When Characters are on a Time Limit
Humans are complicated creatures. We can be logical, or frivolous. We can be subject to the logical reasoning and common sense we’re accustomed to, or we can let our deepest emotions and desires take over. We’re still animals after all.
Some of the most well-written characters in stories take all of this into account. While you may write exceptionally fleshed out, three-dimensional characters, you may never achieve the full complexity of a real human being. I’d wager that to try, would be to miss the point entirely.
But the best way to test the true nature and personality of your characters is to subject them to tough decisions, whether it be moral, emotional or survival in nature.
And if you want to reveal who your characters truly are, inside and out, don’t give them any time to decide.
Split-second decisions are a perfect way to unveil key motivations in your characters. When there is no time to think, they are left with only their gut feelings, often letting their true desires and intentions out. For better or worse.
As a subtle first example, in “A Goofy Movie” Goofy and his rebellious teenage son Max are embarking on a road trip across the country. This hidden gem of Disney’s garnered a bigger love and following by fans than was expected, as it captured perfectly the tense dynamics of the average relationship between a parent and their child as they develop into adulthood.
This trip is important to Goofy, as it’s a perfect chance to bond with his son Max before Max goes out on his own after graduation. Max however, is more distracted by a concert he wishes to go to that’s occurring the same time as the road trip. Not to mention Max’s crush, Roxanne, is going to see it too, robbing Max of a chance to be with her and enjoying the concert with friends.
As such, this breeds some slight contempt between father and son. Towards the climax of the film, Max realizes that he and Goofy can make a detour to the concert if Max alters the course of the map behind Goofy’s back.
Goofy catches wind of this on his own and as a test, leaves trust of the map to Max on where to go next in their trip.
The two are headed fast to a critical junction in the road, and it’s up to Max to decide. Continue on the original trip to the pleasure of his father, or fuel his own interests and swerve the trip into his favour. If you haven’t seen the film, I’ll leave it up to you to assume what happens, but the consequences thereafter create a great deal of emotional turmoil for both characters as their honest feelings are finally laid bare.
Another extraordinary example lies directly in the thrilling and epic climax of “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”.
Both in this film and the previous one, Captain Jack Sparrow is conflicted over the benefits and repercussions of stabbing the heart of Davy Jones, since it will grant him immortality and the freedom he always fights for, yet he would become the eternal Captain of the Flying Dutchman. Obviously, being an immortal pirate captain is the greatest treasure for any pirate like Jack, but he would then be tasked with ferrying dead souls to the next world, a thankless, difficult job. He also wrangles with what will happen if he were to fail in that job like Davy Jones did, and the common downsides with immortality as a concept. Outliving loved ones, living with oneself forever, world-weariness etc.
Cut to the climax within the torrential chaos of the maelstrom (one of my favourite action sequences I won’t soon forget), and Jack, along with William Turner, Elizabeth Swann, Hector Barbossa and all, fight off against Davy Jones and his wretched crew.
As Will Turner and Jones clash swords, the heart of Jones (which has frequently swapped hands as means of leverage) is finally swiped up by Jack, and in a tight standoff, he threatens to stab the heart. However, Davy Jones has a sick and demented sense of humour and since he is fully aware of Jack’s intentions, he makes a cruel and dark power play. He thrusts a fatal blow of the sword through Will. More specifically, Will’s heart.
Here lies the critical moment of choice.
Granted, the time frame to decide is not nearly as tight as other examples but the weight of this one hits really hard. You feel it even as Jack’s face is washed with shock as Jones wrings the sword deep through Will. Now, Jack is left conflicted on satisfying his own desires. If he stabs the heart, he gets what he wants, but Will dies, and Elizabeth, heart-broken.
Then, in a last ditch effort, Jack helps a weak Will stab the heart of his own accord, killing Jones and passing the baton of Captain of the Flying Dutchman, to Will. Wretched immortality and all.
To clarify, and to all who have seen the Pirates Trilogy (emphasis on Trilogy), Jack and Will have never been entirely on the best of terms. They certainly have some mutual respect, but as the plot of “Dead Man’s Chest” unfolds, they have a few good reasons to distrust and resent one another.
Now, for a good while, I assumed that Jack made the decision to have Will stab the heart on account that he decided he could not contend with the restraints that the mantle of Captain of the Flying Dutchman gave. Despite the allure of it, he knew he couldn’t embrace the responsibility that came with the title and power.
Yet now, I see a touch clearer and realize that Jack did what he did, not because of internal reasons, but because despite all they’ve been through, despite all the dangers they’ve faced and the trouble they’ve given each other, Jack, in a strange way, still cares about Will. Not only that, but the relationship and happiness that Will and his soon-to-be wife Elizabeth have as well.
Jack knew that sooner or later he may end up doing the right thing, out of curiosity or otherwise. Jack and Elizabeth share an intriguing scene discussing this possible insatiable need for altruism in a life of selfishness and piracy. In a way, Jack showed something honest about himself, revealing a shard of selflessness he may not have known he had, or even we didn’t know he had.
As I said, it’s these decisions we force upon our characters that reveal parts of them that may be unknown to character, audience, and even the writer that spawned that character in the first place.
In my own work, I have a similar if not straightforward example. My main character, Marcus, and his sister Theresa, in addition to a mercenary named Ronin, have been hunted relentlessly by a brash, hot-headed officer determined to arrest them. And this officer isn’t afraid to use force.
To the climax of the story, when all characters involved are trapped in a live-threatening situation, the officer is caught in the cross-fire, and may be killed.
Marcus is halfway between the epicentre of an oncoming explosion and a shelter of safety with his sister. With precious seconds, Marcus decides to protect the officer from harm, despite the trouble he’s given Marcus.
It’s not exactly Shakesperean writing, but it laid bare a crucial part of Marcus’s development across the story, one I knew needed to be expressed.
So, the next time you feel you don’t know your characters well enough, ask them a question, and give them no time to spare.
Thank you for reading and have a beautiful day!
Daniel
