What Are The Character Types in Storytelling?

One of the great joys of screenwriting is character creation. There are so many different kinds of characters out there, the sky is the limit when it comes to your personal creativity.

In this detailed overview, we will talk about the character types, the various forms they appear in, and how they can be used to bring your stories to life.

Let's get started.

'There Will Be Blood'Credit: Paramount Pictures

Character Types by Role

I decided to write this post with a breakdown of not only who your characters can be but how they function within the story. So get ready to combine, mash-up, and extract different points of view, characteristics, and roles to make your heroes and villains pop off the page.

So, who can your character be in the story?

The Protagonist

The protagonist, often the story's hero, is a critical player. This character is the central figure around whom the entire story revolves. They are the character the audience is meant to root for, empathize with, and invest emotionally in. Protagonists can range from the valiant Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in Star Wars to the cunning Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrance) in The Hunger Games.

'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay'Credit: Lionsgate

The Antagonist

Positioned in opposition to the protagonist, the antagonist is frequently depicted as the villain. This character seeks to thwart the protagonist's mission, creating conflict and tension. The antagonist can be a character like Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) from the Harry Potter series, but remember, they don't necessarily have to be purely evil. Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan) in Black Panther showed us that if you can see their side, you can create more conflict.

Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger in 'Black Panther'Credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The Sidekick

Often a deuteragonist or a secondary character, the sidekick is the protagonist's right-hand man or woman. They offer support, advice, and often comic relief, adding depth to the story. Examples would include Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes, Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) in The Lord of the Rings, and Ethel (Vivian Vance) in I Love Lucy.

'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'Credit: New Line Cinema

Orbital Characters

Orbital characters, third in importance behind the protagonist and sidekick, often act as instigators, stirring up trouble for the protagonist and providing opportunities for the hero to shine. These characters can range from Tom Sawyer in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) in George Lucas's Star Wars.

Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa kissing Harrison Ford as Han Solo in 'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back'Credit: 20th Century Fox

Love Interest

The love interest represents the object of the protagonist's affection, adding a layer of emotional complexity to the story. This character can be a reward, a source of conflict, or a catalyst for the protagonist's growth. Some classic examples include Mr. Darcy in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Daisy in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby.

'Pride & Prejudice'Credit: Universal Pictures

The Confidant

The confidant is a trusted ally of the protagonist. They offer guidance, support, and wisdom, often helping the protagonist navigate their journey. A confidant is an essential tool for revealing the protagonist's thoughts and feelings. Horatio () from Shakespeare's Hamlet and Hermione (Emma Watson) or Ron (Rupert Grint) from Harry Potter are notable confidants.

'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone'Credit: Warner Brothers

The Foil

The foil character exists to highlight specific traits of the protagonist. By creating a sharp contrast, the foil illuminates the protagonist's strengths and weaknesses.

Foil characters can be antagonists or allies and can add depth and complexity to character relationships. An example is Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) and April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza) in Parks and Recreation: Leslie, a passionate and optimistic government official, is contrasted with April, her apathetic and sarcastic intern.

'Parks and Recreation'Credit: NBC

Character Types by Change

Characters can also be classified by the degree of change they undergo throughout the story. The way a character develops can greatly impact the narrative's flow and the audience's perception. And change in TV and movies matters a ton. We want to see how these people evolve over a few hours or over dozens of episodes.

There are two types of change: dynamic and static characters.

Dynamic Character

A dynamic character experiences significant internal change throughout the narrative. This transformation is often a result of the plot's events and conflicts.

Dynamic characters are usually the story's protagonists or significant secondary characters, as their evolution adds depth and complexity to the narrative. An example is Ebenezer Scrooge, who is an old miser at the beginning and then goes through a drastic change by the end.

'A Christmas Carol'Credit: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Static Character

Static characters, in contrast, do not undergo substantial change throughout the narrative. Their personality traits, beliefs, and attitudes remain consistent, providing a steady presence in the story. Static characters can often serve as anchors or constants amidst the narrative's turmoil. An example here is Atticus Finch, who holds equality beliefs at the start of the story and only has them enforced as time goes by.

Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch in 'To Kill a Mockingbird'Credit: Universal Pictures

Round Character vs. Flat Character

In his 1927 book, The Aspects of the Novel, E. M. Forster introduced the concepts of flat characters and round characters. Forster argued that round characters embody the unpredictable nature of life, possessing depth, intricacy, and authenticity.

On the other hand, he characterized flat characters as lacking dimensionality, existing in a two-dimensional realm.

Round Character

A round character is complex, multi-dimensional, and nuanced. They possess a mix of contradictory traits that create internal conflict and drive their actions. Round characters are often dynamic, evolving, and changing as the story unfolds. Celie (Whoopi Goldberg) in The Color Purple is a round character. We judge her one way watching her, but as we dig into her complex past, we get a lot more information that changes our perception.

Whoopi Goldberg as Celie Harris Johnson in 'The Color Purple'Credit: Warner Bros.

Flat Character

Flat characters are straightforward and uncomplicated.

They often serve a single purpose within the story and lack the depth and complexity of round characters. Despite their simplicity, flat characters play a crucial role in driving the narrative forward. Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) in The Lord of the Rings are good examples here. Though beloved characters serve as comic relief, they do not undergo significant individual development or change throughout the story. They are consistently portrayed as mischievous and lighthearted hobbits. Even when thrust into battle, they are unabashedly themselves.

'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'Credit: New Line Cinema

What About Stock Characters?

Stock characters are stereotypical characters that are instantly recognizable to the audience. These characters fulfill specific roles within the story and often adhere to conventional character traits. Despite their predictability, stock characters can add familiarity and relatability to the narrative.

Stock characters are recurring archetypes or stereotypes that are commonly found in various forms of storytelling, including literature, theater, and film. These characters often embody widely recognized traits or qualities and serve specific narrative functions. They are typically predictable and easily recognizable to audiences, as they adhere to established conventions and stereotypes.

Stock characters are often used to fulfill specific roles or purposes in a story.

Some cliche examples of stock characters include:

1. The Damsel in Distress: A female character who finds herself in a dangerous or helpless situation, requiring rescue or protection from the hero.
2. The Wise Old Mentor: A knowledgeable and experienced character who guides and advises the hero on their journey.
3. The Comic Relief: A character whose primary purpose is to provide humor and lighten the mood of the story.

'Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back'Credit: 20th Century Fox

While stock characters can sometimes lack depth and complexity, they play a crucial role in storytelling by providing familiar archetypes that audiences can readily connect with and understand. Writers often use stock characters as a foundation to build upon or subvert expectations, adding their unique twists and nuances to make them more compelling and engaging.

This leads us to a deeper discussion of...

Summing Up The Diverse World of Character Types in Storytelling

diving into the diverse world of character types in storytelling opens up a vast array of possibilities for creating compelling narratives. From the archetypal hero to the enigmatic anti-hero, from the lovable sidekick to the complex villain, each character type brings its own unique flavor to a story and plays a crucial role in engaging audiences.

By understanding the motivations, strengths, weaknesses, and complexities of different character types, storytellers can craft multi-dimensional and relatable characters that resonate with readers or viewers. These characters serve as vessels through which audiences can explore various themes, emotions, and conflicts, ultimately making the storytelling experience richer and more rewarding.

So get out there and get writing!