In character development, details matter. Writers turn fuzzy silhouettes into real people in our imaginations with small things, like the lunchbox.
What does your main character pack for lunch? Though it may not seem to be a BIG or important question about your character, it could be a revealing one. And, at least, it might spark other ideas.
The best example I can think of where packed lunches reveal characters is the classic movie The Breakfast Club. Five teens are stuck together for a Saturday detention–a simple premise that inspires a funny but touching look at teen angst and the social hierarchy of high school. If you haven’t seen it, you must, must, must. While you’re at it, add all of John Hughes’ impressive movies to your must-see list. You won’t regret it.
But, I digress… back to character development via a lunchbox.
In the movie, each character brings a lunch that reveals a lot about them. Claire’s gourmet sushi meal, complete with chopsticks and dipping sauce, looks elegant when juxtaposed with Allison’s crushed-up cereal sandwich and straws filled with sugar. Nerd Brian has the perfect Mom-packed lunch, while his foil, the bad boy John Bender, doesn’t have anything but cigarettes. Andrew, the jock, amuses everyone with his grocery bag lunch, which carries enough food for the entire room–he’s in training.
Hungry yet? 🙂
How about now?
Like we learned a lot about the Breakfast Club teens by their lunchboxes, writers can use small details for significant character development. Here’s a list of questions you can ask about your character’s lunch habits:
- What foods does he enjoy? Is he on a special diet? Or is it all convenience foods?
- Does he pack it himself? Or rely on someone else?
- Where does he eat it? At his desk? In the park? In his car? On the roof, staring over the edge? In an alley? In a stairwell? Many Meet-Cutes can happen on a park bench… just saying.
- Does he remember a napkin? Hand sanitizer? Utensils?
- Does he share his Cheetos with others? Does he toss crumbs to the birds?
- Does he hover over it while he eats, like an animal with its prey? Or pick at it like a bird?
- What does he carry it in? A leather satchel? A briefcase? A paper bag?
- Is he conscious of recycling?
- What is his main motivation to pack his lunch? To save time? To save money? To have it his way? To spend lunch gossiping in the break room? To have an excuse to sit next to the pretty lady in the park? To get away from his desk?
- Does he prep it at night or in the morning?
- What would happen if he forgot it? Lost it? Ruined it somehow? What if someone from the office keeps stealing it from the communal fridge, and he goes mental trying to uncover the thief?
Yeah, I know. It’s such a simple thing. But little details stand out. I remember my Annie lunchbox and the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or chicken noodle soup my Mom packed for me. What about you? Share your lunchbox ideas below.
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