This article is part of a series about character development.
Creating an unforgettable character can be a challenge for any author. The process starts with the character arc. Determining whether the character will grow, spiral, or remain flat throughout the story is crucial to developing the character’s personality and making them memorable. Let’s review the top 5 types of character arcs and see how they play out in well-known stories.
Book titles in the examples will take you to the Project Gutenberg website.
1. The “Growth” Arc (Positive Change)
This is probably the one you’re most familiar with. A character starts off with a major flaw or a skewed perspective, and by the end, they’ve grown into a better, stronger version of themselves. They conquer their inner demons and often achieve something big externally because of it.
Example: Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol
Remember Scrooge at the start of Charles Dickens’ classic? Greedy and cold-hearted, for sure, but also isolated and utterly blind to the joy and warmth around him. His initial disdain for Christmas and his cruel treatment of Bob Cratchit, thanks to a lifetime of bitterness, is his starting point. But as he interacts with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, and he learns the truth about his own character and the impact of his actions, Scrooge has to face his own miserliness and lack of empathy. By the final bow, he’s way more generous and compassionate, ready for that happily ever after of goodwill and community.
2. The “Downward Spiral” Arc (Negative Change)
On the flip side, sometimes a character goes from good to bad, or even worse. This “downward spiral” happens when they make bad choices, get sucked into bad habits, or let ambition consume them, leading to a major downfall or moral decay.
Example: Dorian Gray in The Picture of Dorian Gray
Dorian Gray starts as a beautiful and innocent young man. However, after making a Faustian bargain for eternal youth and beauty, his portrait begins to bear the brunt of his moral decay. He descends into a life of hedonism and vice, his actions becoming increasingly cruel and selfish. He corrupts others, commits murder, and utterly disregards any sense of responsibility. By the end, he is a monstrous shell of his former self, both morally and spiritually, reflecting a complete negative arc.
3. The “Unshakable” Arc (Flat Arc)
This one’s different. The main character doesn’t actually change much internally. Instead, they’re the ones causing change in the world or in the people around them. Characters with a flat arc usually have a super strong moral compass or an unwavering belief from the get-go, and their story is about proving that steadfastness to everyone else.
Example: Sherlock Holmes in A Study in Scarlet
Sherlock Holmes is the poster child for a flat arc. From page one of Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, he’s the embodiment of brilliant deduction, keen observation, and unwavering logic. He doesn’t budge on his beliefs. Instead, his unwavering commitment to solving crimes, even amidst baffling clues, shines a spotlight on the intricacies of human nature and profoundly shapes his companion, Dr. Watson, and the many individuals involved in his cases. He’s the intellectual anchor, and it’s everyone else who experiences a character arc around him.
4. The “Heartbreaking” Arc (Tragic Arc)
The tragic arc often has some overlap with the negative change arc, but it usually focuses on a character’s downfall because of a specific fatal flaw or an inescapable destiny. They might reach for something noble, but their own pride, ambition, or a predetermined fate ultimately undoes them.
Example: Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby
Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel is the epitome of a tragic arc. He builds this massive fortune and dazzling persona, all driven by his singular, obsessive dream of winning back Daisy Buchanan. His fatal flaw? He just can’t let go of the past and clings to an idealistic, almost delusional, fantasy. Despite all his charm and grand gestures, his pursuit tragically leads to his isolation and violent end, showing the devastating consequences of chasing a lost dream without facing reality.
5. The “Second Chance” Arc (Redemption Arc)
The redemption arc is all about a character who’s messed up, made bad choices, or lived a morally questionable life, but then seeks to make amends. This usually involves big sacrifices, deep self-reflection, and a genuine effort to fix things, often leading to forgiveness (either from others or within themselves) or a sense of peace.
Example: Jean Valjean in Les Misérables
Victor Hugo’s Jean Valjean is the ultimate redemption story. He starts as a bitter ex-convict, hardened by years of unjust imprisonment. But then the Bishop of Digne shows him unexpected kindness, which forces him to confront his past and the impact of his choices. After this intense experience, Valjean transforms completely, becoming an honest, compassionate, and self-sacrificing person who dedicates his life to helping others – a truly redeemed man.
So, the answer to the question of which arc is best depends on the story. Whether a character grows and learns, takes a nosedive, stays strong, faces tragedy, or earns a second chance, understanding these arcs allows the character to develop into someone readers will love (or hate) and always remember.