Negative Change Character Arcs and how to use one

This article is part of a series about using character arcs for character development.

In character development, there is a lot of talk of character arcs. But what are they? A character arc is the transformation of a character over the course of a story. There are several types of character arcs. In this post, we will take an in-depth look at the negative change arc. In this arc, a character starts off with a major flaw or a skewed perspective, and by the end, they’ve devolved into a worse, weaker version of themselves. They succumb to their inner demons and often achieve something destructive externally because of it.

When I think of a negative change arc, the first character who comes to mind is Dorian Gray from Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. From the innocent to the immoral, the journey of Dorian Gray is a classic example of a narrative blueprint that captivates audiences and leaves us feeling disturbed. It’s the ultimate tale of an individual shedding their virtues and embracing their worst self, proving that corruption and damnation are always possible.

Step 1: Establish the Character’s “Lie” and “Truth”

Each successful Negative Change Arc centers on a character’s transformation from understanding a Truth to believing a Lie.

• The Character’s Lie: This is a negative or misguided belief about themselves or the world. The character could believe the Lie based on a painful or traumatic backstory, or as something taught to them by family or society. This Lie is what prevents the character from being happy or whole.
  • Dorian Gray in The Picture of Dorian Gray begins his tale as a naïve and morally sound young man. His Lie, which he eventually embraces, is that aesthetic beauty and pleasure are the sole purposes of life, leading to a life of depravity and ruin.
• The Character’s Truth: This is the realization or understanding needed for the character to become complete. The character’s development is ultimately rejecting and corrupting a Truth that was always in them, twisting it into a Lie. Their Truth should change their belief, but not who the character fundamentally is.
  • Dorian Gray’s Truth is that moral integrity, responsibility, and the consequences of one’s actions are essential for a meaningful life.

This Lie and Truth work because the portrait initially reflects Dorian’s pure, uncorrupted self, reminding him of the Truth before he fully embraces the Lie.

Step 2: Define the Internal Conflict: Want vs. Need

The Lie generates the protagonist’s inner conflict. This internal struggle is the concept that drives both the character’s change and the external plot.

• Want (External Goal): This is the visible, external goal the character pursues throughout the story, usually because they mistakenly believe achieving it will solve the symptoms of their Lie.
  • Dorian wants to maintain his youthful beauty and pursue a life of unrestrained pleasure without consequences.
• Need (Internal Goal): This is what the character must discover or accept about themselves or the world to overcome the Lie and become whole. The want is often simply a symptom of the missing internal need.
  • Dorian needs to acknowledge the moral decay caused by his actions and accept responsibility for his corruption.

Step 3: Integrate Character Arcs with Plot Structure

The character’s transformation must tie to the plot structure, with the plot constantly challenging the Lie and demanding choices that move the character toward the Truth. (Note: This example is an abbreviated plot structure for illustrative purposes. For more on plot structures, please see my articles about different plotting methods.)

1. The Normal World (Act I): The story starts by establishing the character’s starting point, where they are in their regular life where they believe the Lie. This gives the reader a starting point for the character’s journey. Dorian’s starting point is that he is innocent and admired, but also vulnerable to influence.
2. The Midpoint (The Turning Point): In the first half of the Second Act, the character wanders through the New World based on their old rules (the Lie). They then reach a Midpoint where they begin subconsciously learning lessons, leading to personal revelations that shift them toward the Truth. For Dorian, this occurs after his cruel treatment of Sibyl Vane, when he first notices the portrait’s change, confirming the fulfillment of his wish for eternal youth at the cost of his soul.
3. The Third Plot Point (The Defeat): This serves as the story’s low moment, a crushing defeat that forces the character to confront the Lie once and for all. They can no longer pretend the Lie is correct, or their belief in the Lie has caused severe consequences. For Dorian, this is when he murders Basil Hallward, fully embracing his depravity and revealing the monstrous depths of his corruption to himself.
4. The Climax: The character’s transformation culminates here, as they make the final, critical choice to reject the Lie and embrace the Truth. Dorian’s climactic moment is when he attempts to destroy the portrait, hoping to erase his past and find redemption, but instead, he destroys himself.
5. The Resolution: The story ends by showing the reader the character back in their regular life, but no longer believing the lie. One way to show this is to bookend the opening scene. The new state of Dorian Gray, now dead and aged, with the portrait restored to its original beauty, provides this sense of tragic closure, emphasizing the ultimate consequence of his negative change.

Step 4: Build Change Through Choices

Character development, and the character arc itself, is primarily built from a series of clear, tangible choices the character makes. These critical choices anchor the character’s path to the plot structure.

• Choices Reveal Character: At every crossroads, the character’s decision reveals who they are and if they are progressing.
  • Initially, Dorian chooses to pursue pleasure and disregard morality. As his arc progresses, he makes choices like rejecting Sibyl Vane, murdering Basil Hallward, and corrupting other young men, demonstrating his deepening degradation.
• Consistency is Key: The choices the character makes throughout the arc must be based on the character’s existing traits and the events in the plot. If the choices seem random or only serve the plot, the development will feel contrived and unrealistic.
  • Dorian’s choices, driven by his desire for eternal youth and pleasure, consistently reflect his journey from innocence to corruption.

Step 5: Foreshadow the Transformation

For a believable arc, avoid completely remaking the character. Foreshadow the character’s potential to change for the better. Do not give the character sudden traits that do not suit their personality or ability.

• Latent Potential: Writers must begin the story showing both the character’s belief in their Lie and their potential or desire to find the Truth.
  • Even in his most innocent moments, there are subtle hints of Dorian’s vanity and susceptibility to influence, particularly through Lord Henry Wotton’s cynical philosophies.
• Shifting Beliefs: The change arc is often described as the shifting of ambivalence within the character, where one side of their personality (the Lie) outweighs the other, until, slowly, the good side (the Truth) gains weight and “outweighs” the negative side.
  • Dorian’s initial discomfort with the portrait’s changes slowly gives way to his growing fascination and eventual embrace of his immoral behavior, foreshadowing his complete corruption.

Summary: The Negative Change Arc Blueprint

Element	Description	Example (The Picture of Dorian Gray)
Start Point (Point A)	Defined by a Lie (negative belief) and a Flaw (negative behavior).	Truth: Moral integrity and responsibility are essential for a meaningful life.
Want	The external goal the character pursues, believing it will fix their internal problem.	Wants to maintain his youthful beauty and pursue a life of unrestrained pleasure without consequences.
Need	The internal realization required to overcome the Lie and find completeness.	Needs to acknowledge the moral decay caused by his actions and accept responsibility for his corruption.
End Point (Point B)	The Lie is overcome, and the character embraces the Truth.	Lie: Embraces aesthetic beauty and pleasure as the sole purposes of life, resulting in a transformation from an “innocent young man” to a “corrupt, depraved, and ultimately destroyed” individual.

A Negative Change Arc is defined by moving from a positive starting belief (Point A) to embracing a negative ending belief (Point B). By consciously mapping your character’s journey from a deeply held Truth to an empowering Lie, and by crafting a plot that forces critical choices that accelerate this awakening, you can create a dramatic, tragic, and incredibly unsettling negative change character arc, just like Wilde did with Dorian Gray. Happy writing!