Edward Elric (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
alchemyfreak) wrote2017-05-18 02:58 pm
alchemyfreak) wrote2017-05-18 02:58 pm
Entry tags:
Personality:
Ed is not a social person, often needing his brother to buffer his interactions with others, and keeping mostly to himself when alone, as seen in Germany. It's little wonder his only friend seemed to be Alfons, who he was likely only drawn to due to the resemblance to his own Al back home.
Despite being generally trusting and naive at times Ed is also a realist, cynical and prideful. All of which is shown throughout his developing relationship with Rose. When they first meet, he's quick to put up his cynical front in the face of her devotion to God, but just as quick to disbelieve the horrors faced in Liore later on when he learned what the military was up to after he left, demonstrating his naive side. As much as his determination and stubbornness can be related to the trials he goes through during his childhood, there is also evidence to support it being an inherent part of Ed's personality.
He comes off as sarcastic or bitter around strangers, and acts with a total disregard to authority. Despite the maturity that Edward develops at a young age he's occasionally capable of jumping to the defensive, snapping at anyone in a childish outburst - even those close to him - for the smallest (or imagined) slight. For many years Edward could easily be thrown for a loop or taken advantage of with a good amount of damage to his pride. It wouldn't take much to rile him up if the right buttons were pushed, which is something an enemy could easily use to distract him and gain the upper hand - as long as they didn't get too cocky and let their guard down. Both of these situations (Ed's ability to be distracted, and Ed's ability to focus despite his enemy's tactics can be seen in his last battle with Envy. As he remains focused despite Envy's attempts to distract and taunt him, where he wouldn't have in the past - however, the shock of the homunculus' reveal was more than he was capable of ignoring.)
These situations are quite temporary, usually a moment of yelling before he's back to working on the best way out of his current situation - and even sometimes just enough time to give him a new perspective on whatever that situation may be. The outbursts have seriously decreased in number and intensity over the years, as he's had several years to grow, mature (and mellow out) which has toned his personality down a bit. Instead, retorting with smart quips where screaming may have been more likely in the past.
None of that ever stopped him from being a caring individual, both sensitive to other's feelings and even sweet to those he develops any level of concern about, given the right circumstances. All of that is only the way he comes off to strangers and those who don't know him well - just scratching the surface of what makes up Edward Elric. Not only does he view what he's done as helping the people of Liore, but he steps in again to help once he realizes what actually happened there. In a similar vein, taking Noah in despite knowing nothing about her - simply because she had nowhere else to go - perfectly sums up Ed's naive ability to care about others, who may even be a danger to him.
Ed is known in canon to be a genius - he's perceptive and tactical, a skilled martial artist, and practiced in hand-to-hand combat. Ed is a quick thinker, a problem solver, and calculating even under pressure. He's also able to pick locks and a naturally skilled talent at alchemy - able to translate even the most thoroughly coded alchemy texts in a considerably short time. He thinks on his feet under pressure (most of the time) and more often than not he does it outside the box. Ed is stubborn and refuses to give up, even when hope seems lost. Although Ed shows a keen eye for details others miss, he's usually the first to smell a rat - as demonstrated in canon during the situation with Tucker at only 12-years-old - he takes most people at face value, trusting his enemy's words as absolute truth.
Even when he accuses them of lying, it comes off as more of denial/refusal to believe what he doesn't want to, rather than that he actually suspects dishonesty. He's prone to denial and ignoring what's right in front of him, conflicting with his perceptiveness is this ability to refuse to admit to things, even when he does see them. Although he recognizes Sloth as appearing like Trisha the first time he sees her, he dismisses it - even telling Al that he's imagining things when the younger brother recognizes her voice after the incident with Scar, when she arrives to take Doctor Marcoh. Although Ed does eventually acknowledge what she is, his attitude toward her - and homunculi in general - remains questionable throughout the series as he continues to let his own feelings get in the way of facts he's faced with.
He's dedicated, determined and loyal to a fault. He makes fast friends off the bat, even sometimes with his 'enemies' (The Tringhams, for example) showing that he's more than capable of adapting to change as well. Edward also happens to be an optimist - even when he gives up, the right words or amount of time has him back on his feet, ready to try again. Mostly from Al, but also demonstrated with Maria Ross during the lab 5 research.
First and foremost, his strongest trait could easily be labeled as loyalty - as even at a young age, above all else Edward's first priority is family. As a child his interest in alchemy only multiplied with the pleasure his mother had found in their work. His dedication to making her happy and seeking praise was tireless, even after she was taken by illness, determined to bring her back to life and see her smile again. Edward's devotion to family, and thirst for knowledge to fuel that devotion, can make one wonder if he has any desires of his own.
No matter how level-headed he may be in other situations, Ed's concern for his younger brother's well being can completely wipe out his thought process. Al in danger automatically erases any trace of rational thought from his mind, instantly putting him in just as much - if not more - danger than anyone else involved. Ed's crippling fear of losing his brother, and overbearing guilt for what he perceives as his fault - Al losing his body - can be life threatening. During the transmutation when Ed realizes that not only did he fail to bring back their mother, he lost Al in the process, he offers everything he has to get him back screaming, 'my arm, my heart, take anything you want-' to sacrifice himself for his brother's return. This mindset is demonstrated several times throughout the series, and can easily be described as Ed's biggest weakness, he never considers his own health or safety when it comes to protecting Al. Ed is always thinking of Al first, even at the risk of his own life.
Edward maintains an intense bond to his brother that others might call obsessive, despite fearing that Alphonse hates him (blaming him for the loss of his body), Ed repeatedly puts himself in danger to save his brother's life, willing to die without a hesitation when Scar promises not to harm Al in return. He's willing to risk life and limb - literally - for the younger boy's well being, going so far as to transmute himself to bring Alphonse back from the Gate, after the younger Elric uses the Philosopher's Stone to revive him.
He has an ego that boasts of self importance, but he carries an ill-concealed guilt and insecurity about a lot of things under that cocky attitude. As much as he seeks praise and recognition with strangers throughout his teenage years, around those he trusts it's much more obvious that he feels unworthy of any ego stroking. Edward blames himself for the human transmutation and the disastrous results it caused - even though Al assumes the responsibility as well. Ed shoulders the blame of what's gone wrong in his past, and given time to dwell on it, can let the guilt of previous actions (or inaction, in the case of Nina) consume him. Still, this doesn't stop him from being cocky in public, and stubborn about things he truly believes in. He's determined and goal oriented, self-absorbed in a number of ways and often boasts of putting his own goals first, regardless of the warnings given to him about their danger. Despite this, doing what he believes is right remains a big priority for him. Edward believes in always moving forward, imposing this belief upon others during trying times in their lives the same way Mustang expected it of him when he was devastated by the tragic loss of Nina.
Despite being generally trusting and naive at times Ed is also a realist, cynical and prideful. All of which is shown throughout his developing relationship with Rose. When they first meet, he's quick to put up his cynical front in the face of her devotion to God, but just as quick to disbelieve the horrors faced in Liore later on when he learned what the military was up to after he left, demonstrating his naive side. As much as his determination and stubbornness can be related to the trials he goes through during his childhood, there is also evidence to support it being an inherent part of Ed's personality.
He comes off as sarcastic or bitter around strangers, and acts with a total disregard to authority. Despite the maturity that Edward develops at a young age he's occasionally capable of jumping to the defensive, snapping at anyone in a childish outburst - even those close to him - for the smallest (or imagined) slight. For many years Edward could easily be thrown for a loop or taken advantage of with a good amount of damage to his pride. It wouldn't take much to rile him up if the right buttons were pushed, which is something an enemy could easily use to distract him and gain the upper hand - as long as they didn't get too cocky and let their guard down. Both of these situations (Ed's ability to be distracted, and Ed's ability to focus despite his enemy's tactics can be seen in his last battle with Envy. As he remains focused despite Envy's attempts to distract and taunt him, where he wouldn't have in the past - however, the shock of the homunculus' reveal was more than he was capable of ignoring.)
These situations are quite temporary, usually a moment of yelling before he's back to working on the best way out of his current situation - and even sometimes just enough time to give him a new perspective on whatever that situation may be. The outbursts have seriously decreased in number and intensity over the years, as he's had several years to grow, mature (and mellow out) which has toned his personality down a bit. Instead, retorting with smart quips where screaming may have been more likely in the past.
None of that ever stopped him from being a caring individual, both sensitive to other's feelings and even sweet to those he develops any level of concern about, given the right circumstances. All of that is only the way he comes off to strangers and those who don't know him well - just scratching the surface of what makes up Edward Elric. Not only does he view what he's done as helping the people of Liore, but he steps in again to help once he realizes what actually happened there. In a similar vein, taking Noah in despite knowing nothing about her - simply because she had nowhere else to go - perfectly sums up Ed's naive ability to care about others, who may even be a danger to him.
Ed is known in canon to be a genius - he's perceptive and tactical, a skilled martial artist, and practiced in hand-to-hand combat. Ed is a quick thinker, a problem solver, and calculating even under pressure. He's also able to pick locks and a naturally skilled talent at alchemy - able to translate even the most thoroughly coded alchemy texts in a considerably short time. He thinks on his feet under pressure (most of the time) and more often than not he does it outside the box. Ed is stubborn and refuses to give up, even when hope seems lost. Although Ed shows a keen eye for details others miss, he's usually the first to smell a rat - as demonstrated in canon during the situation with Tucker at only 12-years-old - he takes most people at face value, trusting his enemy's words as absolute truth.
Even when he accuses them of lying, it comes off as more of denial/refusal to believe what he doesn't want to, rather than that he actually suspects dishonesty. He's prone to denial and ignoring what's right in front of him, conflicting with his perceptiveness is this ability to refuse to admit to things, even when he does see them. Although he recognizes Sloth as appearing like Trisha the first time he sees her, he dismisses it - even telling Al that he's imagining things when the younger brother recognizes her voice after the incident with Scar, when she arrives to take Doctor Marcoh. Although Ed does eventually acknowledge what she is, his attitude toward her - and homunculi in general - remains questionable throughout the series as he continues to let his own feelings get in the way of facts he's faced with.
He's dedicated, determined and loyal to a fault. He makes fast friends off the bat, even sometimes with his 'enemies' (The Tringhams, for example) showing that he's more than capable of adapting to change as well. Edward also happens to be an optimist - even when he gives up, the right words or amount of time has him back on his feet, ready to try again. Mostly from Al, but also demonstrated with Maria Ross during the lab 5 research.
First and foremost, his strongest trait could easily be labeled as loyalty - as even at a young age, above all else Edward's first priority is family. As a child his interest in alchemy only multiplied with the pleasure his mother had found in their work. His dedication to making her happy and seeking praise was tireless, even after she was taken by illness, determined to bring her back to life and see her smile again. Edward's devotion to family, and thirst for knowledge to fuel that devotion, can make one wonder if he has any desires of his own.
No matter how level-headed he may be in other situations, Ed's concern for his younger brother's well being can completely wipe out his thought process. Al in danger automatically erases any trace of rational thought from his mind, instantly putting him in just as much - if not more - danger than anyone else involved. Ed's crippling fear of losing his brother, and overbearing guilt for what he perceives as his fault - Al losing his body - can be life threatening. During the transmutation when Ed realizes that not only did he fail to bring back their mother, he lost Al in the process, he offers everything he has to get him back screaming, 'my arm, my heart, take anything you want-' to sacrifice himself for his brother's return. This mindset is demonstrated several times throughout the series, and can easily be described as Ed's biggest weakness, he never considers his own health or safety when it comes to protecting Al. Ed is always thinking of Al first, even at the risk of his own life.
Edward maintains an intense bond to his brother that others might call obsessive, despite fearing that Alphonse hates him (blaming him for the loss of his body), Ed repeatedly puts himself in danger to save his brother's life, willing to die without a hesitation when Scar promises not to harm Al in return. He's willing to risk life and limb - literally - for the younger boy's well being, going so far as to transmute himself to bring Alphonse back from the Gate, after the younger Elric uses the Philosopher's Stone to revive him.
He has an ego that boasts of self importance, but he carries an ill-concealed guilt and insecurity about a lot of things under that cocky attitude. As much as he seeks praise and recognition with strangers throughout his teenage years, around those he trusts it's much more obvious that he feels unworthy of any ego stroking. Edward blames himself for the human transmutation and the disastrous results it caused - even though Al assumes the responsibility as well. Ed shoulders the blame of what's gone wrong in his past, and given time to dwell on it, can let the guilt of previous actions (or inaction, in the case of Nina) consume him. Still, this doesn't stop him from being cocky in public, and stubborn about things he truly believes in. He's determined and goal oriented, self-absorbed in a number of ways and often boasts of putting his own goals first, regardless of the warnings given to him about their danger. Despite this, doing what he believes is right remains a big priority for him. Edward believes in always moving forward, imposing this belief upon others during trying times in their lives the same way Mustang expected it of him when he was devastated by the tragic loss of Nina.