Prequel, the importance of history on characters
by dreamstate-

One of the most frustrating types of fanfiction to read is the beautifully written, well-plotted but entirely unrealistic fanfiction that completely ignores is the importance of history. This is particularly apparent in prequels, that are often set in eras before the present time.

Obviously, some fandoms such as Star Wars are exempt, as they do not involve our world, but it is important to acknowledge the historical lore of the world. A Song of Ice and Fire/Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings are particularly important series that require acknowledging the historical lore, however, this article is particularly following series such as Harry Potter, TVD, Historical AUs etc. where our real world is involved.

I have received many complaints from authors when I point out historical inaccuracies, including 'it's my world I choose what happens', that annoy other readers and myself to no end. First of all, unless you are setting your book in a dystopian setting or completely different universe not involving the history of planet earth, 'your book' will only make you look stupid if you do not acknowledge historical difference in clothing, names, type of speech, social classes, technology, morality (gender inequality and LGBT) and major historical events.

Even J.K Rowling, at times, has annoyed me with the lack of historical context in the Harry Potter series. If you are not quite sure what I mean, when I refer to 'historical context', here are a few examples of mistakes that you can generalise across most fandoms:

People in 1940 did not wear crop tops and short shorts listening to One Direction. This was still a time of enforced sexism.
Homosexuality was illegal and frowned upon until the 1960s (these plots make great stories but ignoring historical context, rather than using it as a tool to shape the plot, is insulting to the realities that LGBT had to face).
'Skyler', 'Kylie' and 'Lola' are not historically accurate names to use in a 1920s setting.
Sex before marriage was deeply frowned upon up until the 70s, and although it did happen and can be part of a story - if a woman is unmarried and pregnant, there has to be an acknowledgement on how this is considered scandalous. You had to be married if you got knocked up, or sent away to have your baby in secret and give it up for adoption. Obviously, this is horrible, but you have to acknowledge the historical reality.
Technology and transport were vastly different only decades before this present era, for example, cars were very expensive and rare only one hundred years ago.

These are just a few of many mistakes made, even in some of the best fanfictions. However, this article is targeting specifically to the importance of history on characters. Whether it is an original character or not, history will impact the psychology of your character, and may indeed impact many choices your character must make.

If you have not read this series, you will still understand what I'm saying. My example to explain is the Harry Potter character 'Tom Riddle', who becomes Lord Voldemort (the villain), as by using such a well-known character I hope most people can understand what I am trying to convey. I mentioned before that even J.K Rowling made this mistake, and here is what I mean.

In the series, there are often comparisons made between Harry and Tom's childhoods, even direct quotes from the books. It refers to Harry and Tom both being orphans, half-bloods and talented wizards. People often say it shows how Voldemort was 'pure evil' and how 'their choices' is what differentiated them, as their circumstances were 'much the same'.

This is where the lack of acknowledgement for the historical context angers me.

Harry Potter grew up with his Aunt and Uncle during the 1980s, and although it was not a pleasant childhood, he later knew his parents loved each other and wanted to be with him. The crucial first two years of his life, although he can not remember, were filled with love and happiness. As a psychology student, I must express that the first three years of a human's life are the most significant years, and are fundamental to the development of the person you are today. There was an important development of trust that Harry developed in his early years with his parents, and although his Aunt and Uncle were horrible, part of Petunia did love him. He never starved and although wore hand-me-downs, he didn't go cold. He grew up in a peaceful modern world and never feared for his life. I don't mean to 'talk down' his childhood, but people make it sound overly harsh and notably in the book Harry says 'he does not feel sorry for Voldemort's upbringing', comparing it to his own. Here is where almost everyone gets it wrong.

Tom Riddle was born at the end of 1926, in between the first and second world war, during the Great Depression, in a muggle orphanage. The orphanage system had only just been set up, with children only a few decades before in his position being left on the streets of Victorian England. Only a decade before, 20% of orphaned children died before their first birthday. This was a time of the streets filled with orphaned war children, with father's who died in battle or years later from suicide or their injuries. Mother's with too many children often gave the younger ones up. It was not uncommon for four or five children in orphanages to share a single bed or sleep on the floor. Many did not have shoes, and only ever had one set of clothes. Food during the time was limited, and no doubt Tom grew up on watered down soup or dry porridge and would have been undoubtedly malnourished. There is only so much magic can do in this world, remember. The caretakers and matrons were often neglectful and abusive, and often there were cases of physical and sexual assault. Orphanages were also praying grounds for paedophiles. Children were unvaccinated and malnourished, and therefore orphanages were full of diseases such as diphtheria, measles, cholera and polio. In 1931, when Tom was five, the Great Depression hit.

With children dying of disease and malnourishment all around you, are you really surprised that the fear of death was installed in Tom Riddle as a toddler and young child?

When Dumbledore came to visit him in 1938, and told him off for thievery, talking about the objects as 'Tom's trophies', I was disgusted with Dumbledore's behaviour, from his lack of kindness to his ignorance of Tom's situation. Orphans survived on thievery at the time. The best way to avoid being hungry, as young as five, would be to roam the streets and pickpocket money or steal food from shops. Some orphans even resorted to begging. Tom grew up with the instinct to take what he needed to survive and was never disciplined morally on the subject. Stealing wasn't wrong in his mind. Of course, he took things from his bullies as pay-back. Is it at all surprising for an eleven-year-old boy to do so? Go back and read or watch the encounter with Dumbledore and Tom, and think for a moment; this is a man who is completely ignorant to the child's situation with no understanding and is completely unkind in his discipline. You wonder why Tom Riddle couldn't stand Dumbledore from the get-go?

Now if we look at the historical context of Tom's years at Hogwarts; prepare to be shocked at all the things J.K Rowling didn't acknowledge. Six out of the seven years Tom spent at Hogwarts were during the Second World War. When he returned home from his first year, he would have returned to muggle London preparing for war, with air raid shelters built and all the children being evacuated. He would have no doubt been sent to the country with the rest of the orphans. 800,000 children were evacuated from London by 6th of September 1939. Obviously, he would have returned to London somehow (um, J.K Rowling, please elaborate I'm confused), for the 1st of September for the beginning of his second year, the same day Germany invaded Poland. When he arrived back at the end of his second year, it would be to a country in panic. The Battle of Britain had begun. Only a week after returning to Hogwarts, the Blitz began, only ending on the 11th of May (obviously there is no specific end date to the Hogwarts year, but we will assume he didn't return until the end of May). At the end of his second year, he would have returned to a city in ruin. He either would have spent many years in the country with the orphan children (once again, J.K Rowling fails to acknowledge), or he would have been in air raid shelters in London. In the summer before his seventh year, after opening the Chamber of Secrets and killing Myrtle, he could have been in London, during the V1 bombings that killed 6000 people. And you're not allowed to use magic outside of school - pretty stupid laws the Ministry had. By the end of his Wizarding education, the Muggle world was in shatters.

Growing up in the poor muggle world had psychologically damaged you enough, now you fear for your life because the one defence you have to save your life you are not allowed to use? Muggles are literally destroying each other in front of your eyes? Is it really that surprising that Tom Riddle developed a hatred for muggles?

Then discovering not only his mother give up on him, leaving him alone in the world, because of love, but his father has spent all these years living in a mansion after abandoning him (despite Merope's actions), living his good life, while Tom starved for years growing up poor and alone? Killing his father is probably Tom's only action in which I actually don't think he was entirely in the wrong. Can you imagine the conflict he had against who was at fault, his mother or his father? I don't even think, based on the books, Tom was even aware that it was a love potion or Imperius curse (it was never confirmed which one) was placed on his father. He believed his father abandoned his mother for being a witch. But then his mother died, leaving him alone. Who do you hate more? Can you even imagine that situation? His father's actions would only enlarge his already developed hatred for muggles.

Just for Harry Potter fans, to blame everything about Voldemort on his conception that was perhaps from a love potion is ignorant. Just because you can't feel love, does not mean you can feel passion, comfort, lust, anger and sadness - among other emotions. You are a product of your environment. J.K Rowling said herself that 'had Merope lived and loved Tom everything would be different'. She failed to explain the historical context of Tom's character, although the outcome makes complete sense by looking at it in historical context (so not at all the level of failure, considering she did write with historical context, but her failure was in not acknowledging it), but now hopefully I have opened your eyes.

I found this bit on Reddit and thought it was brilliant. Look at the quote: 'there is no good and evil, there is only power and those too weak to seek it'. Growing up in an environment where survival is paramount and morals and ethics do not exist, power is the most important thing. Those with the power can control the resources (food, clothing etc.) and those who don't are left to starve. Yes, that quote is literally that deep.

Are you really surprised that a starved and psychologically damaged child who grew up surrounded with death within arm's reach, split his soul, creating Horcruxes, to ensure he wouldn't die? Does my explanation suddenly open your eyes to the fact that evil is made and not born?

I used this example to show how history is so important in the development and actions made by characters, and by failing to acknowledge history, particularly when in writing prequels, you are failing your characters and your story. Tom Riddle is a perfect example of an innocent child with an incredibly damaging childhood that led to him committing unspeakable acts that in his mind were justice for everything he had to suffer for? Isn't that just an incredible character plot?

History is such an amazing tool for plot and character development and I hate to see people ignore it. So please use history to your advantage and acknowledge it. It can create some of the most incredible character backstories and explain many real flaws that your character may have. History can be such an incredible tool to develop the psychology and personality of your original or canon character, so when writing fanfiction, even if the history is 'lore' rather than 'real history', please acknowledge and use it when writing your story!

What other characters do you know that historical context has helped develop?