: Re: How to write a chaotic neutral protagonist and prevent my readers from thinking they are evil? I've come across a problem with one of the main characters in my book. The "heroine" of my story

@LarsenBagley300

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So it's important to note that morality (good vs. evil question) is not the same as legality (Lawful vs. Chaos). A prime example would be a Nazi solider who guards a concentration camp (Lawful) from a German resistance member, who tries to free the prisoners (Good).

If we look at the Loony Tunes, we find a bevy of Chaotic Neutral Charactes (Most silly cartoon characters are). For example, think about the start of any Bugs Bunny Cartoon... Bugs isn't looking for trouble... he's sleeping and something above his burrow disturbs his sleep... or he's singing a song, totally unaware it's bothering someone... or he's made yet another wrong turn at Albuquerque and is trying to correct course. Either way, he is not maliciously in his present situation, and would show himself out if the villain of the short wasn't angry by the trespass and takes out his anger on Bugs... and of course you know, this means war. The same is true with Daffy Duck, but Daffy's humor is reliant on his overconfidence and underestimation of his foe... Naturally when he and Bugs show up, Bugs is merely passive aggressive. He would never hurt Daffy... but he won't stop Daffy from hurting himself. One the few foes to Bugs is Cecil the Turtle (Tortoise and the Hair) who is to Bugs what Bugs is to Daffy.

The only two Loony Tunes to not be Chaotic Neutral are Ralf Wolf and Sam Sheepdog. Sam will protect the Sheep from the antics of Ralf, who wants to eat them... that is until the 5 pm whistle blows... then they clock out and have a friendly chat... and carpool back home! This is Lawful Neutral and was basically poking fun at the Bugs Bunny cartoons. Ralf and Sam were the best of buds... but hey, Sheep ain't gonna guard themselves (and more bizarrely, aren't gonna steal themselves).

Animaniacs also worked with the aspect in their show. One of their "Enemies" was a parody of Mary Poppins who... wasn't malicious at all. Sure, she was very smothering, but she wasn't being mean and actually cares for the trio's well being... They break the fourth wall to point out that, under normal conditions, she'd be fair game, but technically, she hasn't tried to do anything wrong to them, she's just too friendly, so they can't pull their usual pranks on her.

In all, I tend to define Chaotic Neutrals as being temperamental to either side. Sure, she said she'd help you yesterday, but today she isn't. No, she doesn't need a reason... or at least... you're going to have to work for that answer because it should be obvious. Her attitude shouldn't be abrasive by intent... she should honestly not care what happens... and will only actually fight if someone else makes trouble (On fighting, CNs would rather not, but if you're gonna force me to fight, I'm gonna fight you, and if you get this far, I have no sympathy for someone who failed to realize no rules means no rules about fighting fair).

For your scene, I would change that she doesn't seem disgusted by the child labor... she just pointing it out because Goofy will do something about it... She could tell Goofy that she doesn't believe in his cause... but not tell him why because Goofy should know. When Goofy presses the issue, she should reveal that he should be wondering why it was easy for her to get in. When he does finally cave and wonder about it, she should mention that she got in by not being careful and and leaving a trace back to the source. Of course, when asked why she wanted the bad guys to come to her front door, she reveals they're at Goofies... cause she did a careful hack into his system... and then did the sloppy one from his system.

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