Forcing the Story Forward

There is another useful grouping of the Archetypal Characters which helps uncover their essential Elements. Four of the characters seem to be the prime movers of the story, and it is their interactions that determine the thrust of the effort to address the story's problem. The other four are "backseat drivers"--perhaps interested in the outcome, but rather than forcing the plot, they influence those who do force the plot. Remember, these descriptions are only applicable in a general way but serve to make comparisons between similar traits of characters. In Dramatica, we group four similar, interrelated items into a simple table called a quad. So, we can create a quad of Driver Characters and a quad of Passenger Characters.

 

Drivers

The Driver Quad

Quad One: The Driver Characters

PROTAGONIST

GUARDIAN                    CONTAGONIST

ANTAGONIST

In simple stories, the Protagonist, Antagonist, Guardian, and Contagonist are all major drivers of the story. Whatever the object of their efforts, the Protagonist tries to achieve it. The Antagonist tries to prevent its achievement. The Guardian acts to aid the achievement, and the Contagonist acts to hinder (although Guardian and Contagonist may not be directly concerned with the goal itself or even each other). Regardless of their personal levels of awareness, each of these Characters seen objectively acts with a unique drive that represents a basic Motivation of the Story Mind.

For example, if the Protagonist wants to build a shopping center, the Antagonist will not want it built. The Contagonist might get an injunction delaying construction so it can profit from a stock deal, even though it may like to see the center built eventually. The Guardian might find a legal loophole to overturn the injunction, perhaps just as a by-product of another matter it is representing in court.

Remember, these Overall Story Characters are not judged by how THEY see the story, but how WE see them affecting the story.

 

Passengers

The Passenger Quad

Quad Two: The Passenger Characters

SIDEKICK

REASON                   EMOTION

SKEPTIC

Unlike the first quad, these four Characters are not the prime movers of the story, but rather ride the coattails of the Driver Characters. If not for the Drivers, the Passengers would not even be involved with the problem. Each represents an approach or attitude in the story. Sidekick is forever faithful while Skeptic is forever doubting. Reason acts based on logic and Emotion responds from feelings. Of course, each of these Characters also has its own motivations, but seen objectively as part of the Story Mind they represent different approaches and attitudes toward solving the problem.

Before we subdivide the Archetypal Characters into their basic Elements, let's get a better feel for them by examining the Drivers and Passengers in several well-known stories.