Character Development
Character Development: Building a Compelling Protagonist
The foundation of any story lies in a character’s backstory, which shapes who they are at their core. However, the narrative truly begins with an inciting event — often called the catalyst. This moment disrupts the character’s status quo, compels them to act, and draws them into the central conflict, propelling the story forward.
As an example, in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry’s backstory as an orphan living with his neglectful relatives shapes his early identity and feelings of isolation. Yet the catalyst — receiving an acceptance letter to Hogwarts — pulls him out of this world and into a new realm of magic and possibility. This moment not only sets the stage for conflict with dark forces, but also introduces key themes of belonging, identity, and courage.
The Three Pillars of a Workable Goal
A character’s pursuit of a goal reveals their personality and motivations through their thoughts, actions, and interactions with others. For a character’s goal to function effectively, it must meet three key requirements:
Stakes: There must be something at stake that convinces the reader or audience that a significant loss will occur if the character fails. Without this sense of urgency, the audience is unlikely to invest emotionally in the story or root for the character.
Conflict: The goal should place the protagonist in direct opposition to an antagonist whose goals clash with theirs. This conflict creates tension and raises the story’s stakes, making the character’s journey even more compelling.
Challenge and Growth: The goal should be difficult enough to force the character to change or grow. The most memorable characters are transformed through their pursuit, demonstrating resolve, sincerity, and motivation. Characters who merely claim to want something, but fail to act convincingly, are difficult for an audience to believe in.
Why These Elements Matter
These elements help clearly define who a character is, what they want, why they want it, and what they are willing to do to achieve it. If any of these components are missing, the character may feel unfocused or underdeveloped.
Moreover, a character’s development should reveal something about the human condition or reflect aspects of ourselves. Empathising and identifying with what is happening creates our connection with the character and the story. And identification is the thing, otherwise we won’t care what happens.
Empathy and Complexity
Ultimately, the audience must hope for the best and fear the worst for the protagonist. A main character does not need to be likeable or a traditional hero; what matters is that they are fully developed, flawed in some way, and facing meaningful obstacles. The antagonist may be another character, society, nature, or even an internal struggle within the protagonist themselves.
Questions to Guide Your Character Development
Is my character motivated by meaningful action, or do they merely talk about what they want?
Is there a clear moment when my character becomes fully engaged in the story?
Do we understand why they begin to act? What motivates them?
What is my character’s goal, and is it compelling enough to sustain a three-act structure?
Does my character face a worthy antagonist who actively opposes this goal?
What motivates the antagonist, and how do their goals conflict with the protagonist’s?
Is my character active or passive in pursuing their goal, and do their actions meaningfully drive the story forward?