Driving Force

Definition

Driving force refers to the underlying motivation or reason that propels a character to take specific actions throughout a story. It often serves as a catalyst for the character's decisions and behaviors, shaping their journey and influencing their interactions with other characters. Understanding a character's driving force is essential for comprehending their growth and the overall narrative arc.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. A character's driving force can be based on internal desires, such as personal growth, or external factors, such as societal pressures.
2. The clarity of a driving force can significantly enhance audience engagement by providing relatable motivations behind a character's choices.
3. Characters with strong driving forces tend to exhibit consistent behavior that aligns with their goals, leading to more believable and compelling narratives.
4. In conflict-driven plots, the driving force often propels characters into challenging situations that test their limits and contribute to their development.
5. Understanding a character's driving force can help playwrights create dynamic relationships between characters, showcasing how different motivations clash or complement each other.

Review Questions

• How does a character's driving force impact their interactions with other characters in the narrative?
  • A character's driving force significantly shapes their interactions with others by influencing how they respond to challenges and relationships. For instance, if a character is motivated by revenge, they may act aggressively towards those they see as obstacles. This creates conflict and tension in their relationships, as others may not understand their motivations or may even be directly affected by them. As a result, the driving force becomes a critical element in developing not only the character's journey but also the dynamics within the story.
• Analyze how understanding a character's driving force can enhance the audience's emotional connection to them.
  • When an audience understands a character's driving force, it allows for greater empathy and emotional investment in their journey. Knowing what motivates a character can make their struggles more relatable and their achievements more rewarding. For example, if an audience sees that a character is driven by the desire to prove themselves after past failures, they are likely to root for them as they face obstacles. This connection fosters deeper engagement with the narrative and encourages viewers to become emotionally invested in the character’s development.
• Evaluate the role of conflict in shaping a character’s driving force throughout the story.
  • Conflict plays a crucial role in shaping a character's driving force as it challenges their motivations and often forces them to reassess their goals. As characters face external pressures and internal dilemmas, they may discover deeper layers to their motivations or even change them entirely. For instance, a character initially driven by ambition may confront moral dilemmas that lead them to prioritize relationships over success. This evolution not only adds depth to the character but also enriches the story by illustrating how conflicts can transform motivations and lead to significant character growth.

Related terms

Conflict: A struggle between opposing forces that creates tension and drives the narrative forward, often highlighting a character's driving force.

Character Arc:

The transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story, influenced by their driving force and experiences.

Goal: The specific objective or desire that a character aims to achieve, which is often fueled by their driving force.