Imagine that you are developing a novel in which the main character leads what virtue ethicists would regard as a flourishing life. Your character might suffer great hardship, but ultimately, your character's life would be deeply meaningful and fulfilling. In planning your novel, you are envisioning how your character will flourish as a human being; you are envisioning what human flourishing looks like for your particular character. Perhaps you are basing your character on a person or people you know; on the other hand, perhaps your character is essentially a product of your imagination. For simplicity's sake, I'll speak as if your character is a woman, although of course you might make a different choice.

In your essay, convey what your character most wants out of life. Describe her most fundamental values, desires, and aspirations, and convey how they complement one another. In writing your essay, address the following questions:

What is your character's name and where does your character live? How does your character's surroundings impact her well-being?

What aspirations does your character have, and why are they important within her life?

What kinds of activities does your character most value, and what draws her to those activities? What does your character get out of engaging in these activities?

What kinds of moral virtues does your character possess, and how has she developed these virtues?

How does your character relate to other characters, and what can readers learn from these relationships?

Please include as many concrete details and examples as possible. Novels are full of engaging concrete details, and it's natural that your essay would be as well. Of course, your essay would not itself be a narrative (with a plot, central conflict and resolution, etc.). Your essay would simply be a portrait of your main character through the lens of virtue ethics.

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