9.1 Looking at a character’s response to the resolution of a narrative

Introduction

Welcome to our last first study guide for AP Lit! Today, we’re going to go over the ways characters respond to resolution, and the impact their response makes on reader interpretation of the narrative. We’ll also look at how developments in a character affect the plot, in addition to the role of minor characters in narratives.

Let’s dive into the guide.

Note: references to "The Stranger" by Albert Camus will be made in this guide.

Characters’ Response to Resolution

In real life, you could say that someone’s reaction to the resolution of a problem says a lot about their character, right?

Let's say two of your classmates are working on a project together, but they can't agree on how to do it. They have different ideas and they're not seeing eye to eye. One way they could resolve this conflict is by finding a middle ground and combining both of their ideas. In this case, one of them might be pretty happy with how things turned out because they got to use some of their own ideas. But, on the flip side, the other classmate may feel unhappy because they feel like they had to give up too much of their own idea. They might even be mad at their partner for not being more open-minded.

The differing reactions of each classmate give you an idea of their personalities and character. The first classmate is amenable and values the incorporation of other people’s ideas, while the second classmate is stubborn and inflexible.

It's worth noting that how people react to conflict resolution can depend on their personality, past experiences, and how they're feeling at that moment. Just because the second classmate acted negatively this time doesn’t mean they always will. Maybe they just had a bad day, or felt so strongly about their idea that they were certain it was better.

This idea of differing responses to resolution applies to characters in literature similarly. When a story comes to an end and the conflict is resolved, a character can respond in various ways. They can respond in a way that aligns with their past actions and values, or they may respond in a way that doesn’t align with how they’ve previously acted. In the following two subsections, we’ll look at two ways to analyze a character’s response to resolution: speech and action.

Response in Speech

Characters can respond verbally to the resolution of a conflict in a variety of ways. Some examples include:

• Expressing relief or joy: "Thank goodness that's over" or "I can finally breathe easy now." This response can indicate that the character values peace and happiness, and that they are glad that the conflict has been resolved without further harm.
• Expressing gratitude or appreciation: "I couldn't have done it without you," "I'm so grateful for your help," "I'm glad we were able to come to a resolution." This response can indicate that the character values cooperation and teamwork, and that they recognize and appreciate the efforts of others in resolving the conflict.
• Expressing regret or remorse: "I'm sorry for what I did," "I regret my actions," "I never should have let things get this far." This response can indicate that the character values responsibility and accountability, and that they recognize their own role in the conflict and take responsibility for their actions.
• Expressing anger or frustration: "I can't believe they did that," "I'm so angry about what happened," "I can't believe this is how it ended." This response can indicate that the character values fairness and justice, and that they are upset that the resolution of the conflict did not align with their expectations or desires.
• Expressing confusion or uncertainty: "I'm not sure what just happened," "I'm not sure how I feel about this," "I need some time to process everything." This response can indicate that the character values introspection and self-awareness, and that they are taking time to process and understand their feelings and reactions to the conflict resolution.
• Expressing satisfaction or accomplishment: "I did it!," "I'm proud of what we accomplished," "I'm glad it turned out well." This response can indicate that the character values success and achievement, and that they are proud of what they have accomplished in resolving the conflict.
• Expressing defeat or disappointment: "I lost," "I'm not happy with the outcome," "I didn't expect it to end this way." This response can indicate that the character values winning and being right, and that they are disappointed that the resolution of the conflict did not align with their expectations or desires.

Response Through Action/Choices

Characters can respond to the resolution of a conflict through their actions in a variety of ways. Here are a few examples:

• A character who celebrates or rejoices in the resolution of a conflict may reveal that they value peace and happiness. They could be laughing, smiling, dancing, and generally showing signs of relief and joy.
• A character who is vindictive or retaliatory in response to the resolution of a conflict may reveal that they value revenge or justice. They could be taking actions to harm the other party, or plotting to seek revenge in the future.
• A character who is remorseful or apologetic in response to the resolution of a conflict may reveal that they value responsibility and accountability. They could be apologizing, making amends, or taking steps to repair the damage they caused.
• A character who is dismissive or indifferent in response to the resolution of a conflict may reveal that they value detachment or apathy. They could be shrugging off the conflict, acting like it never happened, or treating it as unimportant.
• A character who is gracious or thankful in response to the resolution of a conflict may reveal that they value gratitude and generosity. They could be thanking the other party, offering to help, or showing signs of appreciation.

Like with speech, these examples are not exhaustive and characters can react in a lot of different ways. Characters' actions often reveal a lot about their emotions, personality and values.

Characters Changing

Developments and changes in characters can greatly affect the reader's interpretation of the character, conflict, and plot. Some ways characters can show development are through their words, interactions with other characters, and their thoughts.

For example, if a character starts off as selfish and ruthless, but later on in the story shows acts of kindness and remorse, the reader's interpretation of the character will likely change from negative to more positive. This change can also affect the reader's understanding of the conflict, as the character's actions and motives may now be viewed in a different light. 

Another example is a character who is initially portrayed as weak and passive, but later on in the story shows strength and determination. This change can also lead to a shift in the reader's understanding of the conflict, as the character's newfound strength and determination may now play a larger role in resolving the conflict. The inconsistency between the character’s initial behavior and perspective may play an integral role in moving the story forward.

In both examples, the changes in the characters affect the reader's interpretation of the plot. As the character's actions and motivations change, the reader's understanding of the story and its themes will also change. This can add depth and complexity to the story, making it more engaging for the reader.

Additionally, it’s interesting to consider reader interpretation when a character doesn’t change, when there are no significant developments to them. If a character doesn't change throughout the story it can make them seem boring and one-dimensional. The reader may not be able to connect with them emotionally or understand their actions and motivations. It can also make the character seem unrealistic and unchangeable, making it hard for the reader to relate to them. Lastly, if a character doesn't change, it can make the story feel uneventful and less interesting to read.

“The Stranger” Example

In the book "The Stranger" by Albert Camus, the protagonist Meursault starts off as an emotionally detached and apathetic person. He doesn't seem to have any strong feelings or opinions about anything, including the death of his mother. This detachment and apathy is seen throughout the book, including when he kills an Arab man on the beach for no apparent reason.

However, as the story progresses, Meursault's character develops and changes. He starts to question his actions and feelings, and begins to realize the consequences of his actions. He starts to feel remorse for the death of the Arab man and begins to question the meaning of life and death.

This change in Meursault's character affects the reader's interpretation of him. Initially, the reader may see Meursault as a cold and unfeeling person, but as the story progresses, the reader's understanding of Meursault's character shifts to a more complex and nuanced view. The reader may now see Meursault as someone who is struggling with his own existential crisis.

Primary versus Minor Characters

When we think of characters changing in narratives, we tend to associate change with mainly the main characters.

Minor characters are often not the main focus of the story, so they don't really change or develop. They're mostly there to move the plot along or to have some sort of interaction with the main characters. They're like the supporting actors in a movie: they play an important role but they're not the star. For example, a minor character might be introduced as a sidekick or a mentor to the main character. They might give some advice or help out, but once their job is done, they disappear from the story.

Also, sometimes minor characters are used as symbols/representations of a certain group or archetype, so the author doesn't want them to change or develop in order to keep them as a representation. Think of a minor character who is a grocery store clerk or a police officer. Their development and change would most likely detract from the main plot line, so it makes sense that they remain static.

Conclusion

Characters’ response to resolution in literature can reveal a lot about their personality, values and character. Characters can respond to resolution in a variety of ways; the two we looked at in this study guide are speech and actions. Characters can express relief, joy, gratitude, regret, anger, confusion, satisfaction, defeat and disappointment through speech. Similarly, they can celebrate, rejoice, be vindictive, remorseful, dismissive, indifferent, gracious and thankful through their actions. It is important to note that a character's response to resolution can depend on their personality, past experiences and how they're feeling at that moment. Their response may not align with how they've previously acted, which adds nuance and depth to their character. Additionally, we noted that minor characters don't change much because they're not the main focus of the story, they're just there to help the story move along or to interact with the main characters. They might also be used as symbols or representations of certain groups or archetypes.

That’s all for study guide 9.1! See you in the next guide, 9.2.