"Phantoms"



 

    I've noticed that when a character's main flaw is associated with their past, they tend to be sort of haunted by these things one could nickname "phantoms."
    Not actual phantoms, but things like memories or associations that constantly remind the character of what they fear/have serious guilt about. Things that affect the character in a negative way. "Phantoms" can come in many forms in the character's life, such as specific words, phrases, objects, nightmares, memories that are hard to ignore, etc.
    These "phantoms" influence how the character thinks and how they act. A character whose "phantom" is a person in their life who broke their heart could avoid similar people, or constantly think about particularly painful things that person said to them. A character whose "phantom" is a serious and damaging mistake they made years ago could cause him/her to always think about that mistake and how s/he should have acted, question him/herself constantly, and/or be afraid of making choices. "Phantoms" don't define a character, but they can diagnose what their inner turmoil is.
    Usually there's a point in the story where the main character overcomes his/her inner turmoil, and a scene with the character directly facing their "phantom" could be a good way to portray that moment. Plus, who doesn't love a dramatic showdown, or a quiet, heart-touching moment?
    Does your character have a "phantom?" Is there a specific scene where they overcome it?