Superobjective

Definition

The superobjective is the overarching goal or primary desire that drives a character throughout a play, influencing their actions, decisions, and interactions. It serves as a lens through which the character's motivations can be understood, shaping how they respond to given circumstances and pursue their objectives within the narrative.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The superobjective provides a unifying force for a character, guiding their journey and helping the audience understand their motivations on a deeper level.
2. Characters often have multiple objectives within a play, but the superobjective remains the central drive that influences all their actions.
3. Understanding a character's superobjective can enhance an actor's performance by providing clarity on how to portray the character's emotional arc.
4. A well-defined superobjective can create tension and conflict, as characters may encounter obstacles that challenge their ability to achieve this ultimate goal.
5. In textual analysis, identifying the superobjective is crucial for exploring how characters evolve and how their relationships with others are shaped by their desires.

Review Questions

• How does the superobjective influence a character's actions throughout a play?
  • The superobjective acts as the main driving force behind a character's actions, shaping their choices and responses to various situations. It helps define what the character values most and pushes them to pursue their goals relentlessly. Understanding this overarching desire allows actors and directors to create more cohesive performances, as every action taken by the character can be traced back to this central motivation.
• In what ways do given circumstances interact with a character's superobjective to affect their development in a narrative?
  • Given circumstances provide the specific context in which a character operates, influencing how they pursue their superobjective. These circumstances can present challenges or opportunities that shape the character's journey. For example, if a character's superobjective is love but they face societal opposition, the given circumstances will create conflict that enhances their development and can lead to transformations in both their motivations and actions.
• Evaluate how recognizing a character's superobjective can enhance our understanding of subtext in their interactions with others.
  • Recognizing a character's superobjective allows us to analyze subtext more effectively by providing insight into why characters may say one thing while meaning another. This discrepancy often arises from deeper desires that stem from their superobjective. For example, if a character's superobjective is to gain power, they might use flattery or manipulation in dialogue, revealing underlying intentions that enrich the narrative. This understanding leads to a more nuanced interpretation of character dynamics and themes within the story.

Related terms

Given Circumstances: The specific context and conditions surrounding a character’s situation in the story, including their environment, relationships, and background.

Character Objectives: The specific goals or intentions a character strives to achieve in individual scenes or moments, which may vary throughout the play.

Subtext: The underlying meaning or implied content in dialogue that reveals deeper emotions or intentions beyond the literal words spoken by characters.