What Is Character Want vs. Need in Storytelling? Explained With Examples
What one wants is not what they really need, and vice versa.
Want vs Need
Want vs. Need is the core cinematic concept that makes your characters compelling enough to watch on screen.
Without a strong want and need, your characters are bound to bore the audience, no matter how good an actor you cast. And this holds true not only for the protagonists but also for the supporting characters.
However, this fundamental concept is far more complex than it seems; sometimes, even the most seasoned writers fail to clarify this core archetypal difference in their scripts.
So, to clearly understand what separates them, let’s first define what a character’s “want” and “need” actually are.
What is Want?
A character’s “want” is an external goal they desire to achieve. To identify what a character wants, simply look at what’s on the surface — it could be a job promotion, revenge, money, or something as simple as finding their car in the comedy, “Dude, Where’s My Car? (2000)”
Mostly driven by the story’s plot, “want” is a tangible thing that can easily be seen, heard, and surely done.
It’s important to note that your characters will clearly know what they want from the beginning of the story. The “want” factor is what motivates them to begin on the journey of self-discovery.
What is Need?
On the other hand, a character’s “need” is what’s lacking internally — their feelings and flaws they need to address.
Unlike “want,” a character’s “need” is driven by the story and its themes. It’s what they need to achieve to fix their flaws and transform into a much more self-aware and whole individual. It’s the path to complete their character arc.
Your character won’t know what they need from the beginning. They’ll discover it as the realization slowly dawns on them in the pursuit of their “want”.
Difference Between Want and Need
Let’s see the key differences between a character’s want and need.
For starters, “want” is an external, tangible goal that resembles the outward motion of their desires. And “need” is an internal, intangible, and inward motion of their subconscious desire.
Secondly, a character is usually clear about what they want from the start and is very much conscious of it. On the other hand, they don’t really know what they need and have to realize it further down the story.
Moreover, a character’s “want” is plot-driven and participates in the story’s conflict. But a character’s “need” is all about the character’s arc and transformation in the story.
Furthermore, achieving an external goal at the end might not be enough to fill the void our characters are carrying within them. But by realizing their true emotional needs, their internal wounds heal, and the illusion of misaligned goals starts to break.
Let’s Understand with the Most Iconic Characters as Examples
1. Walter White — Breaking Bad (2008 - 2013)
Want
Walter White (Bryan Cranston) in Breaking Bad wants to earn a lot of money to provide for his family before he dies of lung cancer. It’s his external drive, which leads him to cook meth, and drives the plot forward.
Need
What Walter White actually wants is to be the one in power and control.
His need is to realize his inner motives and let go of those desires (but that’s too late for him). Because his joyride of thrill landed him and his family in grave trouble. In the end, he even admits, “I did it for me. I liked it. I was good at it. And… I was really… I was alive.”
2. Rocky Balboa — Rocky (1976)
Want
Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) wants to go the distance with Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) or possibly defeat him to show that he is not a loser or a small-time boxer. He wants the crowd to see him as a champion.
Need
What Rocky really needs is to believe in himself, be it in his skills or his self-worth. He needs to believe he is a champion, irrespective of whether he wins or loses.
3. Simba — The Lion King (1994)
Want
Simba (Matthew Broderick) wants to keep running away from his past and responsibilities, following the traumatic incident of his father's death, which he thinks he caused. He is happy living a carefree life (but carries a deep void within).
Need
He needs to confront his trauma to dissolve his guilt and mend his relations with his pride family. Only then can Simba truly live a contented life.
4. Shrek — Shrek (2001)
Want
Shrek (Mike Myers) wants to be left alone in his swamp and live peacefully in solitude. He thinks it’s the only way to keep rejection and judgment away from the outside world. But his space is invaded by annoying fairy tale creatures.
Need
He needs to realize that he deserves warmth and friendship — he needs to be more vulnerable to be truly free. Through his journey, he makes friends who accept him for who he is, not what he is.
5. Luke Skywalker — Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
Want
Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), a lonely orphan, wants to find his life’s purpose out in the vast galaxies. As his father was a Jedi, he too wants to be like him — to protect the people from dark forces.
Need
Luke needs to let go of his excessive desire to fight to be the hero he thinks he needs to be. He needs to learn that being a Jedi isn’t about proving himself or being like his father; it is about surrendering his quest for glory, trusting the Force, and letting go of control.
Wrapping Up
To summarize, “Want” is the plot, and “Need” is the theme — together, they make a great couple for strong emotional conflict within the character.
If you want to build a compelling character arc, you need a strong external want and internal need. It makes them more human, relatable, and interesting.
