Writing the Influence Character
Much has been written about the protagonist, but few talk about whatâs called the âinfluence character.â This is a character whose power comes from his or her influence/impact on the protagonist. This is often who the protagonist is in an important relationship with, in the B story, or perhaps, a lead role in the B story. It might be a love interest, mentor, friend, sibling, rival, ally, parent, classmateâalmost anything. Itâs someone who has power based on impact. And typically the influence character and protagonist are linked together, usually by a similar goal.
Here are some examples.
In Moana, Moana is the protagonist, and Maui is the influence character. In The Hunger Games, Katniss is the protagonist, and Peeta is the influence character. In The Greatest Showman, P. T. Barnum is the protagonist, and Charity is the influence character. In Hamilton, Hamilton is the protagonist, and Eliza is the influence character. In Songbirds and Snakes, Coriolanus is the protagonist, and Sejanus is the influence character. In Legally Blonde, Elle is the protagonist, and Paulette is the influence character.
This doesnât mean the protagonist isnât influenced by other characters, of course, but these are the (or rather, âprimaryâ) influence charactersâtheir relationship with the protagonist influences the outcome of the story in significant ways, and for at least part of the story (if not the whole thing), these two people are bound together on a similar course or by a similar end goal. This creates a âweâ perspective within the audience. We are trying to do X. We are stuck in the same situation. We need to work together. We need each other.
But this relationship is about more than ⌠well ⌠just being in a relationship. The protagonist and influence character mirror and foil each other in key ways. Often by the time a writer finishes a professional-level story, he or she will have done this, even if he or she isnât aware of it.
Letâs talk about the key components of this relationship (concepts courtesy of Dramatica).
Change vs. Steadfast
A character who âchangesâ (arcs drastically) will grow significantlyâoften doing a 180âby the end of the story. Most of us are familiar with this concept.
A character who holds âsteadfastâ will stay more or less the sameâhe or she may grow by degree, but not by a drastic 180.
A âchangingâ character often starts with a flaw, misbelief, or inaccurate worldview that he or she must overcome in order to succeed in the story.
A âsteadfastâ character will start with a strength or an accurate worldview that will then be tested through the story. The rising action and tension comes from the cost of the steadfast character trying to hold true to that. The steadfast character will likely still experience doubts, temptations, pain, and sufferingâas the world, environment, and other characters challenge that view.
Think of the story of the Little Red Hen. The Little Red Hen understands that you must work for desired results. Others challenge this worldview, which means she has to ultimately work all alone. It still costs her effort and resolve to make the bread, which ultimately proves her worldview is correct while the othersâ are wrong.
For the steadfast character, he or she is proven true through the experiences of the story. The experiences must happen, in order to turn his or her faith/belief into knowledge/wisdom. Itâs one thing to believe something. Itâs another thing to have it tested and proven true.
In this sense, the steadfast character still grows, but itâs by degree.
The steadfast character will often change others and the environment when he or she succeeds, more than herself (generally speaking). (In the future I want to do a post specifically about steadfast characters, but for now, this will suffice.)
If the protagonist is a character who âchanges,â the influence character will be a character who is âsteadfast.â
Katniss changesâher worldviews change through the story.
Peeta is steadfastâOne of Peetaâs main goals is that the Games wonât change who he is, even if he dies. He wants to be steadfast. His feelings toward Katniss (shared in an interview), the fact heâs from the same district, that at some point both Peeta and Katniss can be victorsâall impact and influence Katnissâs plotline. While he might seem to waver, ultimately, he stays true to his beliefs.
P.T. Barnum changesâhe comes to realize he only needs to be accepted by his loved ones, not win over the world.
Charity is steadfastâshe knows what matters from the beginning, and her relationship with Barnum helps him eventually come to his senses. Despite what Barnum costs her, she holds on to what she believes is true.
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