Desires and ambitions

Definition

Desires and ambitions refer to the internal motivations and goals that drive a character's actions and decisions within a narrative. These elements are essential for understanding a character’s journey, as they shape their relationships, conflicts, and growth throughout the story.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Desires can be both intrinsic, like personal fulfillment, or extrinsic, such as wealth or recognition, which shape a character's goals.
2. Ambitions often lead to conflict, either internally within a character or externally with other characters who have opposing goals.
3. Understanding a character's desires and ambitions can enhance performance, allowing actors to portray more nuanced and relatable characters.
4. Characters may experience evolution in their desires and ambitions throughout the story, reflecting personal growth or changes in perspective.
5. Desires and ambitions are key in creating stakes in a narrative, driving the plot forward by influencing characters' decisions and actions.

Review Questions

• How do desires and ambitions contribute to a character's motivation in a narrative?
  • Desires and ambitions provide the foundational motivation for a character's actions. They serve as the 'why' behind what a character does, influencing choices that drive the plot forward. By understanding these internal motivations, we can see how they impact relationships with other characters and create tension or harmony based on differing ambitions.
• In what ways can conflicting desires among characters lead to dramatic tension within a story?
  • Conflicting desires among characters create significant dramatic tension as each character pursues their own goals. This conflict can manifest through arguments, competition, or even betrayal, which keeps the audience engaged. As characters navigate these tensions, their growth is highlighted, making for compelling storytelling as they confront obstacles posed by others' ambitions.
• Evaluate how an actor can effectively portray the evolution of a character’s desires and ambitions over time.
  • To effectively portray a character's evolving desires and ambitions, an actor must deeply understand the motivations behind these changes. This involves analyzing key moments in the script where shifts occur, demonstrating emotional responses that align with those shifts. Additionally, using physicality, vocal tone, and emotional range helps convey this evolution convincingly, allowing the audience to witness not just what changes occur but why they matter for the character's overall journey.

Related terms

Motivation: The underlying reason or driving force behind a character's actions, often linked to their desires and ambitions.

Conflict:

The struggle between opposing forces in a narrative, often arising from the desires and ambitions of characters, leading to tension and drama.

Character Arc:

The transformation or growth a character experiences over the course of a story, frequently influenced by their desires and ambitions.