How to Write a Radio Serial Drama for Social Development- PDF

Chapter Five: Character Development 69
should be realistic rather than perfect, with some personality trait that
makes listeners feel they might know him or her in real life.
2. The older couple. These are solid, reliable citizens who are respected
and admired in their community. They have a traditional outlook but are
willing to consider new ideas. Their approval of a new idea encourages
many members of the community to change their attitudes.
3. The young couple facing life together. These two young people work
together and support one another as they face life’s challenges and try to
make a good start to their married lives.
4. The counselor, advisor, advocate, or sage. This may be a leader, who
guides the community towards the new behavior, or an advisor, to whom
other characters turn for support when things go wrong. A religious
leader, doctor, teacher, spouse, or a respected community elder frequently
fills this role. It may also be played by a person who has no great
authority in the community but whose integrity commands respect.
5. The central uniting character. A central uniting character who
constantly supports the message can be helpful in Enter-Educate drama.
If such a character is to be truly effective in influencing the listening
audience to accept and practice new behaviors, however, she or he must
be portrayed as a real person with weaknesses as well as strengths.
Listeners will find a stereotyped model of virtue both dull and
unrealistic.
6. The seeker. This character is looking for a new and better way of life.
Frequently the seeker comes under the influence of one of the villains
and may appear, for a time, to lose his or her good intentions. Eventually,
however, strong personality traits save the seeker, who triumphs in the
end. The seeker may be given comic characteristics and may be used to
express doubts and misunderstandings that listeners are reluctant to
express.
7. The comic. Often not really a hero or heroine, this character has
personality traits, such as clumsiness, forgetfulness, or brainlessness, that
listeners find endearing even when they lead to foolish and amusing
behavior. The truly entertaining comic displays, in an exaggerated
fashion, a weakness that all human beings possess but would rather not
acknowledge. The comic need not be a separate character in the drama.
Instead, comic characteristics can be incorporated into the personality of
another character, such as the seeker or the doubter. In some dramas, the
comic, although regarded as foolish, demonstrates the fundamental
truths of life better than other people. It may be the comic who
eventually leads the other characters to appreciate the need for change in
their behavior. (This can be seen in the character of Percy in the drama,
The Other Side in Chapter 13.)
5
Villains and Antagonists
These are the people who oppose, conflict with, or make life difficult for the
heroes and heroines. They are not always wicked by nature, but their