Desire

Definition

Desire is a driving force that motivates characters to pursue goals, change their circumstances, or connect with others. It is often tied to a character's needs, aspirations, and emotional states, influencing their actions and decisions throughout the narrative. Understanding desire helps in shaping character arcs, revealing motivations, and exploring relationships, as it serves as the backbone for character development and conflict.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Desire often initiates character arcs by presenting the protagonist's initial goal or longing that sets them on their journey.
2. Motivations can shift as characters face challenges, leading to transformations in their desires and ultimately altering the course of the story.
3. In relationships, desire can create tension or connection, as characters navigate their feelings toward one another based on what they want or need.
4. Characters' desires are not always conscious; sometimes they are buried under fears or societal expectations, complicating their actions.
5. The resolution of a story often hinges on whether the characters achieve their desires or learn something profound about what they truly need.

Review Questions

• How does a character's desire influence their development throughout a story?
  • A character's desire acts as a catalyst for growth and change by guiding their choices and actions. As the character pursues their goals, they face obstacles that challenge their motivations and reveal deeper aspects of their personality. This journey often results in a transformation of desire, leading to an evolution in the character's arc from beginning to end. The pursuit of desire shapes not only the individual character but also impacts the narrative's trajectory.
• Discuss how conflicting desires between two characters can shape their relationship dynamics in a story.
  • When two characters have conflicting desires, it creates tension that drives the relationship's development. This conflict can manifest in arguments, misunderstandings, or even moments of vulnerability as each character strives to fulfill their own needs while grappling with the other's goals. Such dynamics can lead to growth or deterioration in the relationship, often culminating in key turning points that force characters to reevaluate what they truly want from one another.
• Evaluate how a character's evolving desires can reflect broader themes within a narrative.
  • A character’s evolving desires often mirror larger themes within the story, such as identity, love, or personal growth. As characters confront challenges and experience change, their shifting motivations can illuminate critical societal issues or emotional truths. For instance, a character who initially seeks power may eventually realize that connection and empathy are more fulfilling. Analyzing these shifts provides insight into how individual experiences reflect universal human struggles and enriches the narrative's overall meaning.

Related terms

Conflict: A struggle between opposing forces, often driven by characters' desires that clash with each other or with external obstacles.

Goal: A specific outcome or achievement that a character aims for, often rooted in their desires and essential to driving the plot forward.

Need: A deeper, often psychological requirement that influences a character's desires and decisions, which may differ from their expressed goals.