Credentials:
I’ve been a Sango fan for 15 years and have roleplayed her for 10 of those (2006-2016). In that time I’ve tried to wrap my head around her, and figured out along the way what works, what doesn’t work, and what I wish I’d done better. Below is my own take on her character. It is not to be taken as an absolute. But if you like and learn something, that’s great too :) Glad to be of assistance.
I ) What do you think are some of the core elements of Sango’s character? How can you incorporate these into your writing?
The most all-encompassing word I like to use for her is ‘human’. She’s confident in her abilities but aware of her limitations. And like anyone else she can be a bit standoffish if she’s having a shit day, but for the most part she’s even-tempered and easy to get along with.
She is not someone who is made of stone. She acts on her emotions and expresses them openly. Sometimes they cloud her judgment entirely, and lead to irrational or reckless behavior; especially when her loved ones are threatened. She will always put their lives before her own. On the same token, she would also sacrifice others to keep them safe. She recognizes that this is morally unsound and has never tried to resist the repercussions of her decisions. To Sango, family comes first.
The most important factor to consider when writing for Sango is the timeline. Do your research on where she is mentally in your story. For instance, if it’s set near the beginning of the series, she’s masking a lot of her real self behind a strong, impenetrable façade. She only first exposes how emotionally worn she is after her battle at Naraku’s castle.
As the series progresses she focuses a little less on living for revenge, and more on fighting for a new future. Saving Miroku becomes equally as important to her as rescuing Kohaku. Hope and love drive her forward, not hate or anger.
Post-canon Sango is of course left up to interpretation, but based on what we’ve seen she is very happy, and a competent and affectionate parent. Most notably, she’s still fit to fight and ready to defend her family at a moment’s notice, as exemplified in the bonus chapter “Since Then”. On the surface it seems like she’s balancing motherhood and her training well. However, I think it’s good for the author to consider some basic human concepts. She is still very young, and she’s been through a hell of an ordeal. It wouldn’t surprise me if she had any form of PTSD. In my writing that has manifested as fear and paranoia of losing her family again. She responds to it by maintaining peak physical strength, and always keeps a vigilant eye on her children.
A last and likely unfavorable note about her character; when she’s not on the battlefield, she can come off as a little boring. And that’s okay! Not everyone has to be an animated ball of emotion all the time. Sango is calm and quiet when relaxed, and keeps to herself if another character like Kagome or Miroku isn’t around to engage her. She’s very practical, so she needs someone else to coax her into having fun adventures she wouldn’t otherwise seek out on her own. The others get a kick out of making her leave her comfort zone, because her reactions are usually priceless or flat-out adorable.
II ) Think about your favorite portrayal of Sango in a fanfic. What stands out about it? What traits or elements did the author choose to keep from canon? What did they add or subtract?
I’m not entirely sure that I have one. I’ve seen a lot of great writing for Miroku, but Sango’s always a mixed bag in those fics. I have a few favorite authors. They know who they are. Just peruse the MirSan tag on AO3 and you’ll see who the all-stars are.
III ) Without naming names, what are your least favorite portrayals of Sango in fanfic? What do you think the author misinterpreted and why, in your opinion, is it a misinterpretation?
I don’t think any one person is responsible. But if you’ve been in the fandom long enough you’ve seen the same two stories written by several dozen different authors. Both need to be written in the right light or they come off detrimental to her character.
Scar Comfort Fics
Do I think Sango would be self-conscious of her scars and physique around Miroku? Absolutely not. Shy at first, maybe, but not ashamed. Hell, I bet she points them out to her children and tells them all about how she got them. I know everyone wants a fic where Miroku can kiss her wounds and tell her she’s beautiful, but you know what? For once I want a fic where she can respond “Yeah. I agree.” Sango knows she’s different from other women, and she seems comfortable with that. Don’t sell her short. She’s proud of who she is and where she comes from.
You should not base Sango’s personality off of these interactions.
She’s not all anger and jealousy and stubbornness. She has depth beyond that, and it’s too easily ignored in stories where she’s a side character at best. She comes off surface deep, overly prudish, and sometimes even an outright bitch. These fics don’t paint Miroku in the best light either. If you want her to act as comic relief in your story, try to come up with something a little more creative. These sorts of stories can be really fun, but you’ve got to give it the depth it needs and provide perspective.
IV ) Any advice on how you would get inside the head of a character you don’t necessarily relate to or have anything in common with?
I’d say, take a look at what’s motivating the character. What was their background like? What is their end goal? Not everyone is perfect and flawless, and everyone is subject to personal bias. Try to understand why the character thinks what they’re doing or saying is right or wrong. How does it make them feel? Empathize.
V ) What is your favorite canon Sango moment (from the anime or manga), and what do you think it says about her character?
I don’t know what this says about me, but my favorite moments are when Sango is forced to weigh lives. Stealing Tetsusaiga, battling with herself on whether or not to kill Kohaku, choosing Miroku’s life over Rin’s. You can tell how conflicted she is every time, and that the decision tears at the very fiber of who she is. She’s a good person and takes pleasure in helping others. But she would sacrifice anything to protect the ones she loves, whatever means necessary. That unyielding devotion gives me goosebumps. It’s so endearingly human.
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