building up as a backslide

June 16, 2005

In these kinds of stories, the Main Character’s resistance to a problem is very minimal at first. The problem pops up and the MC responds, “Oh, OK, I’ll just let this one slide.” But over the course of the story the MC finds himself having to respond with greater and greater resistance, almost as if he was “backsliding.” “I’m not going to win this thing, and I’ve already backed up a little, so I guess I’ll let that one slide.” This backsliding continues until the Main Character finds himself backed into corner and with nowhere to go has to determine whether or not he is going to Change or remain Steadfast.

A perfect example of this is the Clint Eastwood western, Unforgiven. William Munny (Clint Eastwood) starts out the story in a very settled position. He knows what he is supposed to do, and more importantly what he is not supposed to do (return to his wicked ways). And instead of an active fight, he does what feels more like a backslide.

A building up Main Character still has this justification built up already within them. William Munny has a history of being a killer, but has sworn it all off in order to honor his dead wife. He has this justification but he doesn’t see it. He gets challenged more and more, and effectively his resistance to the change is what is growing (building up) - not so much the actual justification (although that is the base of it). This continues until he gets that biggest shove at the end - the sight of his best friend, Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman), on display, dead, in a pine box right there on Main Street. And then at that point he has to decide, am I going to go over the top and remain Steadfast, or swallow the bitter pill, and say, “Fine, I’ll change.” With a couple of shotgun blasts, William Munny chooses the latter.