What You'll Learn
A review I read got me thinking about this question and I wanted to pose it to you because I think it is an interesting one.
Do characters need to progress in the course of a novel?
The review (and it was actually a good one. But no, I’m not linking up to it or even saying if it were my books or a friend’s!) listed out a few kudos and problems, including: most characters developed and grew during the course of the novel in question (kudo), one character did not (problem), and one or two characters barely grew (because they were already high achieving, self-aware), which was listed as a disappointment. In fact, the one character that didn’t grow was referred to as having regressed almost completely from all the development he’d done in the previous novel.
Does that not get your mind whirling?
It does mine. I love pulling apart the mechanics of a novel, comparing it to human psychology, and maybe even testing a few perceptions – though when it comes to writing traditions that last one can get your burnt!
Let’s start with definitions. Wikipedia defines a character arc this way:
“As opposed to the plotline of a story, a character arc, or transformation, or inner journey is a description of what happens to the inside of a character over the course of the story.”
Hello, Autumn! Great post.
Orson Scott Card, in his book “How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy”, identifies 4 different story types within the genre: Milieu, Idea, Character, and Event. In milieu stories, the whole point is for the reader to see the strange new world created by the author (think “Gulliver’s Travels”). Idea stories are about the process of finding out information the characters need to know (“The Martian”). Character stories are about the transformation of a character; and Event stories are about putting the world back in order.
A little out of date, perhaps, but I think his system gives us a window into the history of the genre, which traditionally has emphasized factors other than character development. Even Lord of the Rings would best be defined as an Event story. Frodo is important, but the story is not really “about” him; it’s about defeating a dark power (Sauron) that threatens to upset the natural order of Middle Earth. Though most stories have some degree of character development in them, it’s not necessarily the most important aspect of the story. And many stories (e.g., Indiana Jones) get by just fine without it.
Me, I’m a character development person, both when I read and when I write. Thanks so much for all your cross references here. You’ve given me some to look forward to for the weekend!
Hi Karin!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. Great references, both Orson Scott Card’s take on story types and some examples! Enjoy the references. It was so much fun writing this article and reading other views, ideas, and perceptions. I couldn’t put them all in here or the post would have read like a footnote of other articles to read with a few sentences thrown in. lol.
I love character development too, but I love the variety of types of character development. Not everyone can be developing/growing, or we wouldn’t have mentors and guides, right? Or villains, or redemption… 😉
PTSD is, for certain, a viable fantasy characteristic, as are most mental conditions, especially narcissism… Anything possible in the real world has to be possible, and more so in fantasy, which is why A Song of Fire and Ice is so popular, even with people who don’t normally do fantasy, because good doesn’t come out on top always (or even at all), and ‘evil’ doesn’t mean an antagonist is inherently unlikeable, (like the Hound, or Verys(one of my favourites!), or even Little Finger).
The trauma trail is virtually limitless vein for fantasy Cinderellas, whatever their gender or species. Abuse of one kind or another always works in fantasy which is why we still re-work incestuous Arthurian legends and return, again and again to genocide in all it’s aspects (‘Are Tolkien’s High Elves fascist because of their implacable abhorrence of Orcs and other Mortals’ – discuss…) and other nassssty aspects of being human.
The character that doesn’t change in some way is a boring character, however they fit into the equation and why, today, Tolkien doesn’t always work for new readers, or movie-goers, without some ‘relatable’ tweaking where you can’t rely of CGI alone, because some characters just don’t ‘move’ too much or just plain don’t get finished because it’s enough that they exist (Sauron, like Darth Vader, is a far better character in the much earlier Simarillion story arcs where he’s not completely evil, or was locked out of corporeal form). Ditto any Mary Sue/Gary Stew character you care to mention, because you can’t make them do too much that’s interesting once you get past making them ‘pretty much perfect in every single way’ – unless they’re Mary Poppins with a massive super-ego 😛
Thanks for all the links Autumn – we have to keep Fantasy as real as we can! 😀
Hi Jan!
Great additions to the list of types of character and the arcs they lead! I hadn’t thought of it that way, but perhaps needing a more multidimensional character is exactly why so many classic legends (that still draw us in for the deeper story) are being reworked. I admit I liked Tolkien, but didn’t love it. And I think you are correct – it was because the characters didn’t work for me.
I love the more nuanced modern characters, including George RR Martin’s (even if he still kills off too many for me!). Thank you for the insightful comment and I’m so glad you liked the post, Jan! Yes, we must keep fantasy as real as we can! 🙂
Interesting article. Thought provoking. Why MUST everything make sense in the end? My protagonist is headed toward the transformation to villain already. Will he transform back?
His best buddy is somewhat villainous already and is transforming toward hero. ( probably not all the way though)
Hi D.E.!
Oh I love the sound of your two character arcs! Talk about adding tension as well as transformation (both positive and negative) to a story. I already want to know if you’ll pit the two (former?) friends against each other or if they’ll try to avoid a direct confrontation, or … Hah, I think you have the makings of a fantastic story if I know nothing else and you’ve caught my imagination. Good job and best of luck with the writing! 🙂