In this module we looked at the composition of characters within multiple stories and what makes a good character and the many choices that may contribute to their arcs. The exercise below reflects a profile made from a photo taken of a person, creating a backstory and giving a reason for her actions.
Character Profile.
Name:
Ms. Kathryn Arlert
Age:
27 years old
Address:
Homeless, living on the streets of Bergen, Norway
Likes & Dislikes:
Likes Nordic myths and tales told to her by her late grandfather
Dislikes thieving but has to do it to survive, dislikes communication has horse as a use of escapism and has a bond with the animal
Best thing to happen to them:
Stealing her horse as she has a close bond with it and it is how she copes with her life
Worst thing to happen to them:
Father killed her Mother and her Father left her when she was 8 years old after blinding her as a child by smashing her with a glass bottle, she has been homeless ever since
Relationships:
Horse, Father, Sister
Work or whatever occupies their time:
Thieving and Riding her horse
What period in history this is:
1982
What’s their most treasured possession:
Her Horse, Mothers Hairbrush
Character Summary:
Katherine Arlert has lived a seldom and isolated life for 19 years living in an abandoned nordic stable. Here she organises her stolen items of hers and goes to her local markets to sell them in exchange for food for both her and her horse. through selling her stolen goods, Katherine makes a small amount, enough to only buy basic food rations and has little to no personal belongings. Her horse and her mother's hairbrush are her only posessions which she protects dearly. Arlert is almost completely blind and so cannot navigate by herself entirely, because of this she relies on her horse Nadine to help her travel across the hills, fields and local villages she has to commute to each and every day.
Character Meetings.
Name:
Natasha
Age:
42 years old
Address:
Rio, Brazil
Likes & Dislikes:
Likes living a luxurious life in Rio
Dislikes having to live with her dad
Best thing to happen to them:
She won a large amount of money and bought a mansion in Rio
Best thing to happen to them:
She has moved away from her family and struggles to see them
Relationships:
Lives with her Dad and has a boyfriend who she does not see very much
Work or whatever occupies their time:
Works in a water treatment plant
What period in history this is:
1995
What’s their most treasured possession:
The engagement ring from her Boyfriend, she hopes they will eventually get married
Scene where the two characters meet:
Natasha wakes up one morning to find that the Brazilian police are raiding their house and that her dad is being arrested. Her dad is separated from Natasha as she is taken to the local police station for interrogation. Natasha moved to Rio in 1979 by herself, and her father later joined her 3 years later. Natasha's father told her when he joined her, that her mother had recently died in a car crash and was cremated shortly after. Natasha was also led to believe that her sister, Katherine, was still living in Norway, but was safe and had a full time job. However, whilst being interrogated, Natasha discovered that her mother was killed by her father, with her father coming to live with her only as a source of escaping the Norwegian authorities and lying to her to make sure he would not be turned over to the police by his other daughter. She was also told from the police that they had recently made contact with her sister, Katherine, in Norway to try and locate her father. It was here that she discovered she was homeless and she was left shocked. Whilst she couldn't do anything to bring back her mother, she knew she could try to help her sister.
Natasha and Katherine had lost all contact since she moved away due to Katherine stealing from her. Following the news from the police, Natasha immediately travelled back to Norway to try and find Katherine. After the help of the Norwegian police, Natasha managed to find the stables where Katherine 'lived' and begged to talk to her. Katherine let Natasha talk to her and they discussed what happened to their dad.
Natasha discovered that Katherine knew about her mothers murder, but was too scared to tell anyone including the authorities in case her father came back to harm her.
The turning point for the characters:
Natasha questions Katherine as to why she has only recently reached out to the police about her father's crimes, and Katherine tells her of her fears. Katherine explains her living situations to Natasha and that she steals from locals regularly to survive. After talking, the sisters agree with each other that she needs to seek help and that stealing is not sustainable. Instead of joining her sister Natasha back in Rio, Katherine is determined to start afresh and make a better life in Bergen.