What are the most common character goals for a character in a work of fiction? What are some good sites for this information?
Character Goals
- Thread starter DwayneA
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All I can think of is, "Every character should want something, even if it is a glass of water."
Vonnegut, I think.
I'm useless, I know.
Vonnegut, I think.
I'm useless, I know.
Staying alive is always good.
Consider what your character needs as opposed to what s/he wants. That's interesting too.
Consider what your character needs as opposed to what s/he wants. That's interesting too.
Many of the same things we want. Often the genre puts the spin on those goals. My WIP is a fantasy and my MC has to find an object to "save the world". It really isn't as cliché as it sounds, but that's the gist. Of course, as a complex character, he thinks about more than just that goal.
Things that MCs often want:
happiness
affirmation
love
to prove himself
revenge/justice
(the list goes on)
Things that MCs often want:
happiness
affirmation
love
to prove himself
revenge/justice
(the list goes on)
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It's also a lot of reading.
You should do it, of course. Everybody should read at least some Shakespeare. There's some damn good writing in there. But it's a bit rough to take in all at once. Cliff's notes will help you get the gist of what's happening.
Also, try Greek theater. Sophocles, Euripedes, Aristophanes... probably others that I can't think of. Very clear motivations, very timeless stories.
There can be so many goals for a character that it's bewildering.
Love, revenge, money, comfort, acknowledgement, family, no family, lust, power, material goods, lots of material goods, someone else's material goods, death and destruction, atonement, pant-pant-pant
As otterman said, genre will define it or add the twist. In a fantasy someone could be looking to regain the throne, find a mythical sword, or a treasure under a dragon's rump. In a horror, as stated above, just staying alive is a goal, or finding out what will take down the evil eating its way through the other characters. The skies the limit so have fun with your choice in goals.
Pike
Love, revenge, money, comfort, acknowledgement, family, no family, lust, power, material goods, lots of material goods, someone else's material goods, death and destruction, atonement, pant-pant-pant
As otterman said, genre will define it or add the twist. In a fantasy someone could be looking to regain the throne, find a mythical sword, or a treasure under a dragon's rump. In a horror, as stated above, just staying alive is a goal, or finding out what will take down the evil eating its way through the other characters. The skies the limit so have fun with your choice in goals.
Pike
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Every character thinks the story is about him/her.
Think about your own goals, wants and desires. Chances are, your characters want similar things.
Think about your own goals, wants and desires. Chances are, your characters want similar things.
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As has been said before, there are many many character goals and there can be differences within each goal. For example, my current WIP is set in ancient Babylon and is the story of slaves who desire to be free. One slave thinks freedom can only be found in death. One slave thinks he can be free by fighting his way to freedom. One slave thinks she can buy her freedom. Freedom is the goal for all of them, but the path to the goal is different.
Linnea
I usually discover that my characters' goals and desires are the same as mine. The same themes keep popping up over and over, like desire for acceptance, for family, for approval. Those are important in my life and so they are the same things that drive my characters.
I try to put them in an impossible situation, and give they the tools and discover to get their way out of it.
Tri
Tri
My characters all want to either change or not to change. That's what sets them apart from one another.
A character's goals are much like the ones in RL:
--getting a job to make her feel accomplished such as assasinating the evil Vizier.
--getting wealth by foul means or fair
--saving/rescuing a friend or family member by intervention i.e. exorcising the nasty ifrit who has hidden their soul in an old 10W40 oil can.
--finding a home where you can live without fear
--saving the world a tiny bit at a time
--discovering a treasure and leaving it since the world isn't ready for Pandora's Box again.
--locating a cure for a dreaded disease in a dank jungle
--looking for that special animal companion or love of your life and one turns up under your nose while you're babysitting griffon eggs.
And on and on! :}
--getting a job to make her feel accomplished such as assasinating the evil Vizier.
--getting wealth by foul means or fair
--saving/rescuing a friend or family member by intervention i.e. exorcising the nasty ifrit who has hidden their soul in an old 10W40 oil can.
--finding a home where you can live without fear
--saving the world a tiny bit at a time
--discovering a treasure and leaving it since the world isn't ready for Pandora's Box again.
--locating a cure for a dreaded disease in a dank jungle
--looking for that special animal companion or love of your life and one turns up under your nose while you're babysitting griffon eggs.
And on and on! :}
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