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Excelsior!
So where is the Impact Character in all of these analogies about walls and wells?
If I’m a Change Main Character, then the Impact Character is that guy shining that flashlight either down that well or up on that wall - showing me that yes, indeed, I do have a problem.
If I’m a Steadfast Main Character, then the Impact Character is the guy on the other side making waves!
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Filed under: Story Structure
3 responses so far ↓
1 Andrew // Aug 15, 2005 at 8:19 am
Just for clarification, the impact character does not have to have the character’s best interest in mind, do they? What I’m saying is, the impact character could also function as the antagonist or contagonist.
Also, could the role of the impact character be shared between several characters?
Any impact character examples?
2 Chris Huntley // Aug 15, 2005 at 10:40 am
No, the Impact Character doesn’t have to be supportive of the Main Character. He can even be more or less unaware of the Main Character. It’s the influence of the Impact Character that affects the Main Character. The only thing you can say for sure is that the IC’s impact forces the MC to address his personal issues.
Examples of unsupportive Impact Characters:
IC Dr. Rand in “Being There” is very unsupportive and questioning of MC Chance Gardener.
In Amadeus, IC Mozart mocks and belittles MC Salieri. Salieri views him as his chief rival and does his best to destroy Mozart.
In The Crucible, IC Abagail tries to destroy MC Proctor’s family so that she can have him for herself.
In The Fugitive, IC Sam Gerard is trying to capture MC Dr. Kimble to return him to jail for execution.
And so on….
3 Jim // Aug 15, 2005 at 11:18 am
Ahh - Chris beat me to it!
As far as different characters assuming the role of Impact Character, the answer is yes, and it’s called a Handoff. As long as the perspective stays the same, any character could be the Impact Character.
An interesting note is that when there are characters sharing the Impact Character role, they often won’t appear in the same scene together.
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