Calvin's father often tries to make his son build character. He does this by making Calvin do things he hates, most notably camping.
Examples
Snow Blower
Calvin: I'm freezing! Why don't we have a snow blower?! We must be the only family who still shovels the walk by hand! Dad: It builds character. Keep at it. Calvin: Pretty convenient how every time I build character, he saves a couple hundred dollars.
Calvin's Revenge
On page 74 of the Snow Goons book, Calvin puts on his fathers glasses and combs his hair to look like his dad, and says "Calvin, go do something you hate! Being miserable builds character!" Calvin's Mom bursts into laughter but Calvin's dad says he's "sarcastic."
Origin of Building character
In one strip, early in the Calvin and Hobbes history, Calvin asks what is in his food. His dad responds by saying, "Try it, you'll love it." Calvin says, "Oh yeah? And what if I don't love it?" "Then it will build character." his dad says. This is the origin of Building Character in Calvin and Hobbes.
Ways in which Calvin "builds character"
Calvin's dad has told him many things build character, such as:
- Diarrhea
- Bug bites
- Camping
- Numb toes
- Shoveling the walk
- Playing sports (baseball)
- Enduring cold weather
- Suffering a tough life
- Learning to ride a Bicycle
Other things have been mentioned that "build character". Even though Calvin hates building character, he is still forced to. He thus used this a factor in his dad's low Polls.