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Dramatica Tip of the Month
April 2010

Impact Character as Protagonist

Q:  I'm wondering if you could point me to examples of a stories where the Impact Character is also the Protagonist?


A: In order to determine the protagonist, one must determine the Story Goal. The protagonist is the character leading the charge toward that goal. Here are some examples that come to mind:

  • Road to Perdition: The story goal is to protect Sullivan's son from the organized crime families. Father (Tom Hanks) is the Impact Character and protagonist. His son is the Main Character.

  • Sherlock Holmes novels, generally: The story goal is to solve the case. Holmes is the protagonist/Impact Character. Watson is the Main Character. NOTE: This is NOT true for the Robert Downey Jr. version of Sherlock Holmes, which has an MC Protagonist.

  • The Terminator: The story goal is to protect Sarah Connor. Kyle Reese is the protagonist/Impact Character. Sarah Connor is the Main Character.

  • The Great Gatsby: The story goal is to win the love of Daisy Buchanan. Gatsby is the protagonist/Impact Character. The writer Nick Carraway is the Main Character.

  • All About Eve: The story goal is to become a star and be famous. Though these are complex characters, Eve Harrington is the IC/Pursue character. Margo Channing is the Main Character.

  • The Shawshank Redemption: The story goal is to escape prison. Red is the Main Character. Andy is the protagonist/Impact Character.

 

 

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