On Saturday, I took my children to see The Karate Kid to escape the relentless heat we’ve been having in North Carolina.
I was 13 when the original movie came out, but this movie seemed different—and better—than my memory of the original. I think it was also a lot more intense…there were several scenes of Dre being bullied that made me wince.
The mother in the movie was an interesting character. She’d never have allowed her son to be bullied—if she’d known about it. The character clearly loved her child…but was busy with a new job, new country, new customs, etc. I thought the writers and director had a tough job—show the mother as loving and supportive, but ultimately keep her distant to allow her son to run into trouble.
It seemed to me that the screenwriter accomplished this by making the mother ineffective in a plausible way:
She’d just moved to a foreign country.
She was trying to learn the language, currency, and her new job.
She was busy enough not to be perceptive.
I’ll admit I’m on top of my kids all the time—I know where they are, who they’re with, how long they’ll be there…and they’re not allowed to go wandering around the neighborhood by themselves.
Any movie based on my children would be extremely boring.
But this mother moved to China, where her son spoke not a word of the language, and let him roam around the neighborhood at all hours. Once there was a text on his phone from his mom that he needed to come home—that was pretty much it for supervision. She also let him spend entire days with a maintenance man who was a stranger to her…someone she knew nothing about.
If she hadn’t kept this distance from her child, if she’d demanded to know why Dre had a black eye when he clearly lied and said he’d run into a pole, the plot couldn’t have moved forward. He’d never have encountered the bully that made him take up kung fu. He’d never have learned martial arts from the strange man. The whole plot could never have taken place.
This kind of character is very prevalent in YA literature—as are dead parents. :) Parents are notorious for interfering. But then I started thinking about my own books. Both of my protagonists are widows. Why? Because they’re older ladies and I didn’t want their husbands being over-protective and interfering if they wanted to track down killers. My Myrtle Clover character has an interfering son, but since he’s not in the same house, he can’t shut her down as effectively—she can bypass him.
Some interfering characters are important—the antagonist, obviously, is there to provide conflict for our characters and propel the plot forward.
But characters who hold our protagonists back? I’m thinking most of us avoid writing them unless we’re writing a story where our character breaks away from these people (Harry Potter escaping his awful aunt and uncle comes to mind.)
How about you? Do you have a character that holds your character back? How do you handle it?
Elizabeth – I love that about Myrtle – that she doesn’t let her son’s well-meaning interference stop her from investigating. But the truth is, characters who really love our protags do want them to stay safe. They don’t want them in trouble. My protag’s wife isn’t what you would call interfering. She does play “devil’s advocate,” but stop him? No, I don’t think she does..
I’m not up to this part in my writing process, but this is food for thought, Elizabeth. Thanks, as always.
Karen
In my WIP, I somehow ended up with both protagonists being single parents. Note: if there is a REMOTE possibility that a character will show up as a lead in another book, be VERY careful what back story you give them! I’d never have written two kids into a story, but I’m finding that they’re very useful at keeping my characters from discovering too much about each other too soon.
At the beginning of my book, a situation has held the main character back for most of his life – but he is finally breaking free. Later on, another character attempts to hold him back as, which creates a lot of friction and tension.
I don’t have a character that holds my protagonist back, but there is plenty internal conflct. His main man loses his number two position, then the number three position, then (in the next book) he’s kind of like the person who wants to help but gets underfoot and in the way.
Feeling neglected, he ends up doing something really stupid and selfish that jeapordizes Chase and the group.
Stephen Tremp
Absent or pre-occupied parents do seem to be a constant in most YA books, I guess so the protagonist can discover things for themselves instead of being told by their parents.
I don’t have anyone holding my protagonist back on purpose, but I do have people, who because of their own agendas, don’t want him moving forward.
You’ve given me something to think about, Elizabeth. Thanks.
I don’t think I’ve given ineffective characters enough credit. When they’re done well, they can be so important to the story.
Excellent point… I’ve seen this in all Disney plots, too. Absent parents, or evil step parents (even Harry Potter!)
In my current WIP, both parents are still very much present in MC’s life, as is a grandfather. I deliberately gave him a loving and supportive family because he stands on the verge of adulthood… the need to protect them wars with the need to be protected by them throughout my story.
Great post.
People often interfere with the best of intentions – they micromanage out of fear. I think I put those types in my novels especially the ones that aren’t mysteries because quite frankly that’s who we get the most of in our real lives. In the wip I’m revising now, the protagonist’s sisters interfere – they think they know what is best for their younger sister. I need them to because that is part of the conflict for her.
It’s sort of funny what rotten things we have to do as authors to get those protective characters out of the way, isn’t it? I think the freshest take I’ve seen on this recently is in The Hunger Games, where the father dies in a mining accident and then the mother has a breakdown, forcing Katniss to the illegal hunting that gives her the skills she needs (and also the defiant impertinence) to really be a contender in the games.
So critical for the MC to have a plausible reason to be diving into this alone (or as the leader, at least)
What’s great is that by omitting a character, you can create all sorts of plotlines. (Ex: sadness at the loss of a spouse.)
It’s great for enriching the plot.
You could even have a character go missing at the start of a tale and be rid of them that way – plus add some mystery to the background. :-)
– Corra
The Victorian Heroine
They don’t want them in trouble.
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Since I am not a book writer, I can’t comment personally, but Aunt March in “Little Women” comes to mind, as does Rachel Lynde in “Anne of Green Gables.” Love your blog, as you know. molly
Margot–I think you’ve got a good solution…a character who really a good sounding board and offers some constructive arguments.
Alex–I like that–great way to add conflict to your story with all the friction.
Stephen–Sounds like he might be his own worst enemy! :)
Karen–Thanks for coming by!
Jenny–It’s something I haven’t thought about much, either. But it really struck me during this movie when I was feeling critical of the mom.
Patty–And even in fairy tales–Hansel and Gretel comes to mind. And I don’t know what Goldilock’s mom was thinking! And you’re right..parents can also be supportive characters–particularly with older children.
Jan–Ah..I like it! Interfering sisters. But then I’m guessing that the protagonist is going to find a way to overcome the conflict they’re throwing at her.
Terry–That’s true…sometimes we NEED some interference to keep things from progressing too quickly.
Hart–That book is on my reading list–sounds like a winner. My son loved it. Looks like Collins did a good job motivating the protagonist and eliminating any interference.
Corra–Good point! So then we have the mourning protagonist who gets into trouble.
I like that…kidnap our interfering characters! :)
Nishant–No, they sure don’t. But that’s counterproductive if we need our protagonist to get in hot water. :)
Elspeth–That’s a good idea.. having a protagonist stymied by characters who have different goals. Or who withhold information he needs? Then we could have the protagonist overcome these obstacles, I guess…otherwise they can’t really get anywhere.
Molly–Thanks for coming by! And you’ve given some great examples. I loved Aunt March, in particular–she ended up both *trying* to mess Jo up by putting a damper on her plans (but Jo successfully gets fired and has Amy take her place), and helping her out (by willing her the house.)
Since I am not a book writer, I can’t comment personally, but Aunt March in “Little Women” comes to mind, as does Rachel Lynde in “Anne of Green Gables.” Love your blog, as you know. molly
When your kids become teens, you will be (un)happy to find that you don’t always know where they are. I can be exciting sometimes >:)
Cold As Heaven
Cold as Heaven–What? Didn’t hear what you said. (says Elizabeth, plugging her ears with her fingers.) :) Luckily, the one teen I *do* have is only 13. I’m sure once driving is added to the equation then life is gonna get complicated.
There are plenty of places to hide even within walking distance from home (we live close to town center). I think the kids are not worse than we used to be.
But I have one rule that I have found to be very preventive; I always stay up till my 16 yo boy comes home (sometimes together with a bunch of friends). Even if it is 3 am (in the weekends), he knows that he will have to face me when he comes in >:)
Cold As Heaven
Wow, that’s a good question. We seldom look at these characters until we think what we would be like in their situation. I would have to take a serious look in my books for these characters but I know they are there… and it’s not always the mother but it can be other close family members. Interesting, interesting, interesting.
CD
Would you ever let Myrtle fall in love? Perhaps after a few books with the guy, get married? That would change the dynamics, but I could see it.
Cold As Heaven–Since I’m an insomniac, waiting up won’t be too hard. :) Yeah, I wouldn’t be able to sleep knowing the kids were out, anyway.
Clarissa–There are definitely a variety of characters that fit that bill. I like seeing how authors work around them.
Helen–I think Myrtle would drive a husband crazy. :) But I could definitely see it.
Although she didn’t realize it until later in The Ride, my protagonist was held back by a domineering and egoistical husband. My research showed that many women in this sort of marriage blame themselves by thinking if that they were prettier or smarter they could have avoided unpleasant encounters. I handled it by giving my main character self-esteem issues having to do with her self-image.
I like this post, it’s good food for thought.
In my one WIP my main character has a friend who tries to talk her out of her investigations. Though she’s also his boss, so he’s not to successful with his interfering as he doesn’t want to cross the line with her.
In my YA novel, that I’m not really working on, I put the mom in a state mental hospital. The absence of Mother in YA irritates some non-writers, but what else can you do? Moms are over-protective.
This poses some great questions we should be asking of our story. I’m going to put these points on a sticky note and keep them close at hand! Right now the person that hold my MC back is him.
So funny! Because you constantly hear the “parents are dead” issue in YA. Yes, that’s an easy fix, but I admit I cringe when I see it now. It’s a tricky proposition, but we’re writers so lets be creative!