Chara [UNDERTALE]

Chara, also known as the fallen human, is the first human to fall into the Underground. Chara is their "true name" on the naming screen, though their name typically varies on what the player enters. They are distinct from the eighth fallen human, who is the protagonist of Undertale. As a major character, Chara's primary role is described through the Dreemurr's backstories, though Chara also appears at the end of the Genocide Route.

Chara looks strikingly similar to the protagonist, and has a "similar fashion choice," as said by Asriel Dreemurr.[1] Both appear to have been around the same age when they fell into the Underground. Chara's SOUL is also the same color as the protagonist's, which is indicated by the red SOUL on Chara's coffin, but any other shared traits are unknown.

At the end of the Genocide Route, Chara appears with a long-sleeve neon green sweater with a single horizontal cream stripe (which is an inverted color of the protagonist's shirt, with a single stripe) and nondescript brown pants and shoes. Chara has cream skin, brown medium-length hair with side-swept bangs, and rosy cheeks. Distinctly, they have open brown eyes, and a smile that contrasts the protagonist's stoic expression. In the "Soulless Pacifist" ending, Chara appears with red eyes.

While initially cast in a sympathetic light, Asriel admits at the end of the True Pacifist Route that Chara "...wasn't really the greatest person." Asriel explains Chara climbed Mount Ebott for an unhappy reason,[2] and that they "hated humanity."[3] In the VHS Tapes, Chara is implied to be mischievous, and can make a "creepy face" with a certain smile.[4] Chara is also intelligent, secretive, and persuasive. Chara does not let their plan be recorded on the camera,[5] and they gain Asriel's trust to continue their plan.[6] At one point, Asgore noticed Chara once had a sense of hope in their eyes.[7] Despite this, much of Chara’s personality and intent is ambiguous.

There is evidence to suggest that some narration, as well as descriptions of certain actions and events, is by Chara themself. However, the narrator throughout the entirety of Undertale is up to speculation.

At the end of the Genocide Route, Chara behaves in a polite, formal, and terse manner. Chara's vocabulary is slightly above average, and they are blunt and criticizing in their dialogue.[8]

After a second Genocide Route, Chara expresses confusion at the protagonist's "sentimentality," and states that they can no longer understand such emotions, implying that they, like Flowey, have lacked a SOUL, and thus compassion, since their death.