Character Objectives

Definition

Character objectives refer to the goals or desires that drive a character's actions and decisions throughout a narrative. These objectives shape the character's motivations, influencing their behavior and interactions with other characters, ultimately impacting the story's progression and emotional depth. Understanding character objectives is crucial for creating layered conversations, where subtext reveals underlying motivations and tensions between characters.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Character objectives can be both explicit, stated directly by the character, or implicit, revealed through actions and subtext.
2. Understanding a character's objective helps writers craft more engaging dialogue that resonates with audiences on an emotional level.
3. Layered conversations often involve characters with conflicting objectives, creating tension and drama in interactions.
4. A well-defined character objective adds complexity to the narrative, allowing for dynamic character development as they pursue their goals.
5. Character objectives can evolve over the course of a story, reflecting growth or change in response to conflicts faced by the character.

Review Questions

• How do character objectives influence dialogue and interactions between characters?
  • Character objectives significantly shape dialogue and interactions because they dictate what each character wants to achieve in a scene. When characters have clear goals, their conversations become more purposeful and dynamic. This creates opportunities for subtext, where what is left unsaid can reveal deeper motivations and tensions, making the dialogue more layered and engaging.
• In what ways can conflicting character objectives create tension within a narrative?
  • Conflicting character objectives create tension by pitting characters against one another, leading to struggles that drive the plot forward. For instance, when two characters want opposing things—such as love versus revenge—their interactions become charged with conflict. This conflict can manifest in dialogue that is rich with subtext, making their conversations feel more dramatic and complex, enhancing the audience's emotional investment.
• Evaluate how understanding character objectives can enhance storytelling and audience engagement.
  • Understanding character objectives enhances storytelling by providing clear direction for character actions and decisions, making the narrative more coherent. When audiences grasp a character's goals, they become emotionally invested in the journey toward those objectives. This connection fosters empathy, as viewers relate to the characters' struggles and triumphs. Additionally, well-defined objectives lead to richer layered conversations filled with subtext, which keeps audiences intrigued and engaged throughout the story.

Related terms

Motivation:

The reason or reasons behind a character's actions, often tied to their objectives and desires.

Conflict:

The struggle between opposing forces in a narrative, which often arises from differing character objectives.

Subtext:

The underlying meaning or implied ideas in dialogue or action that reveal deeper character objectives and tensions.