Hi guys! Welcome to another article, and I want to talk about making a compelling writing piece (get it, because we’re doing the moral tales and all). Ok. First, I want to address this is no 100% guide and it could vary form story to story, and it’s all based on you.
How to make your characters relatable? That’s a great question. Relatability is what makes the audience resonate with a character. A key way to achieve this is by giving your character a need—something integral to the human experience, like security, love, or acceptance. This need allows the audience to see themselves reflected in the character’s journey. Additionally, incorporating flaws, insecurities, and vulnerabilities adds depth, making the character feel more genuine. As they navigate their struggles and growth in pursuit of their needs, the audience is more likely to connect emotionally, leading to a richer storytelling experience.
Abraham Maslow was an American psychologist–born in 1908 and died in 1970. Throughout his life he discovered and theorized about many great things. But his most prominent work is the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.
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At the most basic level, everyone has physiological and safety needs. Once those are satiated, mental needs come into play. And finally, self-fulfillment needs. This can be applied to written characters. Let’s first explore some of the examples.
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Seong Gi-hun from Season 1 of Squid Game is one of the best examples to illustrate relatability. For those unfamiliar, the show follows Gi-hun and 455 other cash-strapped players as they compete in six deadly games for a life-changing amount of cash. The series excels at showcasing the theme of need, as Gi-hun's desperate financial situation stems from his need to support both himself and his ailing mother. In the pilot episode, we meet Gi-hun in a difficult light, grappling with a debilitating gambling addiction and myriad personal issues, making him a deeply flawed yet relatable character. This profound struggle instantly connects with the audience. As for another example, I want to look at Dandadan. (DISCLAIMER: the following paragraph will spoil episode 7 of Dandadan, so please read with this in mind. If you don’t want a spoiler, just skip the next paragraph)
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Dandadan is a popular anime following Momo and Okarun–who believe in aliens and ghosts–when he gets his… uhm… parts stolen by a ghost named Turbo Granny, which leads them on an adventure to find them, engaging in battle and heartfelt moments. The anime also touches on some extremely serious topics despite its silly nature. SPOILERS Episode 7 of the show took the world by storm through the story of one of the yokai named Acrobatic Silky. The ghost used to be the mother of a child, and all she wanted to do was make her happy, engaging in various jobs to secure money. All until some loan sharks (never actually stated who they were, but I’m just making an educated guess) came and beat her up, also taking her child. This is another wonderful example of the implementation of needs, where we are shown the mother’s dire need to protect and fulfill her child’s needs. The episode also made me cry so that counts too I guess…
In conclusion, the creation of relatable characters relies on the depiction of their fundamental needs. By reflecting human experiences, writers can create emotional connections, enriching their storytelling impact. And of course, this can be applied to DUN DUN DUN DUN your moral tales!!!! I hope you learned something today, and see you next time.
- Mattox
Bro really wrote about Dan Da Dan and Squid game in the same blog. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI like both of these shows a lot and seeing these character archetypes was very interesting. Thanks for making this post it was really great.
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