7.2 Character Creation and Development
4 min read•july 30, 2024
Creating compelling characters is the heart of great storytelling. Writers breathe life into their narratives by crafting complex individuals with unique motivations, flaws, and growth arcs. These characters drive the plot forward, engage audiences, and bring depth to the themes explored in the story.
Character development is a crucial aspect of playwriting, intertwining with structure, , and dialogue. Well-rounded characters with distinct voices and believable motivations form the foundation for engaging conflicts and meaningful dialogue, ultimately shaping the play's overall structure and impact.
Character Roles in Storytelling
Driving the Narrative
Top images from around the web for Driving the Narrative
Lord of the Flies Character Development#GoOpenNC View original
Is this image relevant?
UJ005: Figure 2.3 | Plot points on a story arc. The User's J… | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
Trait Theorists | Introduction to Psychology View original
Is this image relevant?
Lord of the Flies Character Development#GoOpenNC View original
Is this image relevant?
UJ005: Figure 2.3 | Plot points on a story arc. The User's J… | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
Top images from around the web for Driving the Narrative
Lord of the Flies Character Development#GoOpenNC View original
Is this image relevant?
UJ005: Figure 2.3 | Plot points on a story arc. The User's J… | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
Trait Theorists | Introduction to Psychology View original
Is this image relevant?
Lord of the Flies Character Development#GoOpenNC View original
Is this image relevant?
UJ005: Figure 2.3 | Plot points on a story arc. The User's J… | Flickr View original
Is this image relevant?
1 of 3
- Characters serve as primary vehicles conveying story's themes, conflicts, and emotional resonance to the audience
- Well-developed characters create emotional connections fostering investment in narrative outcomes
- Characters' actions and decisions propel plot forward creating cause-effect relationships forming story structure backbone
- Interplay between characters generates conflict, tension, and dramatic interest maintaining audience engagement
- Character arcs provide progression and change throughout narrative allowing audience to witness growth or decline (hero's journey, tragic fall)
Audience Engagement
- Relatable characters serve as surrogates for audience allowing vicarious experience of story world and events
- Compelling characters draw audiences into the narrative world (Harry Potter, Katniss Everdeen)
- Characters' emotional journeys elicit empathy and investment from viewers or readers
- Multi-dimensional characters provoke thought and discussion among audience members
- Iconic characters become cultural touchstones extending beyond the original work (Sherlock Holmes, Darth Vader)
Dynamic Characters with Motivations
Character Complexity
- Well-rounded characters possess balance of strengths, flaws, and contradictions feeling authentic and three-dimensional
- Internal and external conflicts arise from obstacles preventing characters from achieving desires adding depth to journey
- Character consistency ensures actions align with established personality traits while allowing for growth
- Use of character archetypes provides foundation for creating well-rounded characters customized to avoid clichés (subverting the "chosen one" trope)
Motivations and Desires
- Character motivations stem from underlying needs, wants, fears, or values driving actions and decisions
- Clear character desires provide tangible goals creating narrative momentum
- Conflicting motivations within a character create internal struggle and complexity (duty vs. desire)
- Motivations evolve throughout the story as characters face new challenges or gain new perspectives
- Understanding character motivations helps writers create believable and compelling character arcs
Character Evolution
- Dynamic characters evolve over course of story adapting to new circumstances challenging beliefs or behaviors
- Character growth manifests through changed perspectives, new skills, or altered relationships
- Resistance to change creates tension and conflict within character's arc
- Pivotal moments or turning points in story often catalyze significant character development
- Character regression or corruption serves as alternative to traditional growth arc (Walter White in Breaking Bad)
Character Depth and Complexity
Backstories and Context
- Character backstories provide crucial context for present-day actions, beliefs, and relationships
- Integration of elements into main narrative creates dramatic irony, foreshadowing, or thematic resonance
- Pacing and reveal of backstory information strategically creates mystery, suspense, or emotional impact
- Traumatic past events shape character's present fears, motivations, or defense mechanisms
- Cultural or societal background influences character's worldview and decision-making process
Character Relationships
- Relationships between characters create network of connections influencing development and generating conflict
- Complex characters often have multiple, conflicting relationships creating tension and forcing difficult choices
- Dynamics between characters reveal different facets of each character's personality
- Character foils highlight traits through contrast with other characters
- Evolving relationships reflect character growth or changing power dynamics within the story
Character Arcs
- Character arcs map internal or external journey throughout narrative involving growth, , or revelation
- Positive arcs show growth or improvement (Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol)
- Negative arcs depict decline or corruption (Anakin Skywalker becoming Darth Vader)
- Flat arcs maintain consistency in face of challenges often seen in procedural or episodic stories
- Multiple intersecting character arcs create complex narrative tapestry in ensemble stories
Distinctive Character Voices
Dialogue Techniques
- Character voice includes unique vocabulary, syntax, rhythm, and verbal tics reflecting background and personality
- Dialogue serves multiple functions revealing character, advancing plot, providing exposition, and creating
- Consistent character voices distinguish characters from one another making them more memorable
- Dialogue tags and action beats enhance providing insight into emotional state or physical mannerisms
- Subtext in dialogue reveals hidden meanings or intentions beneath surface level conversation
Non-Verbal Communication
- Actions and non-verbal communication crucial in defining character's personality and emotional state
- Body language, facial expressions, and gestures reveal what dialogue alone cannot
- "Show, don't tell" principle emphasizes revealing character traits through actions and choices
- Contrast between internal thoughts and external actions creates complexity and reveals hidden depths
- Character's interactions with environment or objects provide insight into their personality or state of mind
Creating Authenticity
- Research into specific professions, cultures, or time periods informs authentic dialogue and mannerisms
- Dialect and colloquialisms add depth to character's background and origins
- Character's education level and life experiences influence their vocabulary and communication style
- Verbal patterns or catchphrases become character signatures (Sherlock Holmes' "Elementary, my dear Watson")
- Silence or what characters choose not to say often reveals as much as their spoken words
Key Terms to Review (18)
Antagonist: An antagonist is a character or force that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict and driving the plot forward. This opposition is crucial as it shapes the narrative, influences character development, and enhances themes within the story. The antagonist can be a single character, a group of characters, or even an abstract force, and their motivations often lead to tension and drama that enrich the overall experience of the work.
Backstory: Backstory refers to the history of a character or situation that precedes the events of the main narrative, providing context and depth to the story. It reveals important details about characters' past experiences, motivations, and relationships that shape their actions and decisions in the present, making it crucial for understanding plot dynamics, character development, and overall themes.
Character arc: A character arc is the transformation or inner journey of a character throughout a story, reflecting their growth, change, or development from the beginning to the end. It connects to various aspects of storytelling by showcasing how characters respond to events, interact with other characters, and how their experiences shape their beliefs and goals.
Characterization: Characterization is the process through which an author or creator conveys information about a character in a story, play, or performance. This involves creating a character's personality, background, motivations, and physical traits, which helps the audience connect emotionally with them. The depth of characterization can significantly enhance storytelling by providing layers of complexity to characters and influencing how they interact with the world around them.
Chemistry: In the context of theatre arts, chemistry refers to the dynamic connection and interaction between actors on stage. It involves the energy, emotional resonance, and unspoken understanding that performers share, which can enhance the authenticity of their characters and scenes. Good chemistry can elevate a performance, making it more engaging and believable for the audience.
Conflict: Conflict refers to a struggle between opposing forces, often driving the narrative and emotional stakes in a story. It can manifest as internal struggles within a character or external disputes between characters, shaping the plot and developing themes. This concept is crucial for creating compelling drama and engaging audiences by creating tension and highlighting the stakes involved.
Dramatic tension: Dramatic tension is the feeling of suspense and anticipation that keeps the audience engaged and invested in a story. This tension arises from conflicts between characters, internal struggles, and the stakes involved in their actions, creating a compelling narrative that holds viewers’ attention. The effective use of dramatic tension can drive character development and enhance the overall emotional impact of a performance.
Meisner: Meisner is an acting technique developed by Sanford Meisner that emphasizes the importance of spontaneity and emotional authenticity in performance. This approach focuses on actors reacting truthfully to their surroundings and fellow actors, fostering a deep connection to character creation and development as well as enhancing the actor's ability to use their body, voice, and imagination effectively in their craft.
Method acting: Method acting is an acting technique that encourages actors to draw on their own personal emotions and experiences to create a deep, authentic connection to their characters. This approach often involves extensive character research, emotional memory recall, and immersive preparation, allowing actors to portray their roles with heightened realism. By tapping into their own feelings and experiences, performers can enhance their ability to convey the complexities of their characters across various styles and genres.
Motivation: Motivation in theatre refers to the driving force behind a character's actions and decisions, shaping how they respond to the world around them. It influences not only character development but also plot progression and thematic depth, as understanding a character's motivation allows for a richer exploration of their relationships and conflicts. It’s crucial for both actors and writers to grasp what fuels their characters' desires and choices to create a compelling narrative.
Objectives: Objectives in theatre refer to the specific goals or intentions that a character aims to achieve throughout a play. These objectives drive the character's actions and decisions, creating motivation and conflict that are essential to storytelling. Understanding a character's objectives helps actors and directors shape performances and narrative arcs effectively.
Physical Theatre: Physical theatre is a genre of performance that emphasizes the use of the body and movement as a primary means of expression, often blending elements of dance, mime, and traditional acting. This approach prioritizes physicality to convey emotion, narrative, and character, creating a visceral experience for the audience that transcends spoken language.
Protagonist: The protagonist is the main character in a story, often facing challenges and conflicts that drive the plot forward. This character is usually central to the audience's emotional experience and development, embodying the themes and struggles of the narrative. The protagonist's journey often reveals deeper meanings through their interactions with other characters, as well as their responses to various situations.
Psychological realism: Psychological realism is a style of performance and storytelling that focuses on depicting characters' inner thoughts, emotions, and motivations in a believable way. It seeks to create a deep connection between the audience and characters by portraying their psychological experiences authentically, allowing viewers to empathize with their struggles and desires. This approach often influences how characters are created, analyzed, and visually represented on stage.
Role playing: Role playing is the act of embodying a character or persona in a given scenario, allowing individuals to explore different perspectives and emotional responses. It serves as a crucial tool in character creation and development, as it helps actors understand their characters' motivations, relationships, and environments by immersing themselves in their experiences and actions.
Stanislavski: Stanislavski refers to Konstantin Stanislavski, a Russian theatre practitioner whose acting technique revolutionized performance and the art of acting. His approach emphasizes the importance of psychological realism, encouraging actors to draw upon their own emotions and experiences to create authentic characters and performances, which directly influences character development, the use of the actor's body and voice, and the responsibilities of a director.
Subtext: Subtext refers to the underlying meaning or unspoken thoughts and feelings that exist beneath the surface of dialogue and action in a play. It enriches the characters' interactions, providing depth and complexity to their relationships and motivations beyond what is explicitly stated.
Transformation: Transformation refers to the process by which a character or idea undergoes a significant change, often resulting in a new identity or understanding. This concept is pivotal in character development, as it illustrates how experiences, relationships, and challenges shape individuals. Additionally, transformation plays a crucial role in various theatrical movements, emphasizing the emotional and psychological evolution of characters in response to their environments and circumstances.