Learning about a character’s backstory doesn’t mean the author is trying to excuse their actions. It’s there to show cause and effect. A tragic or abusive past can explain how they became who they are, but it doesn’t magically justify or soften what they do now. Context adds depth, not absolution. So why do some people always assume that any backstory automatically means the author or readers are excusing a red/black flag’s actions? This shallow take is getting tiring.
Learning about a character’s backstory doesn’t mean the author is trying to excuse their actions. It’s there to show cause and effect. A tragic or abusive past can explain how they became who they are, but it doesn’t magically justify or soften what they do now. Context adds depth, not absolution. So why do some people always assume that any backstory automatically means the author or readers are excusing a red/black flag’s actions? This shallow take is getting tiring.