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

Realization

Disciplines > Storytelling > Story Devices > Realization

Description | Example | Discussion | See also

Description

There is a point in the many stories when the hero has an 'aha' moment as they get what it is all about. Minor characters can also have 'aha's as well.

Sometimes the realization is created by 'the last straw' of information, as mounting evidence finally breaks through current assumptions.

Sometimes also the realization occurs only when the person is confronted by unavoidable evidence.

This can be a fold point in the story as the purpose or direction of the hero and the quest changes to a new course.

Example

Sherlock Holmes only needs a small amount of evidence to realize a new truth and make astounding inferences.

Lieutenant Columbo probably realizes what is happening long before we do. He then slowly makes us realize as he asks his curious questions.

Luke Skywalker realizes in turn that Leia is his sister and Darth Vader is his father. Some luck, eh?

Discussion

When we get onto one track of thinking it can be like a railroad, guiding us in one direction as we ignore all alternatives.

Sometimes we are persuaded to change our minds by mounting evidence. Each piece of evidence may be small, like a straw, but as the saying goes, it's the last straw that breaks the camel's back. And likewise a point comes where a small piece of evidence changes the hero's mind.

As observers of this, we may have realized long before and are silently screaming at them to change. The brilliance of the character may also be highlighted as they get it before we do.

See also

Discovery