In the real world, people have always been attractive to this one thing—mystery. One of the most fundamental trait of humans is curiosity. We are all naturally curious, and when something, or someone, is not quite clear or full understood, our brains start to work overtime. This is the reason why being mysterious is attractive.

Psychologist Robert Zajonc says that humans are naturally drawn to things that are slightly unfamiliar. When we are met with something that isn’t clear, our brain starts working resolve the uncertainty. This need to resolve the mystery stirs up our curiosity, which in turn increases attraction.

When a person is mysterious, he or she doesn’t reveal all of themselves right away. People, naturally curious that we are, will keep thinking  and wondering what they will reveal next. Our brain then gets engaged, which leads to feelings of attraction or intrigue.

This is also true in the literary world. We all love those characters that are mysterious and enigmatic. Here is why mystery also works so well in fiction:

• Mystery fires the imagination:When a character is mysterious, our brain wants to fill in the blanks. We start imagining their hidden life, what they are thinking, and what they are going to reveal next. We get mentally invested in the character, and this leads to our attraction to them.
• Mystery suggests there is more to unravel: Mysterious characters always seem to have hidden layers, more depth. This makes them appear more complex and interesting. They obviously have interesting lives and probably have exciting stories to tell, but they’re not revealing them just yet. This signals to the readers that there’s more below the surface level.
• Mystery builds emotional tension:We become emotionally invested when we do not know everything about a character. There is an emotional push and pull when one we learn something about a character and then finds out that there is still much to unravel. This creates a tension that enhances our attraction to the character.

There are numerous mysterious characters in the world of literature. Some of the most well-known mysterious characters include Sherlock Holmes from the Sherlock Holmes series, Hercule Poirot from Agatha Christie’s novels, Jay Gatsby of The Great Gatsby, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde from Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel. All of these characters have enigmatic backgrounds or hidden motives that fuels the drama and intrigue, thus captivating readers’ attention. 

What are the key characteristics of mysterious characters?

• Unclear or shrouded past: Their origins and history are often shrouded in secrecy, leaving readers to speculate what makes them tick. 
• Secretive behavior: These characters may deliberately withhold information, giving cryptic answers or avoiding direct questions, which makes them more intriguing.  
• Intriguing demeanor: They usually have this mysterious aura, often with a captivating gaze or unusual mannerisms. 
• Hidden motives: Their true goals or intentions are not immediately apparent, adding a layer of suspense and intrigue. 

Just like in real life, the psychological theory called the uncertainty principle also comes to play in fiction. That is, when people are unsure about something, it causes them to think more about it. This creates cognitive dissonance, which is a kind of mental tension, that makes us more attentive.

So now we know why our mysterious neighbour or the enigmatic Heathcliff (of Wuthering Heights) fuels our imagination and drives us to unravel their mysteriousness and elusive nature.

Sources:

Mythcreants. “Should Your Character Be Mysterious or Relatable?” Last modified November 25, 2022. https://mythcreants.com/blog/should-your-character-be-mysterious-or-relatable/.

Women on Topp, “Is Being Mysterious More Attractive? Here’s What Science Says.” Last modified October 22, 2024. https://www.womenontopp.com/is-being-mysterious-more-attractive-heres-what-science-says/#google_vignette.