4.4 Stakes and consequences
6 min read•august 21, 2024
and are the backbone of compelling drama. They drive character actions, create tension, and keep audiences engaged. Understanding how to craft and escalate stakes throughout a story is crucial for playwrights.
Effective stakes are directly tied to and escalate as the story progresses. Consequences, both immediate and long-term, add depth to character arcs and can raise . Balancing internal and creates multi-dimensional stories that resonate with audiences.
Types of stakes
- Stakes are the potential gains or losses that characters face in a story based on the outcome of their actions and decisions
- Understanding the different types of stakes helps playwrights create compelling conflicts and motivations for their characters
Internal vs external stakes
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- are the personal, emotional, or psychological consequences that a character faces (inner conflict, moral dilemma, personal growth)
- External stakes are the tangible, observable outcomes that impact the character's physical world or relationships (winning a competition, saving a life, losing a job)
- Effective stories often interweave both internal and external stakes to create multi-dimensional conflicts
Low vs high stakes
- are smaller, more personal consequences that may not have a significant impact on the overall story (minor disagreement, small personal goal)
- are larger, more consequential outcomes that can dramatically alter the course of the story or the characters' lives (life-or-death situations, major decisions with far-reaching implications)
- Balancing low and high stakes throughout a story helps maintain tension and allows for moments of relief
Single vs multiple stakes
- involve one primary conflict or goal that drives the character's actions throughout the story (solving a mystery, winning a competition)
- involve several competing or interrelated conflicts that the character must navigate simultaneously (balancing personal and professional goals, dealing with multiple antagonists)
- Incorporating multiple stakes can add complexity and depth to a character's journey
Creating compelling stakes
- are essential for engaging the audience and maintaining their investment in the story and characters
- Playwrights can use various techniques to create stakes that resonate with the audience and drive the story forward
Connecting stakes to character goals
- Stakes should be directly tied to the character's goals, desires, and motivations
- The potential gains or losses should have a significant impact on the character's ability to achieve their objectives
- Connecting stakes to character goals ensures that the audience understands the importance of the conflicts and can empathize with the character's struggles
Escalating stakes throughout the story
- As the story progresses, the stakes should escalate in intensity and consequence
- Increasing the stakes helps maintain tension and raises the dramatic question of whether the character will succeed or fail
- can be achieved through introducing new obstacles, revealing hidden information, or raising the personal or external costs of failure
Balancing stakes with character agency
- While high stakes create tension, characters must still have agency and the ability to make meaningful choices
- Balancing stakes with ensures that the story remains character-driven rather than plot-driven
- Characters should have opportunities to actively pursue their goals and make decisions that impact the outcome of the story
Consequences of stakes
- Consequences are the results of the character's actions and decisions in relation to the stakes they face
- Exploring the consequences of stakes adds depth and complexity to the story and the characters' arcs
Immediate vs long-term consequences
- are the direct, short-term results of a character's actions (injury, argument, temporary setback)
- are the lasting, far-reaching effects that may impact the character's life beyond the immediate story (damaged relationships, career changes, personal growth)
- Balancing immediate and long-term consequences creates a sense of continuity and shows how the character's choices have both short and long-term impacts
Positive vs negative consequences
- are the favorable outcomes that result from a character's actions (achieving a goal, strengthening a relationship, personal growth)
- are the unfavorable outcomes that create new challenges or setbacks for the character (failure, loss, new obstacles)
- Incorporating both positive and negative consequences adds realism and complexity to the story, showing that actions have both rewards and costs
Consequences that raise new conflicts
- Some consequences may resolve existing conflicts while simultaneously creating new ones
- These consequences can serve as in the story, shifting the direction of the plot or the character's arc
- Raising new conflicts through consequences helps maintain and keeps the audience engaged in the story
Integrating stakes and consequences
- Effectively and consequences throughout the story is crucial for creating a cohesive and compelling narrative
- Playwrights can use specific story beats and structures to introduce, escalate, and resolve stakes and consequences
Establishing stakes in the exposition
- The is the beginning of the story where the characters, setting, and initial conflicts are introduced
- Establishing the stakes early on helps the audience understand the character's goals and the potential consequences of their actions
- Clear stakes in the exposition engage the audience and set the tone for the rest of the story
Revealing consequences at turning points
- Turning points are the key moments in the story where the plot takes a significant shift in direction
- Revealing major consequences at turning points can heighten the dramatic impact and raise the stakes for the characters
- These revelations can be used to create cliffhangers, reversals, or new obstacles that the characters must overcome
Resolving stakes in the climax
- The is the highest point of tension in the story where the main conflicts are resolved
- The resolution of the stakes in the climax should be a direct result of the character's actions and decisions throughout the story
- A satisfying climax addresses the consequences of the character's choices and shows how they have changed or grown as a result of facing the stakes
Common pitfalls with stakes
- Playwrights should be aware of common pitfalls when creating and integrating stakes into their stories
- Avoiding these pitfalls helps ensure that the stakes are effective and engaging for the audience
Stakes that lack urgency or importance
- Stakes that feel trivial or unimportant to the characters or the audience can undermine the story's tension and impact
- Ensure that the stakes are directly tied to the character's goals and have real consequences for their lives or the world of the story
- Stakes should feel urgent and pressing, encouraging the characters to take action and make difficult choices
Inconsistent or unbelievable consequences
- Consequences that feel inconsistent with the established stakes or the characters' actions can break the audience's suspension of disbelief
- Ensure that the consequences are logical and proportional to the stakes and the choices made by the characters
- Consequences should be set up and foreshadowed throughout the story to maintain consistency and believability
Relying on external stakes alone
- Focusing solely on external stakes, such as physical dangers or material losses, can lead to a lack of and character development
- Incorporate internal stakes, such as personal growth, moral dilemmas, or relationship challenges, to create multi-dimensional conflicts
- Balancing external and internal stakes helps the audience connect with the characters on a deeper level and invest in their emotional journeys
Analyzing stakes in example plays
- Studying how successful plays handle stakes and consequences can provide valuable insights for playwrights
- Analyzing examples helps identify effective techniques and strategies for creating compelling stakes in one's own work
Stakes that drive character actions
- In "Death of a Salesman" by Arthur Miller, the stakes of Willy Loman's need to be successful and provide for his family drive his actions throughout the play
- The stakes of preserving the family's reputation and social standing propel the characters' choices in "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry
Consequences that shift the story's direction
- In "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles, the revelation of Oedipus' true identity and his inadvertent fulfillment of the prophecy serves as a major consequence that shifts the direction of the story
- The consequences of the characters' secrets being exposed in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" by Edward Albee lead to significant turning points and a shift in their relationships
Effective use of internal and external stakes
- "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare skillfully balances the external stakes of political power and revenge with the internal stakes of Hamlet's moral dilemma and personal struggles
- In "A Doll's House" by Henrik Ibsen, the interplay between Nora's external stakes of maintaining her marriage and social status and her internal stakes of self-discovery and independence creates a compelling character arc
Key Terms to Review (27)
Character agency: Character agency refers to the capacity of a character to make choices and act independently within a story. It emphasizes how characters influence their own destinies, particularly when faced with challenges or conflicts, shaping the narrative through their decisions. This concept is closely tied to stakes and consequences, as the choices characters make often lead to significant outcomes that drive the plot forward.
Character goals: Character goals refer to the objectives or desires that drive a character's actions and decisions throughout a story. These goals are crucial because they create motivation, fuel the plot, and establish emotional stakes for the audience. The pursuit of these goals often leads characters into conflicts and challenges, making their journey engaging and relatable.
Climax: The climax is the point of highest tension and drama in a narrative, where the main conflict reaches its peak and a turning point occurs. It's crucial as it sets the stage for the resolution and ties together character arcs, conflicts, and stakes, ultimately influencing how the audience feels about the characters' journeys.
Compelling stakes: Compelling stakes refer to the significant consequences and high emotional investments that characters face in a narrative, which drive their motivations and decisions. In storytelling, stakes are crucial because they create tension and urgency, pushing characters into action and making their journeys more engaging for the audience. When stakes are compelling, they resonate with viewers, making them emotionally invested in the outcome of the characters’ struggles.
Consequences: Consequences are the outcomes or results that follow an action, decision, or event, often leading to significant impacts on characters and plot development. In storytelling, understanding consequences is vital as they enhance the stakes of the narrative, driving character motivations and creating emotional investment for the audience. These outcomes shape the pacing and momentum of a story, influencing how tension builds and is released.
Dramatic Tension: Dramatic tension is the emotional and psychological force that keeps an audience engaged in a story, creating suspense and anticipation about what will happen next. This tension arises from conflicts, stakes, and the characters’ desires, compelling the audience to invest in the outcome of the narrative. It intertwines with elements such as character motivations and interpersonal conflicts, influencing how the story unfolds from exposition through rising action to climax.
Emotional Depth: Emotional depth refers to the complexity and richness of a character's feelings and experiences, creating a sense of authenticity that resonates with the audience. It involves the portrayal of layered emotions, motivations, and conflicts that drive characters' actions and decisions. When a character possesses emotional depth, their journey becomes relatable and engaging, impacting how stakes and consequences unfold in the narrative.
Empathy: Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person, creating a deep emotional connection that enhances storytelling. This connection is crucial for engaging audiences, allowing them to relate to characters, experience their emotions, and invest in their journeys. In dramatic writing, empathy drives the inciting incidents, shapes stylized dialogue, raises the stakes and consequences, and builds suspense and anticipation throughout the narrative.
Escalating Stakes: Escalating stakes refer to the increasing intensity and importance of conflict or challenges faced by characters in a narrative. As the story progresses, the consequences of characters' decisions become more severe, pushing them toward greater risks and emotional investments. This dynamic keeps the audience engaged by continuously raising the tension and potential outcomes, leading to a more compelling and dramatic experience.
Exposition: Exposition refers to the introduction of background information in a play, providing context for the characters, setting, and events that are about to unfold. It sets the stage for the audience, establishing the foundation upon which the narrative builds, allowing for deeper understanding of the stakes and character motivations as the story progresses. Properly crafted exposition is crucial for creating realistic dialogue and powerful monologues, while also influencing the climax and eventual stakes involved in the characters' journeys.
External stakes: External stakes refer to the consequences and pressures that characters face outside of their immediate personal desires or relationships. These stakes often come from societal expectations, conflicts with other characters, or larger narrative forces that add tension to the story, pushing characters to take risks or make significant choices. Understanding external stakes helps in analyzing how they influence character motivations and drive the plot forward.
High stakes: High stakes refers to the intense level of risk or consequence involved in a situation, where the outcomes significantly affect the characters and the overall story. When stakes are high, the characters are often faced with crucial decisions that can lead to major shifts in their lives, generating tension and urgency that propels the narrative forward. This heightened sense of consequence is essential for engaging audiences, as it builds emotional investment and drives the plot.
Immediate consequences: Immediate consequences refer to the direct and often instant outcomes that result from a character's actions within a narrative. These consequences are crucial in driving the plot forward and significantly impact the characters' motivations and the story's stakes, creating a ripple effect that influences subsequent events.
Inconsistent consequences: Inconsistent consequences refer to the unpredictable and varied outcomes that arise from a character's actions within a narrative. This unpredictability can create tension and complexity in storytelling, as characters may not receive the expected repercussions for their decisions, leading to dramatic irony or heightened stakes.
Integrating stakes: Integrating stakes refers to the process of weaving emotional, personal, and dramatic stakes into a narrative to enhance conflict and drive the story forward. It is crucial for engaging the audience and ensuring that the characters' motivations resonate deeply, creating a sense of urgency and investment in the outcome of their struggles.
Internal stakes: Internal stakes refer to the personal, emotional, or psychological consequences that a character faces within a narrative. These stakes are crucial for character development and drive the action of the story, as they relate to what the character stands to lose or gain on a personal level. Understanding internal stakes helps to deepen the audience's connection to characters and enhances the overall impact of the narrative.
Long-term consequences: Long-term consequences refer to the lasting effects or outcomes that result from actions, decisions, or events over an extended period. These consequences can significantly impact characters' lives, relationships, and the overall narrative arc of a story. Understanding these outcomes is crucial for creating compelling stakes that keep audiences engaged and invested in the unfolding drama.
Low Stakes: Low stakes refers to situations or conflicts within a narrative that carry minimal risk or consequence for the characters involved. This concept is crucial for creating a balance in storytelling, allowing for lighter moments, humor, or character development without the weight of significant repercussions. By incorporating low stakes, writers can explore various themes and character dynamics without jeopardizing the overarching narrative.
Multiple stakes: Multiple stakes refer to the various interests, desires, or consequences that different characters face within a narrative. These stakes create tension and conflict, driving the plot forward as characters navigate their motivations and the impact of their choices. In a well-crafted story, the interplay of multiple stakes enriches the narrative, providing depth and complexity to character relationships and plot developments.
Negative Consequences: Negative consequences refer to the unfavorable outcomes that result from a character's actions or decisions within a narrative. These consequences are critical in driving the plot forward and increasing the stakes for the characters, often leading to conflict and tension that engages the audience. By illustrating the potential fallout from choices made, negative consequences serve as a tool for character development and thematic exploration.
New Conflicts: New conflicts refer to fresh tensions or struggles that arise in a narrative, often as a result of character decisions, unforeseen events, or evolving relationships. These conflicts drive the plot forward, heightening stakes and consequences that characters must navigate, leading to deeper character development and engagement with the audience.
Positive consequences: Positive consequences are beneficial outcomes or results that arise from a character's actions, decisions, or circumstances in a narrative. They play a crucial role in shaping character development and influencing plot progression, as they often create motivation for characters to pursue their goals or take risks.
Single stakes: Single stakes refer to the clear and specific goal or desire that a character pursues within a story, which significantly impacts the plot's direction and tension. This concept emphasizes that the stakes for the character are high enough to create a sense of urgency, motivating the character's actions and decisions throughout the narrative. When characters face single stakes, their choices are driven by this singular focus, intensifying the emotional and dramatic elements of the story.
Stakes: Stakes refer to the potential outcomes or consequences that characters face in a story, which significantly impact their goals, motivations, and actions. When stakes are high, the audience feels more engaged because the characters' fates hang in the balance, leading to increased tension and emotional investment. Understanding stakes helps in shaping dramatic situations, which influences pacing and momentum throughout the narrative.
Turning Points: Turning points are crucial moments in a narrative where a significant change occurs, altering the direction of the story and impacting the characters' fates. These moments raise the stakes for the characters and can lead to profound consequences, driving the plot forward and keeping audiences engaged. Turning points not only heighten tension but also reveal character motivations and decisions that define their arcs.
Urgency: Urgency refers to the immediate importance or necessity of an action, decision, or event within a narrative. It propels characters toward action and decisions, creating a driving force that can enhance the stakes and consequences of their choices while also building suspense and anticipation for the audience.
Viewer investment: Viewer investment refers to the emotional and cognitive engagement that an audience experiences while watching a performance. This connection plays a crucial role in how effectively stakes and consequences are perceived, making the narrative more impactful and the characters' struggles feel real. When viewers are invested, they care about the outcomes, which heightens the dramatic tension and amplifies their overall experience.