Are you familiar with the concept of character identification? Readers say they identify with a character. Agents send rejections based on the fact they couldn’t identify with the protagonist. There seems to be some magic ingredient that makes or breaks a character, but the reason for the attachment often varies. Some will say the character is relatable. Others think it’s likability. Many just state the character has to be interesting. What does that even mean? Today, let’s look at what this magic ingredient stems from and how you can apply it to your own writing.
Character Identification
Let’s start by defining what identify means. Some definitions include: “to be or become the same” or “to feel a sense of unity and close emotional association” or “a mental mechanism by which an individual endeavors to pattern himself after another.” Essentially, to identify with someone is to think of oneself and the other person as one and the same. It’s when readers feel like they are the character.
Readers can get this feeling for one of two reasons. First, they feel so similar to the character that it already feels like they are the same person. Second, readers can wish to be like the character and project themselves onto him. Why does this happen? Simple. Envy. Readers want to be like the character and wish to see themselves in his place. They wish they had that kind of relationship, that courage, that job, that superpower, etc. Readers want what the character possesses, and by identifying with the character and thinking of themselves as one, readers are able to satisfy their own hunger.
What Inspires Character Identification?
So what do readers hunger for? The things they think they can’t or shouldn’t have. Generally, this falls into one of three categories: dangerous, unattainable, or forbidden.
Is it dangerous? We often like the idea of living on the edge, but most people are smart enough to avoid danger. Books provide a safe way to experience the thrill without the threat. Rock climbing, battling a dragon, facing a serial killer, etc. Readers can face the danger and feel the courage to overcome it.
Is it unattainable? Some things people just assume will never happen to them. They won’t fly to space, be raised in a military family, find their one true one, have a superpower, etc. Stories allow people to experience things through characters they normally can’t do in real life. Goals that only live in their dreams will come true.
Is it forbidden? As much as we all want to be good people, we all have some dark desires. Win the gladiator games, carry out a heist, have an affair, etc. These desires are connected to the wish fulfillment theory developed by Sigmund Freud. In his research, Freud argues that dreams are the unconscious fulfillment of our repressed desires. People are taught from birth that certain things are wrong or bad so we fight against them. Wish fulfillment is when people play out the repressed desire in dreams or daydreams to get a sense of satisfaction. What is a book but a daydream? Novels let us explore those temptations vicariously through characters while remaining clean of the misdeeds ourselves.
But simply making the character have something the readers want won’t automatically make them identify with him. Readers don’t just hunger to be in danger, to achieve the impossible, or taste the forbidden. They want to be faced with those things and conquer. They want the courage to meet challenges and take their fate into their own hands. Basically, readers desire to be the hero and get the glory. Hence, characters should be active in pursuing their goals and display the courage to succeed. Mix the right desires with bravery, and readers will start to identify with the character.
How To Create Character Identification
Now, I know you’re asking, “Liz, what are the right desires?” That’s the hard part. The list of dangerous, unattainable, and forbidden things seems endless. Which ones will speak the most to readers? Well, it’s subjective. What seems desirable to one person will repulse another. You can’t please everyone. This is where knowing your audience comes into play. Who is your typical reader and what does she want? I did a post a while back on defining your audience, and I suggest you read it. Think about what your ideal reader wants, then shape your character from there.
I will say, though, one component seems equally desired across the board: control. People want to know that what they do matters. It will have an impact. People crave control over their own fates. They want to know that, if they put in enough effort, things will work out. Create a character that rises above conflict, pushes through challenges, and gains the power to control the outcome. If you do, readers will want to be that character, no matter how similar or different he is to themselves.
A Warning
If writers identify with their own character, it can be a good sign that someone else will also feel the same. However, writing a good arc can get tricky if we identify with our own characters. If we want to be our characters, then we often don’t want them to experience bad things. It can be hard to give them flaws or let them make major mistakes.
Also, by identifying with the characters, we automatically like them and don’t need them to prove themselves. So when writing the character, sometimes we let him achieve goals and receive glory without making him earn it. This all adds up to a disaster for the character arc. In order to show growth, the character must meet obstacles, make mistakes, and eventually overcome the opposition. Readers will get annoyed if they think he gets everything handed to him. In order to avoid these mistakes, try to keep an objective perspective of your character and make sure things aren’t too easy or good for him.
Final Thoughts
Writing a character who readers identify with is hard. Some authors choose to write blank characters (a character without many distinctions so readers can project their own personalities on him). One example of this is Harry Potter. If you choose this route though, you have to be careful not to make the character so generic that he feels flat. Personally, I think it’s best to still make your character feel detailed and unique. As I said earlier, readers can identify with a character who is not like them just by giving him the right amount of drive and courage. So, have fun creating memorable characters, then just make sure to put them in the right circumstances to let them overcome and gain its rewards.
Thanks for reading!
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