I've seen this done too many times, and I think someone needs to put it out there. There is a simple way to determine whether or not a character is interesting (it's not foolproof, sure, but it works most of the time).
1) Is s/he good?
2) Is s/he evil?
If the answer to either of these questions (but not both) is yes, your character is probably not very interesting. I don't want clear-cut moral situations because those are essentially exhausted. It's possible to write a good story with a clear-cut "good guy" and "bad guy" - Lord of the Rings is a prime example - but unless you're the next J.R.R. Tolkien, it's going to be difficult to pull off.
On the other hand, exploring a character's moral intricacies is rewarding, both for the author and the reader. Not only does the reader get hooked by a decision they have to think about, but it's a good way to figure out your character. Think "How would Billy react to such-and-such a situation?"
Superman has already been made. Go on to something more complex.
Any thoughts on other ways to make more interesting characters?
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