Desire

Definition

Desire refers to a strong feeling of wanting or wishing for something, driving characters to pursue their goals and dreams. It serves as a crucial motivator that shapes a character's actions and decisions, often highlighting their flaws or weaknesses. Through desire, characters experience growth as they confront obstacles, learn lessons, and either achieve or fail to fulfill their aspirations.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Desire can be the catalyst for a character's journey, setting them on a path of conflict and growth.
2. Flaws often stem from unchecked desires, leading characters into moral dilemmas or poor choices.
3. Characters may face external obstacles that challenge their desires, forcing them to adapt and evolve.
4. Growth is often marked by a character's ability to reconcile their desires with reality, leading to deeper understanding.
5. Unfulfilled desires can lead to character despair or motivation for change, creating dynamic arcs.

Review Questions

• How does desire act as a driving force for character development throughout a story?
  • Desire serves as a fundamental driving force behind a character's actions and decisions, pushing them toward their goals and shaping their arcs. As characters pursue what they deeply want, they encounter various challenges that reveal their flaws and vulnerabilities. This pursuit often leads to significant growth, as characters learn important lessons about themselves and the world around them through their experiences.
• In what ways can desire lead to conflict within a story, and how does this enhance character growth?
  • Desire can create both internal and external conflicts as characters strive for what they want. When their desires clash with other characters' goals or societal expectations, tension builds, making the story more engaging. This conflict forces characters to confront their flaws and make choices that drive their development forward, ultimately resulting in personal growth or change in perspective.
• Evaluate the relationship between unfulfilled desire and character evolution in narratives.
  • Unfulfilled desire is often pivotal in character evolution, acting as a source of tension and motivation for change. When characters cannot attain their goals, they must reassess their values and priorities, leading to introspection. This process can spark significant growth as characters adapt to new realities or redefine their desires, ultimately shaping their identities and influencing the narrative's resolution.

Related terms

Ambition: A strong desire to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work.

Conflict: A struggle between opposing forces, often arising from a character's desires that clash with other characters or circumstances.

Resolution: The conclusion of a story where conflicts are resolved, often resulting from the fulfillment or denial of a character's desires.