I Studied the Most Iconic Fictional Relationships - Here’s What They Have in Common

[@stevensandersauthor]

I always considered Daisy an undeveloped character. But you hit the nail on the head. She’s shallow, fickle, and materialistic. That’s who she is. A fully developed character isn’t the same as a fully developed person.

[@jakewestin4176]

Alyssa, the best part about your channel and material is that its absolutely clear you have thought this out and have spent years on this. Ive had a first draft shelved for a while (24k done, ~80k target), and someday I will return to it

[@englishandcompositionlearn6745]

I would argue that Gatsby does NOT reach that realization. To the very end, he is still hanging onto his naive but optimistic pipe dream that Daisy will choose him over Tom. The realizations we get about these characters come largely through the lens of Nick Carroway who is, of course, observing and commenting on the events. I suppose it could be argued that there is a part of Jay Gatsby that is painfully coming to that realization (the 2013 movie seems to hint of this) but we still see him stubbornly clinging to that hope right up to the moment he is gunned down in his pool.

[@JayeCole]

This echos my thoughts exactly when I was listening. Nick is the protagonist and the one who has a more dynamic character arc. Maybe Gatsby had a hint of introspection in his final moments (arguably) but he is unable to realise any of it due to his death.

[@JadeJuniiper]

Yes! Also felt this way! I thought Daisy and Gatsby specifically was a case where this doesn’t apply because part of the grip the story has on people is that things abruptly were NOT given the chance to actualize!

[@5Gburn]

Reminds me of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, immediately after being dumped by Rhett Butler. She begins scheming to one day get him back, but delays the worrisome thought. "After all, tomorrow is another day."

[@jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

I read a book (The Pursued and the Pursuing by A J Odasso) that imagined Jay Gatsby survived and enjoyed a queer relationship with Nick, it wasn't good.

[@markf9138]

Super helpful. I don't think I've seen this angle on relationships by other creators before. Been looking into enneagrams lately too and Alyssa's checklist really helps bringing character concepts together in a more meaningful way.

[@WhirledPublishing]

My writing evolved into screenwriting, then musicals, then one novel and now I'm writing my seventh opera ... over 1,000 songs and arias ... My music training began when I was young ... My opera training has been going on for over 40 years ... This is what happens to an unsuspecting farm girl.

[@elizabethstump4077]

This video has inspired me to add in an essential dialogue scene between my two main characters - mid story.

[@ElderBill]

Nick's and Sophia's relationship. Thanks for this, Alyssa. Another great lesson.

[@stephengrimes5480]

Thanks, Alyssa, this has given me a couple of good ideas for my novel, which, as I've communicated with you about previously, I hope to get your professional assessment of eventually. (I've taken longer to it complete it than I thought I would, but have gratefully received a request for my full manuscript from an agent with whom I recently worked in a workshop.) I have been doing some of what you present here and currently am reading about when it may be appropriate to briefly go deeper into developing minor characters, while being careful to avoid showing quirkiness just for the sake of quirkiness and to be sure to also refrain from going too deeply - better to reserve that time (both the author's and reader's time) for the main and major characters. Right?

[@zedkuchalo]

I love your content so much, Alyssa. Thanks for everything you teach us.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@JustClaude13]

It could even be the protagonist and the villain, a concept played with in the Lego Batman movie, where the Joker was deeply hurt when Batman said the Joker wasn't Batman's greatest enemy. Any two people in a story can have a complex relationship that develops in different ways throughout the story. And the rivalry between the two opponents has a rich possibility for complexity. Although I still like the idea that the Joker doesn't really exist. He's the Bat's alter ego, battling inside his mind.

[@AlyssaMatesic]

This is a great point - there is so much to explore with protagonist-antagonist relationships!

[@MrRosebeing]

I can't even, still makes me sad, when she's lying on the door waiting to be saved... and Jack is left to die when he could have easily laid on the door, as well. No...wait...that's Titanic, not the Great Gatsby...what they have in common is that they are relationships of one kind, or another.

[@serkanonf]

I don't think notebook is a romance novel. Mr Sparks is torturing people, he wrote like a dentist doing root canal operation without sedatives. I don't recommend it even to my enemies. No one can read that book without crying.

[@johnswoodgadgets9819]

Your characters in love must be flawed. Only flawed people know love, and everyone knows this on some level. They must be in a foxhole together, whether they like it or not, or even realize it or not. The relationship is a character in its own right. Relationships change individuals to reflect that. Show some respect for the relationship character. Some characters are doomed.

[@samdapicklelord]

at the moment i'm writing a story where the main relationship is of the former bull and the child of a terriost who start off enemys then friends and later fall in love

[@squashfan9526]

"Memrable"? Alyssa, tut tut.

[@WhirledPublishing]

It has two b's

[@squashfan9526]

@@WhirledPublishing Memrabble? Membrable? Memrableb??

[@familycorvette]

First!

[@joshuam2212]

I never seen ether movie my sister watched the notebook said it was a terrible movie i would love to see a video on non Romantic relationships

[@MrRosebeing]

They don't often make great novels for people that like romance. Perhaps you could write one that people who like romance would like.

[@larssjostrom6565]

IWhen women hold the quil I often get frustrated with male characters with no storyarc of their own except getting romantically involved with the heroine and with a conflict that is a breakup due to a misunderstanding. When men hold the quil sometimes the female love interest seems to be around only for the hero's gratification. In one case she had her own really good short story, that made her feel like a seriously underused character.