The Characters Arc

I've been writing about the characters. First we had a look on the three-dimensional characteristics and then the different Archetypes. I just want to add a small note about the archetypes. As I wrote in the beginning, I simplified the archetypes in four groups. That doesn't mean there are only that four type of characters. It means that I grouped them in a easier way to think about them. Also, they can move from on type to another along the story. Even some can take more than one archetype at the same time. Just take a look on the diagram and find yourself where you want to put your characters.

Today I'm going to mention something that comes across all the characters. It needs to. In the world of scriptwriting it's named THE ARC, the characters' arc.

This will come on the way of the three-dimensional character. A good character needs a good background, a good personality, loads of invisible information and... a good arch. So what is this thing called ARC.

At the beginning of the story our characters have certain characteristics. They are shy, arrogant, funny, serious, stupid.... whatever you created about them. Each single one needs is own starting point. Either if it's the protagonist or the "second secondary" character.  All of them need a story. Of course the protagonist needs more information than the "second secondary" but in the end, both of them need it.

Why they act in a certain way, how they act in a different situation, how they act outside their comfort zone... Do you remember this? These actions and reactions during the story make them change. If you have a coffee machine that burns you with steam, the next time you try to avoid to put your arm on the way to the steam. Isn't it? (Well... I knew someone in the past that used to get burned in a coffee machine all the time, and that was simply stupid).

Anyway, this changes to the characters during the story are the changes that make the story! The shy guy gets courage to ask a girl for a date. The stupid guy finds a solution to save the world... Wait a minute! This just remind me a perfect example of arcs.



It's us you are thinking of?

Yes! It's you!

The masters of the Arc! The Tin man, the Scarecrow and the Lion. At the beginning, the famous characters of the Wizard of Oz have (or should I say, they don't have) certain characteristics. The Tin Man doesn't have an heart, the Scarecrow doesn't have a brain and the Lion doesn't have courage. During their journey with Dorothy their actions will lead them to find what they were looking for. It was there all the time, but they couldn't see it.

This perfect example of the arc shown us the changes to the characters in the end of the story. The fearless Lion becomes, in fact, he is very courageous; The Tin Man finds is own feelings and realizes that's because he has an heart, even if he receives a special one, which is just a symbol anyway, and the Scarecrow realises he has a brain... or at least he can think!

So, what is the ARC? The arc is the process of evolution of the character during the journey. It's the process of changing. And that can go both ways... Is pour become rich... is rich become pour...

To have a strong character in the story, you need them to really change. You need that process of evolution along the story. Is not the "same" person who starts in the beginning that will end in the story. The character who doesn't change will be flat and boring. It will be that certain person who kept burning on the coffee machine' steam.

As I put on the diagram, is the BEING who changes to a NEW BEING along the Journey.

Hope that makes sense.
 

CYA