For readers and audiences to have empathy for your Protagonist, there must be an understanding of your character’s inner turmoil, behaviour and reaction to whatever happens in the story. When the Protagonist is called to adventure and needs someone to guide him or her through the story, this is where a fully fledged and dynamic Supporting Character steps in.
A Supporting Character is a person who plays a role in the life of a story’s Protagonist. Novelists and screenwriters don’t anchor a story around supporting characters, but they use them in the process of worldbuilding to create a compelling backdrop to the main character’s story arc.
Supporting characters have significant interaction with the Protagonist, and contribute to the major events of a story, but aren’t the primary focus of the story’s narrative.
Supporting characters offer a different flavour or dimensional element of the story that is different from the Protagonist’s, offer a unique characteristic and perspective to the overall story, enables readers / audiences to find multiple facets of interest in the characters who populate any given story, and will be involved in one or all three of the primary aspects of the plot: conflict, action, and goal.
A well-written Supporting Character will have a character arc, a strong point of view, and clear personality traits. In many cases they will be the types of characters a reader might recognize from their own life and—like main characters—they will grow and change over the course of the storyline. Characters who don’t change are known as flat characters, and while certain bit parts work just fine as flat characters, the majority of your secondary parts must be dynamic and engaging to a reader or viewer.
Unlike the Protagonist, the primary function of the Supporting Character is not specifically to achieve the goal of the plot – achieving the goal of the plot always belongs to the protagonist – but to serve / support the Protagonist in attaining the goal, creating an orbit around the protagonist, either aiding or resistance to the attainment of his or her goal in a positive way by teaching, caring, loving, mentoring, etc,
By crafting Supporting Characters with care and complexity, you can add depth and richness to your stories, making them resonate more deeply with their audience / reader. They might not always be in the spotlight, but their supporting roles build an engaging narrative. They are the pillars that hold up the story and provide the necessary counterbalance to the main characters.
They are the unsung heroes that can make a story come alive, sheds light on dark situations, offers solutions to insurmountable obstacles, lenfs support to a broken heart and lost soul, and promises hope when a situation is at its worst for the Protagonist.
Unlike the Mentor or guide (archetypal wise old man or teacher) who has special knowledge, insights and skills, becomes the herald of destiny, triggers the protagonist’s inner awakening and sets him or her on the path of transfiguration, the Supporting Character is not judgemental, but functions on equal measure with the Protagonist as the best friend, love interest. care giver, sidekick, the fool or comic relief.
The Supporting Character will have an understanding of the Protagonists problems and and allows readers / audience to have an understanding of why the Protagonist is conflicted.
Supporting characters deserve just as much love and attention as your Protagonist.
Three excellent examples that demonstrate the effectiveness of a well-written supporting character come from James Cameron’s Titanic, J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series and J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” saga.
- In Titanic, when we meet Jack, he’s already a “complete” person, he knows who he is, he is comfortable in his own skin, he lives life how he likes and likes his life. Until he hooks up with Rose and the tragic events unfold there is no real story there, apart from his dealings with Rose and their consequences.
- In Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley play the best friend and love interest roles, respectively. Both characters have distinct personality traits, backgrounds, and story arcs contributing to the plot. They also have goals and desires that sometimes align and sometimes conflict with Harry’s, which adds depth to their characters and the story.
- In “Lord of the Rings,” the fellowship comprises many supporting characters who each bring unique skills, backgrounds, and personalities. Although not the story’s main focus, characters like Samwise Gamgee, Legolas, and Gimli play significant roles and undergo character development throughout the series.
