The Power Of Character Development: Analyzing How The Strategic Use Of Character Development Keeps Readers Engaged And Eager To Turn Pages

For me, books, especially novels, are a form of escape from the harsh realities of the world. They help paint vivid images, transporting readers to a different world. A world devoid of pain and sorrow, where trials and tribulations don't exist. Over the years, the literary world has experienced significant growth, thanks to writers who have graced us, the readers, with their amazing works.

Just like cooking and driving, writing can be learnt. It is a gradual process that requires consistency, hard work, resilience, and dedication. A lot of people believe that writing is a talent, and the good writers we see today are born with that talent. Actually, I am not from a different school of thought, but I still think the famous writers we know today, whether they were born with that talent or had to work their way through, spent a lot of time and effort building their writing skills.

Anyone can be a novelist, but it takes a lot to consistently publish good novels. Even famous writers today sometimes, their works fall below par. One of the reasons that makes me stay glued to a novel is when the author uses vital literary devices. Have you ever read a book and dropped it halfway (or even after reading a few pages) because you found it boring, or it failed to reach your expectations? Yes, I have too.

I am a big lover of books. This is evident in the number of books that I have read. I've explored different genres of literature, especially prose. With my experiences, I have come to realize that we get tired of reading some books simply because the author fails to use the necessary literary devices. Literary devices are important elements that contribute to the overall beauty of a work. They help add flavor, ingredients, and nutrients (whatever you want to call it) to the overall beauty of a literary work. They are like fuel that keeps a car going. Just like how a car needs fuel to keep moving, a story needs literary devices to keep readers engaged and captivated.

There are millions of literary devices that writers use to make their work interesting. When it comes to literary devices, elements such as flashbacks, dialogue, suspense, and so on are often talked about. However, one of the most important literary devices that is least focused on/talked about is character development. Throughout my secondary school, although my literary teacher mentioned something about it, he didn't pay full attention to it. I didn't fully understand the "concept" of character development until I graduated from high school and read resources on it.

Just like how artists mold clay step by step to create a masterpiece, writers use character development to shape their characters into complex and relatable beings. Character development helps push the plot forward. It adds depth and realism to the story, making the readers feel connected to the characters as the plot progresses. Character development is not such a complex term. How about an example?

Last week, I read Memory of Departure by Abdulrazak Gurnah, a Nobel Prize winner. Let's take the example of Hassan from Memory of Departure by Abdulrazak Gurnah, an African special author. In the beginning, Hasan, the main character, is a little scared boy living with his parents. He is scared, timid, unsure of himself, and would always watch from afar as his abusive father battered his mother and his older brother, SAID. However, as the plot progresses, we see Hassan grow and develop into a brave and determined young teenager.

The once young and scared Hassan who did nothing when his father displayed his abusive behavior, grew up to be a brave teenager who could confront his father. From hiding and peeping from afar, Hassan went to "I am not scared of him." Throughout the narrative, he faces challenges, learns valuable lessons, and becomes a strong character. Through his experiences, we witness his character development as he becomes strong and brave.

Character development is not only limited to novels, but it's also a crucial aspect of movies. I'm a big fan of cartoons, so let's take "Frozen" as an example. In the movie, we see the character of Elsa, the protagonist, undergo a development in her character. She experiences a traumatic event that makes her start as a fearful and isolated individual, but through her journey, she learns to embrace her powers and find strength within herself. With this, it is evident that character development goes beyond the confines of books.

Summarily, character development adds depth to the beauty of literary works.

Thanks for reading.