Exploring Character as Power in Writing

 

I'd like to welcome Mary Beth Gibson to the blog today. Once a month, I plan to introduce you to other authors. Hopefully, you'll discover some new favorite reads. Mary Beth writes The Duncullen Saga, a historical trilogy. Make sure you add a comment at the end of this post for a chance to win a signed book from the author.

Here's what Mary Beth has to say about the power of character development:

I don’t think Booker T. Washington was referring to novels when he made the statement, "Character is power," but it’s appropriate for those of us who weave tales of fiction. In a great story, I believe compelling characters trump genre. Case in point, I don't typically read fantasy, yet George R.R. Martin’s intriguing cast in Game of Thrones turned me into a rabid GoT addict.

So, as an author, how do I get my readers to become enchanted with the players in my historical trilogy, The Duncullen Saga? Can I make them captivating enough to engage a reader’s emotions and sensibilities through three books?

Barbara’s post, 4 Essential Aspects of Interesting Characters, is a great guide. She proposes writers must give their characters:

• a driving need, desire, or goal
• a secret
• contradictions
• vulnerabilities

Like many historical novels, my books have lots of characters, but only one appears in all three—Nan Scully Dillon. How does she meet these four requirements?

In Book One, Aroon, Nan's parents, in the early 1750s, navigate rural Ireland where a Protestant gentry has squashed its Catholic counterpart. Young heir, Richard Lynche, does not fit his father’s ideal of a son and is denied an academic life. In his intense loneliness, he falls into the loving arms of the new maid, Eveleen. Such a relationship was illegal and, not surprisingly, things do not go well.

Within the turmoil, Nan is born out of wedlock. Her mother becomes disowned and unemployed with little help or support. To make matters worse, the child has colic. Here’s an excerpt:


[Neighbor Mrs. Farrell] looked to Eveleen. “Me husband is riled. He barely slept a wink. Ye’ve got to keep her quiet.”

Eveleen rose from her pallet. Tears fell once again. “I did all I could, Mrs. Farrell. I got no peace meself.” And thanks to her and her blasted husband, she was getting none still.

Her neighbor frowned and placed her hands on her hips. “I’m not here to listen to yer sass. There’s folks who don’t have the Big House handing them lodging and eats without working themselves into an early grave. We toil for a living and no one around here’s likely to put up with a crying infant keeping them up nights. Ye’d best muzzle the little bastard!”

With that, Nan awoke and began to cry.

“God save us!” the woman spat and stomped out the door.

The Four Essentials:

• Nan dares to cry out, unaware she’s a bastard without such standing (Need)
• Her father’s identity is unknown (Secret)
• She is not entitled to full person-hood (Contradiction)
• She is wanted by neither family nor neighbors (Vulnerability)

In Book Two, Harps Upon the Willows, the story picks up fifteen years later when the peasants form a secret agrarian organization, called the Levellers, who rise up against homelessness and starvation. Nan is a rebellious teenager, still suffering snubs on all sides. She is determined to work behind the scenes for the Levellers' cause.

From Book Two: 

[Local priest, Father Alistair said,] “Those with fervor such as yours must move carefully, Nan. Your intensity will become your downfall.”

She leapt up and faced him. “Isn’t it worth it, though? Levellers risk suffering the gallows for what is right…These fellows could sit in front of their hearths and get old smoking their pipes, but they don’t.” She stopped as though gathering her thoughts, then sat back down. “Some things are worth dying for, aren’t they?”

Alistair took a deep breath. “…What you believe you can change traipsing around in the night is not worth it. The Levellers are dangerous because they dare so much. They cannot afford to be identified. Stay safe. Stay home. Your mother needs you.”

Of course, Nan doesn’t listen. But what of her character essentials? 

• She has a compulsion to fight oppression by seeking revenge against the gentry in the dark of night. (Need & Secret)
• Neighbors still shun her as a bastard, yet she is determined to make a difference. (Contradiction)
• Her desire for vengeance, coupled with her volatile temper, are a recipe for disaster. (Vulnerability)

In Book Three, Patience Can Cook a Stone, Nan and her husband have moved to 1780 South Carolina.

With their four children, they work as free servants on a backcountry plantation during the American Revolution. Her temper and determination to be treated as a full human being follow her.

In this scene, the mistress attacks Nan's nine-year-old daughter, Baby, with a fork. When her eleven-year-old, Mary Edith, pushes the woman down, the lady has a stroke. Nan is with the slave healer, Mama Juba, who puts healing salve and senna leaves over Baby’s wounds. 

Baby spoke in a small voice. “Is Mary Edith gonna get flogged, Ma? She was trying to save me.”
Fury bubbled inside Nan. “Let ’em try to whip my child. I’ll snatch that cat o’ nine tails and turn it on any clod who risks it.”

Mama Juba glared at Nan. “Another foolish white woman lettin’ her blood get too high.” She pointed to a pot cooling beside the fire. “You best drink some of this sassafras tea. You be needin’ a good spring tonic to clean that blood of yours. You gonna get yoself kilt.”

And the four essentials?

• As a full-grown woman, Nan is determined to keep her family safe while maintaining her personhood. (Need)
• She tries to keep her shameful beginnings from her children, but this becomes the least of her worries. (Secret)
• As a servant refusing to be servile, she finds out how little personal power she has over her ability to survive. (Contradiction & Vulnerability)

Nan’s power as a character comes from her driving desires, secrets, contradictions, and vulnerabilities.

Like real life people you know, readers find Nan frustrating, yet heroic. She certainly keeps them on the edge of their seats.

Which characters have struck you the same way? Let Mary Beth know your thoughts on character power in the comments. From the comments we receive, I will draw a name for one lucky person to win a signed copy of one of Mary's books (deadline to enter Sept. 20, 2020).* As an added bonus, if you sign up for Barbara's newsletter, you will get a second entry in the drawing and a free e-gift from Barbara. 

*Prize can only be shipped within the continental US.