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In the Leap of Faith question, Chris refers to Steadfast MC's building up walls around their problem (outlined here). Is the corollary to this that a Steadfast MC must know what their Problem is -- not the element (Pursuit), but the expression of that element (accused of murder)? What about a Steadfast IC? |
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Not really. Though a Steadfast Main Character is driven by their MC Problem, it is not something he thinks about. Like Change characters, Steadfast characters identify the MC Symptom as the source of their troubles and concentrate on the MC Response as a way to overcome them. Only when the pressures that force the MC to build blinders to support his resolve get severe does the Steadfast MC seriously question his own motivations. A Steadfast MC ultimately stays the course, for good or ill, sticking with addressing the MC Symptom by continuing to apply effort toward the MC Response. This is not to say the Steadfast Main Characters are unaware of their MC Problem (drive). The Steadfast Main Characters may flirt with adopting the MC Solution to resolve their MC's personal inequities, but ultimately doemphasized text not. Stories where the Steadfast Main Characters never question their motivations feel flat because the MC throughlines are eclipsed by the Overall Story throughline. Some of the 'middle' James Bond films suffer from the feeling that the MC never reconsiders his approach. (Note: On Her Majesty's Secret Service differs because James Bond is a Change character. Also, the more recent reboots of the series, Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, spend far more time on Main Character development than the earlier films.) |
