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Dramatica Theory Book
Chapter
10: Subjective Characteristics
(Continued)
Main Character
Resolve: Does the Main Character ultimately Change or Remain Steadfast?
In completely empathizing with the Main Character of a story, we practically
become this person. There are certain dynamics we expect to be able to
determine about a Main Character as part of experiencing things from his
point of view. One of these is called Main Character Resolve.
Main Character Resolve answers the question "Does the Main Character
ultimately Change or Remain Steadfast?" At the beginning of the story
the Main Character is driven by a particular motivation. When the story
ends, he will either still be driven by the same motivation (Steadfast)
or have a new motivation (Change).
Main Character Resolve really describes the relationship between the Main
Character and the Obstacle Character. The impact of the Obstacle Character
is what forces the Main Character to even consider changing. If the Main
Character ultimately does change, it is the result of the Obstacle Character's
effect on the Main Character's perspective. If, on the other hand, the
Main Character remains steadfast, then his impact on the Obstacle Character
will force the Obstacle Character to change.
Some Examples:
Star Wars: Main Character: Luke Skywalker (Change)
Obstacle Character: Obi Wan Kenobi (Steadfast)
The Story of Job: Main Character: Job (Steadfast)
Obstacle Character: The Devil (Change)
To Kill A Mockingbird: Main Character: Scout (Change)
Obstacle Character: Boo Radley (Steadfast)
The Fugitive: Main Character: Dr. Richard Kimble (Steadfast)
Obstacle Character: Agent Sam Gerard (Change)
It should be noted that the Obstacle Character need not even know he is
having that kind of effect on the Main Character. He may know, but he
may easily not even be aware. Main Characters are defined by the point
of view, Obstacle Characters by the impact on that point of view.
A Leap or a Creep?
As a final thought
in this brief introduction to Subjective Characters, the "leap of
faith" story is not the only kind that occurs. Equally reflective
of our own mind's processes is the slow change story where the
Main Character gradually shifts his perspective until, by the end of the
story, he is seen to have already adopted the alternative paradigm with
little or no fanfare.
Usually, in such stories, a particular dramatic scenario occurs near the
beginning of the story and is then repeated (in some similar manner) near
the end. The Main Character reacted one way in the first scenario and
then the audience gets a chance to see if he responds the same way again
or not. In the Slow Change story, the Main Character may never even realize
he has changed, but we, the audience, are able to evaluate the worth of
the journey the Main Character has been through by seeing whether the
Main Character has been changed and whether that is for better or worse.
In our current Western culture, especially in Hollywood-style motion pictures,
the leap of faith story is favored. In other media and cultures, however,
the Slow Change story predominates. In theory, each reflects the way our
minds shift belief systems: sometimes in a binary sense as a single decisive
alternation, and other times in an analog sense as a progressive realignment
.
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