How we change what others think, feel, believe and do

Self-sacrificing for an ideal

Disciplines > Storytelling > Plots > Polti's Situations > Self-sacrificing for an ideal

Description | Discussion | See also

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Description

Elements

The Hero
The Ideal
The Creditor or the Person or Thing Sacrificed

Summary

The Hero gives up something for the sake of an Ideal.

Variants

Sacrifice of life for the sake of one's word
Life sacrificed for the benefit of one's own people
Life sacrificed in filial piety
Life sacrificed for the sake of one's faith

Both love and life sacrificed for one's faith
Both love and life sacrificed to a cause
Love sacrificed to interests of state

Sacrifice of well-being to duty

The ideal of "honor" sacrificed to the ideal of "faith"

Discussion

Putting oneself in harm's way for the sake of ideals is, for some, quite stupid, whilst for many it demonstrates admirably high personal integrity.

It may be questioned whether such self-sacrifice is done for internal reasons of faith or for the external acclaim that will be gained. Martyrdom in some societies is considered a great honor for the family (as well as promising heavenly delights to the martyr).

Most of us, however, would think twice before sacrificing ourselves, as the instinct for self-preservation takes priority over the cognitive choice of sacrifice. This makes stories of sacrifice either moving or terrifying, depending on the action involved. Either way, the emotional stimulation makes it an effective story element.

Sacrifice need not involve giving of one's life. All it really means is giving up something that you would rather not give up. Often it involves a dilemma, where one desired thing is given up in favor of something even more desired.

'Self-sacrificing for an ideal' is the 20th of Georges Polti's 36 Dramatic Situations.