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In real life people don't change all that much. Behaviors can be altered. People who are pathologically late can learn to be prompt. People who smoke two packs of cigarettes a day can quit. Students with bad study habits can learn how to be more focused.
But when it comes to the big issues, change comes slowly and in degrees or not at all.
In art, however, a character must change. Perhaps how much this character changes is the big problem writers face. If you understand what a character arc is it may not be that problematic at all.
There are stages in the structure of a character arc. In it's simplest form, it begins with, let's say, limited awareness of a problem and grows to increased awareness. However, depending upon the nature of the story you're telling, it may need more levels.
Like this: limited awareness leads to increased awareness which leads to a situation in which this new awareness must be put into dramatic action. This leads to a reluctance to take action which leads to the need to overcome that reluctance. That then progresses to the early change (baby steps), which move to the big change. But since you're telling a story the "big change" may result in a setback or an even grander elevatation of awarness.
That leads to renewed effort to change and ultimately the character has arrived at a higher level. With regard to this particular problem, he is a different person than he was at the beginning.
Think of areas in your own life where you had preconceived notions about something only to find yourself totally reevaluting your opinions down the road. You went from limited awareness to a fuller, different, comprehensive awareness. |
