Character Goals

Definition

Character goals refer to the specific desires, ambitions, or objectives that drive a character's actions and decisions throughout a narrative. These goals are crucial in shaping character development, influencing how characters evolve over time and how they interact with other characters and their environment. Understanding character goals helps in analyzing the motivations behind a character's behavior and the overall arc of their journey.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Character goals can be external, such as achieving fame or finding love, or internal, like seeking redemption or self-acceptance.
2. Long-term character goals often influence the development of secondary plot lines and other characters' arcs.
3. A well-defined character goal can create engaging stakes, making the audience invested in the character’s success or failure.
4. Character goals may evolve over time as characters face challenges that lead them to reassess their priorities and desires.
5. The contrast between a character's initial goals and their final outcomes can serve as a powerful tool for storytelling, highlighting growth or tragedy.

Review Questions

• How do character goals influence the character development over long arcs?
  • Character goals are pivotal in shaping long-term development because they provide direction for a character's journey. As characters pursue their goals, they encounter challenges that force them to adapt and grow. This progression not only drives the narrative forward but also allows for deeper exploration of themes like resilience, ambition, and identity as characters evolve in response to their experiences.
• In what ways can conflicting character goals enhance the narrative tension and drama within a story?
  • Conflicting character goals create dramatic tension by establishing obstacles that characters must navigate. When two characters have opposing ambitions, it leads to conflict that drives the story forward. This friction compels characters to confront each other, revealing their motivations and deepening the audience's investment in their struggles. Such dynamics enrich the storytelling by introducing layers of complexity and making resolutions more impactful.
• Evaluate how a significant change in a character's goal can impact their overall arc and the narrative structure of a story.
  • A significant shift in a character's goal can dramatically alter both their arc and the overall narrative structure. When a character reevaluates their desires—perhaps moving from seeking revenge to pursuing forgiveness—their choices will likely lead to new conflicts and resolutions that reshape the story's trajectory. This transformation not only enriches the character’s depth but also invites audiences to reconsider themes of growth, redemption, and the fluidity of ambition, thereby adding layers to the narrative experience.

Related terms

Character Arc: The transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story, often involving significant growth or change based on their experiences.

Conflict: The struggle between opposing forces that creates tension in a narrative, often arising from characters pursuing their goals.

Motivation: The reasons behind a character's actions or decisions, which are often tied to their goals and desires.