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Dramatica Tip of the Month
February 2009

Stories with Two or Four Characters

Q: How does one apply the Dramatica concepts if one is writing a play with only 2 (or possibly 4 -- 2 major plus 2 minor -- ) characters? How does one end up applying the concepts of protagonist, main character, obstacle/impact character, etc.?


A: Combining character elements is essential if you are working with a small number of players in your story. All it means is that your characters have far more to do than more conventional characters.

By definition, your characters will be "complex," rather than archetypal characters. Your main character and impact characters may have many character functions in the Overall Story throughline, PLUS their personal throughlines and the relationship between them.

A play that fits the type of story you describe would be, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" George is the Main Character. His wife, Martha, is the Impact Character. The Overall Story involves the two of them and another, younger couple and the destructive, manipulative "party games" they play. There is an analysis of this play that comes with the software. You can read the contents of this analysis here:

http://www.dramatica.com/story/analyses/analyses/virginiawoolf.html

 

 

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Based on theories and materials developed by Melanie Anne Phillips and Chris Huntley
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