Potential motivations

Definition

Potential motivations are the underlying reasons or incentives that drive a character's actions in a literary work. They may include desires for power, love, revenge, or self-preservation.

Related terms

Characterization:

The methods an author uses to develop and reveal characters' traits and personalities.

Conflict:

Struggles between opposing forces (internal or external) that create tension in a story and influence characters' motivations.

Foreshadowing:

Hints or clues provided by an author early on in a story that suggest future events or developments.