One of the benefits of having a cast of characters as diverse in personality as the one that makes up the cast of Modern Family is the fact that people can truly explore the different ways that our personalities, values, and motivations shape us. Alex and Haley might have similar goals in the end but their reasons for wanting to do such things are going to be completely different as they are based in who they are as people.
In order to better understand what motivates and drives some of our favourite Modern Family characters, we have decided to compare them to the different categories that stem from the alignment system that was created for Dungeons & Dragons.
Phil- True Neutral
Just because someone does not fall under the “good” categories, does not mean that they are a bad person. A person can have a heart of gold and find themselves under the neutral or even evil typings if such things suit their motivations and actions. True neutral types just want the best for everyone whether or not that outcome is what they would personally pursue. If someone wants to do something that they know will bring them joy but it is something that a true neutral would not do themselves, the true neutral will still support them in their efforts.
Phil is the type of happy-go-lucky guy who supports everyone around him, even if he doesn’t understand their specific goals or actions. He just wants the best for everyone and will do everything in his power to help them achieve their goals.
Jay- Chaotic Good
Chaotic good types want to do what is right but they have their own idea of what that is and how to do it. Though most will agree that their goals are morally upstanding, some may question their methods.
Jay is a good guy. He knows that he wasn’t the greatest man in his youth but is striving to correct this in his old age. Though he may be erratic and questionable at times, his central goal is doing right by his family.
Haley- Chaotic Good
People who fall into the chaotic good category are the type of people who try their absolute best to be their definition of the best person possible and will not take any advice or input on how to do so. They are known for being both good-hearted and free-spirited, though their actions may be rather confusing to those who do not share the same idea of what a good and morally upstanding citizen looks like.
Haley, though chaotic at times, truly tries her best to be the best Haley she can be. Though it is important to note that her ambition is different than her sisters. Alex wants to be the best by everyone’s definition and be recognized as such. But Haley just wants to be someone that she herself can be proud of by her own terms.
Manny- Neutral Evil
Neutral evil types love to get away with things. They love to see just how far they can push the people and situations around them and still come out looking like the hero- or at very least, the innocent bystander.
We can see this trait exhibited in Manny’s continued attempts to woo his own family members. It crosses the line into creepy very early on into the show and does not get better as he ages. However, he is able to manipulate those around him with his boyish charm in order to convince them that there was no harm done.
Luke- Chaotic Neutral
Chaotic neutral types are the type of people who do not give a single thing a second thought. In fact, they rarely give it a first thought. They make up their plans as they go and never question whether or not they will work out in the end.
Luke may be one of the most chaotic characters on the show. He is constantly coming up with half-baked schemes that never pan out and he never considers the consequences of his actions or whether or not he should have come up with a plan B before starting.
Claire- Lawful Evil
Though the term “evil” may throw readers off, it is important to note that being evil in Dungeons & Dragons does not necessarily mean that you are a bad person. Lawful evil types like to bend the rules and situations around them in order to get their way in the end.
Claire likes to win. Like her daughter, Alex, Claire wants to be the best. However, she is willing to bend and twist the rules in order to suit her agenda. Claire is the loophole queen and will seek them out in order to retain her winning streak at all costs.
Alex- Neutral Good
Neutral good people are the types of people who are focused on being the best person that they can be and working to improve the world. They tend to see things for how they are rather than how they think they should be, but can also conceive a way to make them better without faulting the situation or person for being what it is.
Alex, being the golden child of the family, is rather obsessed with being the best. She wants to be the best she can be compared both to those around her and to the person she used to be.
Mitch- Lawful Neutral
Lawful neutral people are people who are concerned with order, organization, and keeping things in the way that they should be. Lawful neutral are the kind of people that you can depend on when you need them. They aren’t going to be tied up in conventional morality but they will still lend a helping hand.
Mitch is the definition of lawful neutral. While yes, he can be chaotic in his more dramatic nature, he is rather structured and obsessed with the way that he thinks things should be and how they should have gone.
Lily- Chaotic Evil
Chaotic Evil is a category that contains people who do not consider other people when going about their goals and daily lives. They even can find themselves delighted by the suffering and misery around them- especially if they are the ones who caused it.
Now, it may sound harsh to call a child chaotic evil. However, Lily is not your average little girl. Her role in the family started as the sassy comic relief and eventually has morphed into her roasting her family members for her own amusement. Many of her comments aren’t even funny anymore. They are just mean. And she likes that.
Next: Modern Family: Every Main Character Ranked By Funniness
