good or purely evil is, to put it bluntly, a form of cognitive laziness. A complete personality is not flat like paper—people can exhibit different aspects of their personality in different environments or when interacting with different individuals.
This is especially true for individuals with inherently complex personalities, whose "contrasting traits" may be more pronounced, leading others to question whether their "usual self" is genuine.
However, this is often simply due to an insufficient understanding of the complexity of the other person's personality.

—For example, many people behave differently when interacting with bosses, colleagues, friends, classmates, relatives, or family members. This does not necessarily mean that "one side is fake and the other is real." Most of the time, it is simply the expression of different aspects of the same set of personality.

【Note: The examples above are based on the premise that the person's behavior is unconscious. Some people may consciously deceive or manipulate others, which is a different matter.】


Ah, this topic could go on forever.

In any case, the above are just some of the author's recent thoughts and musings.


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【No malicious replies—distorting concepts or emotional attacks】

【The author reserves the right to choose not to respond to certain comments.】