CharacterFoundational
Want vs Need
What the character pursues versus what would actually heal them.
Principle
Story drama lives in the gap between desire and necessity.
Takeaways
- The want is conscious; the need is hidden.
- Achieving the want at the cost of the need is tragedy.
- Surrendering the want for the need is growth.
Overview
Most character-driven stories are organised by the difference between what the protagonist wants and what they need. The plot pressures one against the other until the character must choose.
Examples
- A character wants revenge but needs to forgive.
- A character wants approval but needs to be themselves.
- A character wants safety but needs to risk love.