From the historical agent to the literary character
Through the search for historical data, the database will be filled with a long list of more or less known characters.
The following is now a selection process. If you have worked well, you will have a list of no less than 1000 people in your community, or more. It is impossible to tell a story with so many people.
Perhaps, with a lot of effort it could be done, but even so, a very small number is required to represent the 8 archetypes of the main characters, as well as to decide who will be the protagonist and who will be the antagonist of the story.
This always requires a selection process.
Development of literary character
The historical person, or rather the character, will always be an unknown. Our knowledge about his true motivations, intentions, and emotions will always be partly a mystery. The past cannot be lived, only abstracted, and is as such an incomplete knowledge.
But the data is objective and it is there. It is about playing with her presentation to the audience, and her interpretation, in the best way that supports the Main Plot of the narrative.
This begins with interpreting the character and developing it into a literary character.
Tabea Hirzel
Saturday, January 23, 2021