Plot-Driven Novels vs Character-Driven Themes
Tom Clancy and Dan Brown – J. D. Salinger and Henry James
Jul 25, 2009
Whether a novel is considered plot-driven or character-driven depends greatly on the main focus of the book. In a plot-driven novel, the actual events take priority. In the character-driven novel, the character's thoughts, decisions, and coming to some greater understanding play a more important role than the action.
The Plot-Driven Novel
A plot-driven novel focuses on the immediate action. Genre novels are very likely to be plot-driven. Plot-driven novels are often described as page-turners. These novels may be thrillers or adventures that center around a main event such as a battle or a natural disaster. There may be emphasis on science, technique, or evolving technology. The focus of such a plot-driven novel is getting out of danger.
Characters in a plot-driven novel usually don’t have much time for reflection. In extreme cases, the characters may be little more than pawns for the action or play very stereotyped roles such as “the cop”, “the soldier”, with no deep-rooted emotions or explanations about their personal situation.
For example, in Tom Clancy’s plot-driven novels, characters seldom spend time reflecting upon their childhood, or wondering if Suzie really cares as much for him as she pretends. They are too busy jumping out of airplanes, chasing bad guys, and getting themselves and others out of immediate danger. A Clancy character would never ask another, “so how do you really feel about all this?” They are too busy saving the world to explore their emotions. Likewise, in Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park, there is little time for reflection when a dinosaur sets its eyes on one of the characters as its next meal.
Emphasis on the action doesn’t mean a plot-driven novel can’t have characters the reader cares about, or that the characters never have a deep thought or from time to time engage in minor reflection. It is just that the main focus is definitely on the action first, characters and emotions second.
The Character-Driven Novel
Many character-driven novels follow a certain person as they go through significant changes in their lives. Many literary works and memoirs fall into this category. These types of books are often chosen as Oprah selections, or for book club group discussions. Most coming-of-age novels such as Catcher in the Rye are character-driven novels. This does not necessarily mean the book has no action, it only means that the character comes before the action. Most of the character’s decisions will be a result of deep reflection rather than snap decision.
The character-driven novel is where the reader will find complicated, quirky, and often unforgettable characters such as Huck Finn or Sherlock Holmes.
Telling the Difference Between a Plot or Character-Driven Novel
If a novel is plot-driven, the reader will probably remember the main event and be hazy about the characters. (can anyone name one character from Jurassic Park?) If it is character-driven the characters will remain in the mind long after the last page is read, but the reader may not recall exactly what the book was about. (does anyone really remember what Catcher in the Rye was about?)
In a character-driven mystery, the plot develops from the emotions of the characters involved. The murder and catching the criminal will take precedence over the deep-rooted motive. Motives of a character-driven mystery usually center around dark emotions such as hate, revenge, guilty, jealousy or fear rather than the desire for a bag of diamonds or a suitcase full of money.
There is no reason a book has to be strictly plot or character-driven. Some books, perhaps the best books, are a well-balanced blend of both.
Examples of Plot-Driven Novels
- The Hunt for Red October Tom Clancy
- The Da Vinci Code Dan Brown
- Jurassic Park Michael Crichton
Examples of Character-Driven Novels
- Catcher in the Rye J. D. Salinger
- Memoirs of a Geisha Arthur Golden
- Portrait of a Lady Henry James
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The Three Types of Novel Endings
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