Which Morally Grey Character Am I?

Take this quiz to find out!

A morally grey character is someone who isn’t quite a villain or a hero. They’re complex, fascinating, and fan favorites.

Answer these quick, thoughtful questions, and we’ll tell you which morally ambiguous you are.

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Questions Overview

1. What motivates you?
  1. I want to have fun.
  2. I want to protect the ones I love.
  3. I want revenge.
  4. I want what's best for me.
2. You've been framed for a crime you didn't commit! What do you do?
  1. I cooperate with the cops and go through a trial. The court will find me innocent.
  2. I hide from the cops and live down-low and on the run. I won't take the fall.
  3. I become a vigilante and punish the person who framed me.
3. Choose the motto you most agree with:
  1. "An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind."
  2. "Treat others as you want to be treated."
  3. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."
  4. "Be your own master."
4. You're offered $10,000 to steal a stranger's car. Do you do it?
  1. Yes, in a heartbeat. I could use the money, and I'm not exactly hurting anyone...
  2. Nah. Sounds like too much trouble. Is there something easier I could do?
  3. Depends on the car, honestly, and who owns it.
  4. Nope. That's wrong, and I won't do it for any amount of money.
5. What makes good people do bad things?
  1. They're human, and all humans do bad things.
  2. They have no other choice. They do what they have to.
  3. Doing bad things is fun, even for good people.
  4. "Good" and "evil" aren't real. Things just happen.
6. If you could instantly master one of these skills, which would it be?
  1. Combat and self-defense
  2. Charisma and charm
  3. Patience and self-control
7. Is it ever okay to lie?
  1. As long as you can get away with it, yes.
  2. As long as it's not hurting anyone.
  3. Only if you're protecting someone.
  4. Never, or there's no point in lying. May as well be honest.
8. What do you need a break from right now?
  1. Exercise or work. I need to rest.
  2. Fun. I need to lock in and get focused.
  3. Studying or thinking. I need to relax.
9. A stranger on the street asks you for $20. What do you do?
  1. I make them do me a favor first. They have to earn it.
  2. I give it to them. We all need help now and then.
  3. I offer to buy them something instead.
  4. I tell them to ask someone else or get their own money. Not my problem.
10. Choose a team to bet on:
  1. The underdogs. Everyone loves an underdog.
  2. The current champions. They have the best chance of winning.
  3. My local team. I'm a loyal fan.
  4. None of them. I'd rather keep my money, thanks.
11. Choose someone to keep by your side:
  1. The love of my life, for whom I'd do anything.
  2. A friend who's loyal to the end.
  3. A sidekick who'll do whatever I say.
  4. Nobody. I prefer to go solo.
12. A friend tells you about their crush. What do you do with this information?
  1. Keep it secret. They trust me, and I don't want to hurt them.
  2. Use it to blackmail them. I can profit from this.
  3. Tell their crush just to stir a little drama.
  4. Help my friend get together with their crush. We can do this together!

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Princess Mononoke<\/i>. Like you, she's strong, confident, and determined. She's also incredibly protective of and loyal to her people, putting herself in harm's way to make sure they stay alive, and leading the charge in the final battle against the forest spirits.

Why is she morally grey?<\/b> While Lady Eboshi is courageous and admirable, she wages a war against nature in order to benefit humankind, which makes her motivations pretty cloudy. Is mankind more important than nature? Lady Eboshi seems to think so, but you may not be so sure.

Your shared traits:<\/b> Strong leader, kind-hearted, honorable","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Define-Your-Personal-Values"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-a-Good-Person"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Define Your Personal Values","id":681132,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Define-Your-Personal-Values","relUrl":"\/Define-Your-Personal-Values","image":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/30\/Define-Your-Personal-Values-Step-13.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Define-Your-Personal-Values-Step-13.jpg","alt":"How to Define Your Personal Values"},{"title":"How to Be a Good Person","id":388194,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-a-Good-Person","relUrl":"\/Be-a-Good-Person","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Be-a-Good-Person-Step-22-Version-4.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Be-a-Good-Person-Step-22-Version-4.jpg","alt":"How to Be a Good Person"}],"minimum":0,"image":"Quiz-avatar-Lady-Eboshi.jpg","image_url":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Quiz-avatar-Lady-Eboshi.jpg\/-crop-460-329-460px-Quiz-avatar-Lady-Eboshi.jpg"},{"number":2,"text":"You are John Wick!","meaning":"John Wick is the lethal assassin played by Keanu Reeves. Like you, he's independent, smart-thinking, and self-sufficient. He has no problem taking on an army of other assassins all by himself, and he's got the know-how and cunning to outsmart and outfight even the deadliest foes.

Why is he morally grey?<\/b> Well, he's a cold-blooded killer. Sure, he's fighting for vengeance for his dog, but does that call for killing scores and scores of human beings? We'll let you decide.

Your shared traits:<\/b> Determined, clever, capable","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Define-Your-Personal-Values"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-a-Good-Person"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Define Your Personal Values","id":681132,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Define-Your-Personal-Values","relUrl":"\/Define-Your-Personal-Values","image":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/30\/Define-Your-Personal-Values-Step-13.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Define-Your-Personal-Values-Step-13.jpg","alt":"How to Define Your Personal Values"},{"title":"How to Be a Good Person","id":388194,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-a-Good-Person","relUrl":"\/Be-a-Good-Person","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Be-a-Good-Person-Step-22-Version-4.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Be-a-Good-Person-Step-22-Version-4.jpg","alt":"How to Be a Good Person"}],"minimum":0,"image":"Quiz-john-wick.jpg","image_url":"\/images\/thumb\/8\/81\/Quiz-john-wick.jpg\/-crop-460-329-397px-Quiz-john-wick.jpg"},{"number":3,"text":"You are Harley Quinn!","meaning":"Harley Quinn is a fun-loving villainess of the Batman world, and sidekick to the notorious Joker. Like you, she's lighthearted, goofy, and here for a good time. As long as it's fun, she's on board. She also wants to get the Joker's love and attention, so you could say she's a sweetheart and a lover, too, just like you!

Why is she morally grey?<\/b> Harley Quinn loves to have fun, but her idea of \"fun\" usually causes quite a bit of chaos, especially when she's having fun with the Joker. She doesn't usually do things because she's evil, but that doesn't make her unproblematic, either.

Your shared traits:<\/b> Easygoing, optimistic, high-spirited.","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Define-Your-Personal-Values"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-a-Good-Person"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Define Your Personal Values","id":681132,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Define-Your-Personal-Values","relUrl":"\/Define-Your-Personal-Values","image":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/30\/Define-Your-Personal-Values-Step-13.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Define-Your-Personal-Values-Step-13.jpg","alt":"How to Define Your Personal Values"},{"title":"How to Be a Good Person","id":388194,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-a-Good-Person","relUrl":"\/Be-a-Good-Person","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Be-a-Good-Person-Step-22-Version-4.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Be-a-Good-Person-Step-22-Version-4.jpg","alt":"How to Be a Good Person"}],"minimum":0,"image":"Quiz-harley-quinn.jpg","image_url":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/17\/Quiz-harley-quinn.jpg\/-crop-460-329-440px-Quiz-harley-quinn.jpg"},{"number":4,"text":"You are Loki!","meaning":"Loki is the trickster god of Norse mythology, and also a prominent sometimes-villain in the Marvel universe. Like you, he's clever, quick-thinking, and super charismatic. Whether he's doing good or evil, he's got a suave smile on his face will the charm the hats off the people he's hurting (or helping). You're both stylish, smart, and hard to say no to.

Why is he morally grey?<\/b> Loki seeks power through any means, and also the ability to control his fate. Usually, that makes him a villain. Sometimes, though, that thirst for power makes him align with the good guys. Whether he's a villain or a hero depends on the day, and on where you're standing.

Your shared traits:<\/b> Cunning, sly, independent","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Define-Your-Personal-Values"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-a-Good-Person"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Define Your Personal Values","id":681132,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Define-Your-Personal-Values","relUrl":"\/Define-Your-Personal-Values","image":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/30\/Define-Your-Personal-Values-Step-13.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Define-Your-Personal-Values-Step-13.jpg","alt":"How to Define Your Personal Values"},{"title":"How to Be a Good Person","id":388194,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-a-Good-Person","relUrl":"\/Be-a-Good-Person","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Be-a-Good-Person-Step-22-Version-4.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Be-a-Good-Person-Step-22-Version-4.jpg","alt":"How to Be a Good Person"}],"minimum":0,"image":"","image_url":""},{"number":5,"text":"You are Sandor Clegane!","meaning":"Sandor Clegane, or \"The Hound,\" is the notorious, formidable sellsword and ex-knight from the Game of Thrones<\/i> series. Like him, you're someone who's strong, intimidating, and good with your hands. You're also someone with a soft heart protected by a stoic outer shell. You sometimes pretend not to care, but plenty of things tug at your heartstrings, and ultimately, you can't help but lend a hand where you're needed.

Why is he morally grey?<\/b> Well, he kills people, for one. Lots of people, and that's not exactly \"good.\" But also, Sandor almost always watches out for #1, and doesn't really get involved in others' business, good or bad, if he can help it.

Your shared traits:<\/b> Independent, humorous, self-sufficient","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Define-Your-Personal-Values"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-a-Good-Person"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Define Your Personal Values","id":681132,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Define-Your-Personal-Values","relUrl":"\/Define-Your-Personal-Values","image":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/30\/Define-Your-Personal-Values-Step-13.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Define-Your-Personal-Values-Step-13.jpg","alt":"How to Define Your Personal Values"},{"title":"How to Be a Good Person","id":388194,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-a-Good-Person","relUrl":"\/Be-a-Good-Person","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Be-a-Good-Person-Step-22-Version-4.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Be-a-Good-Person-Step-22-Version-4.jpg","alt":"How to Be a Good Person"}],"minimum":0,"image":"Quiz-game-of-thrones-sandor-clegane-.jpg","image_url":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/fc\/Quiz-game-of-thrones-sandor-clegane-.jpg\/-crop-460-329-448px-Quiz-game-of-thrones-sandor-clegane-.jpg"},{"number":6,"text":"You are Severus Snape!","meaning":"Snape is the severe, sinister teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts in the Harry Potter<\/i> series. Like you, he's intelligent, observant, and takes himself seriously. You're both stoic, respectable, and care about your appearances. You're also refined, elegant, and extremely tasteful. Some see you as intimidating, and that's how you like it, but you've also got a good heart that guides you.

Why is he morally grey?<\/b> In the series, Snape acts as a double agent. He's not always the nicest guy, and he tends to push things (like punishments) too far, but he does everything he does out of affection for his deceased love, making him pretty tragic, and ultimately pretty good, but not exactly a hero.

Your shared traits:<\/b> Determined, studious, strategic","edit_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Define-Your-Personal-Values"},{"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-a-Good-Person"}],"link_data":[{"title":"How to Define Your Personal Values","id":681132,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Define-Your-Personal-Values","relUrl":"\/Define-Your-Personal-Values","image":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/30\/Define-Your-Personal-Values-Step-13.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Define-Your-Personal-Values-Step-13.jpg","alt":"How to Define Your Personal Values"},{"title":"How to Be a Good Person","id":388194,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Be-a-Good-Person","relUrl":"\/Be-a-Good-Person","image":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Be-a-Good-Person-Step-22-Version-4.jpg\/-crop-200-200-200px-Be-a-Good-Person-Step-22-Version-4.jpg","alt":"How to Be a Good Person"}],"minimum":0,"image":"Quiz-harry-potter-severus-snape.jpg","image_url":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/7d\/Quiz-harry-potter-severus-snape.jpg\/-crop-460-329-460px-Quiz-harry-potter-severus-snape.jpg"}]" class="quiz_results_data"/>\"Villain<\/picture>","alt":"Villain or Hero Quiz"},{"title":"Which Greek God Am I Quiz","id":14579380,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Which-Greek-God-Are-You","relUrl":"\/Which-Greek-God-Are-You","image":"\"Which<\/picture>","alt":"Which Greek God Am I Quiz"},{"title":"Temperament Test: What Is My True Personality?","id":13698677,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Temperaments-Test","relUrl":"\/Temperaments-Test","image":"\"Temperaments<\/picture>","alt":"Temperament Test: What Is My True Personality?"}],"number":1},{"text":"Lovable villain","result":"Great choice! In that case, we think you'll love these quizzes:","next_quizzes":[{"title":"Which Disney Villain Am I Quiz","id":14425634,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Which-Disney-Villain-Are-You","relUrl":"\/Which-Disney-Villain-Are-You","image":"\"Which<\/picture>","alt":"Which Disney Villain Am I Quiz"},{"title":"Which Mean Girls Character Am I Quiz","id":14468264,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Mean-Girls-Quiz","relUrl":"\/Mean-Girls-Quiz","image":"\"Mean<\/picture>","alt":"Which Mean Girls Character Am I Quiz"},{"title":"Am I Evil Quiz","id":14444392,"url":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/Am-I-Evil","relUrl":"\/Am-I-Evil","image":"\"Am<\/picture>","alt":"Am I Evil Quiz"}],"number":2}]}" class="quiz_questionnaire_data"/>

About Morally Grey Characters

What is a morally grey character?
A morally grey character is one that doesn’t fit neatly into “good guy” or “bad guy.” Instead, they fall somewhere in the middle. Their morality isn’t black-and-white, it’s grey!

What makes a character morally grey?
There are a lot of possibilities. Mainly, a character is morally grey if you wouldn’t call them “good” or “bad” definitively. This might be because they have good motivations that make them do bad things, or because they have bad motivations for the good things they do. Or, they might have no motivation at all for doing good or bad things, and so you might not be able to trust them. In any case, they blur the line between hero and villain.

What is a morally grey character called?
Sometimes they’re called anti-heroes, anti-villains, or just “morally ambiguous.”

What is an example of a morally grey character?

  • Batman
  • Severus Snape
  • Draco Malfoy
  • Arya Stark
  • Harley Quinn
  • Lady Eboshi
  • Loki
  • John Wick

Why do people love morally grey characters?
Morally grey characters tend to be more relatable. Nobody in real life is totally good or totally evil, so a morally grey character is often a more accurate representation of what it’s like to be human. They’re also more fun to read or watch, since they can be unpredictable, and their bad deeds are just as entertaining as their good deeds.

Is a character like Thanos morally grey?
Some could argue that! It’s true that he has good intentions, but his method—wiping out half of everybody—is kind of too evil to be morally grey, in our opinion. Killing 50% of all people is pure villain stuff, honestly.

Are there other alignments? Yes! Characters can be more than just good, bad, or grey. Dungeons and Dragons, for example, often uses a character archetype system that sorts characters into a chart. The chart includes the following categories:

  • Lawful, meaning a character follows the law
  • Chaotic, meaning a character has no regard for law
  • Good, meaning a character has the well-being of others in mind
  • Evil, meaning a character does not have the well-being of others in mind
  • Neutral, meaning a character is neither lawful nor chaotic, neither good nor evil, for any number of reasons

How do you write a morally grey character? The biggest thing to keep in mind is flaws. A good character can be morally grey if they have flaws that “taint” their goodness. And a bad character can be morally grey if their badness is “flawed” with good qualities. Ultimately, a morally grey character is just a complex one that you wouldn’t call either a hero or a villain. So in other words, they’re realistic, and just like real people!

Want to learn more?

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