How to Use Cultural Richness to Build Compelling Characters

Creating a memorable character is anything but easy because so many things are overdone and cliché. But then you read a book or two and you find a character that’s ordinary, but not. They’re relatable, you can identify yourself with them, but they’re not basic because you remember them even after the book is done.

So, what makes a character have an impact? It can’t be just their words and actions because if that was the case, anyone could be a successful writer and pretty much all characters would be memorable.

The answer? The world around them that shapes them into who they are. Culture, traditions, and just the way that they see life is what makes them stand out so much that you can’t forget them even when they’re fictional.

Cultural richness is what takes a character from blah to wow, and in this article, you’ll learn how to use the dynamic, vivid cultures of Latin America (as an example) to breathe unique life into your characters.

Creating Authentic Cultural Backstories for Characters

You have all these ideas that you’d like to put down on paper and organize, so you ask yourself, should I write a novel? Well… It depends. Say you have an original story that you’d like to share with the world.

That’s a great place to start but the heart and soul of the story are its characters. If they’re flat, then your novel probably won’t get very far and, even if you finish it, who’s going to give it a good review? In fact, will anyone bother reading it?

Here’s what to do to create characters people will love. 

Create the Character’s Cultural Context

he first question to tackle is – where was your character born? What about the surroundings has influenced them when they were young? Does the character grow up in a small village that encourages cultural practices or does the character grow up in a bustling metropolis with a mixture of ethnicities? What were the struggles that one had to overcome in order to grow?

For instance, a character born in the Andes could exhibit a deep appreciation for nature, but one born in the capital of Mexico could be more modernized and less in tune with nature. Make it seem authentic and realistic. Readers who are familiar with such environments will find themselves in the character and will more easily be able to connect with him/her.

This is the basic structure (the foundation) of your character. Family and community matter too, particularly in the case of Latin American cultures that put a lot of emphasis on the concept of family. Family develops your character’s principles and patterns of communication with other people. Such characters will perhaps react differently to specific situations than what the reader would expect.

Say you have a character that was lucky enough to come from a close-knit family; their motivations and conflicts will be different from someone that’s trying to have more space away from their family.

Language and Dialogue

Language is very powerful. In Latin America, people speak Spanish, Portuguese, and many indigenous languages, and this can add a lot of layers to your character’s dialogue.

You could have a character that speaks Spanish and Quechua and they can use some phrases and idioms that are unique to their culture, and you already have a character that has something to make them stand out.

Just make sure to use the language naturally and, if you’re using elements from both languages, don’t go crazy because you’ll overwhelm the readers.

Cultural Clashes and Personal Conflicts

Many characters experience challenges of a cultural nature, and there is no universal way they resolve such challenges. They may have issues for wanting to uphold age-old customs, however, they also appreciate the contemporary way of life, which begs the question, who are they really?

Are they really such ethnocentrists or just dislike any form of development? Or perhaps they’re just finding it difficult to acclimatize to the modern society? This can go so many different ways – migration, generational gaps, trying to live up to their family’s expectations, etc.

The possibilities are truly endless.

3 Key Cultural Elements to Include

Think of an onion – it has layers, right? That’s what you want for your character. You want dimension and authenticity, so you should include a few elements like traditions, religion, family, even food.

This’ll give depth to your characters.

1.   Traditions and Festivals

In Latin America, you have celebrations like Day of the Dead in Mexico that can have an impact on how your character sees death and what their connection to their family is like. Then, you have Carnival in Brazil that can show how your character experiences joy or rebellion.

These kinds of events can be turning points for characters, where they can have epiphanies or unfold some personal conflicts.

2.   Religion and Spirituality

Usually, religion is what forms a character’s moral foundation. In a lot of Latin American countries, Catholicism has a huge role, and in indigenous and African traditions like Candomblé and Santería blend spiritual practices.

This can be the source of some kind of internal struggle.

3.   Cuisine and Way of Living

Food is a considerable component of any culture as it can convey affection, community, and history. In southern and central America, food items like tamales, enchiladas, or empanadas can resonate the character’s roots in the history of the place.

The way people cook, serve, and consume meals can help in understanding who they are and where they come from. This also allows for the reader to put themselves into this situation themselves, leading to creating a connection/bond with the character (and THAT is what’s most important).

Conclusion

It’s hard to invent an interesting, believable, and vivid character, but that’s not impossible. Think about the onion once more – create them in layers and let the reader see how they change throughout the book; don’t just add a complete character development arc in one single page.

Your characters will make or break the story, so take the time to create ones your readers will be able to connect to. Such stories are the ones that are most remembered.

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