When writing your screenplay, giving your character the kind of attitude that resonates with the audience is very important, and the two basic ways you can do so is by using character flaw and character arc respectively.

In this article, therefore, we are going to examine the meaning of character flaw and character arc as well as look at their differences and types.

What is considered a character flaw?

A characters negativity, weakness or any attitude or behavioral pattern that prevents a character from either achieving his goals or leading the kind of life he desires is what is considered a character flaw.

What defines a character arc?

A change of behavioral pattern, usually from a negative aspect to a positive one is what really defines a character arc. This usually occurs due to one experience or the other that helps the character to learn vital lessons.

Difference between a character flaw and character arc.

The difference between a character flaw and a character arc is that while character flaw is the general weakness or negative perspective of a character over the course of a story, character arc is the change of that negative perspective due to an experience that leads the character to learn a particular or series of lessons.

Usually, a screenwriter must give a character a flaw that serves as the obstacle that prevents him from achieving his goal.

But in the course of the movie, the screenwriter must also be tactical enough to put the character through a series of events that helps him to discover his flaws and in so doing have a change of attitude that helps him to achieve his goals. This change of attitude is what we refer to as the character arc.

Types of character flaws.

There are basically three types of character flaws in a screenplay and they are minor flaws, major flaws and fatal flaws.

1. Minor flaws.

A minor flaw in a screenplay or story is the kind of flaw that has less impact on the character’s life. This kind of flaw does not usually plunge the character into any difficulty or creates the kind of obstacle that will prevent him from achieving his goal.

Example of minor flaws are arrogance, pride, forgetfulness etc.

It is worth noting here that arrogance, pride and forgetfulness might become more tragic depending on how the screenwriter intends to use it. But the key point here is that you as a screenwriter should only use minor flaws when you don’t intend it to impact your character’s life in a negative way that much.

You can use this kind of flaw to help distinguish your character from the viewers mind.

2. Major flaws.

A major flaw in a screenplay or story is the kind of flaw that impacts the character’s life in a more significant way, and screenwriters usually use it to create the kind of obstacle that will make it almost impossible for their characters to achieve their goals.

Example of major flaws are envy which can lead the character to kill his best friend and end up doing life behind bars.

3. Fatal flaw.

Fatal flaw is the kind of character flaw that often leads to the downfall of the character. This kind of character flaw is usually given to the antagonist who will be defeated by the protagonist in the end of the story.

To use this kind of flaw more effectively, make sure you create series of scenes that will help the protagonist to discover this flaw in the antagonist and in so doing use it to defeat him.

For example, the protagonist in discovering the antagonist is a womanizer uses a lady to set him up.

When to introduce character flaw in a screenplay.

I usually love to introduce my character flaw in a screenplay as soon as the story begins, and I use this as a means of hooking viewers who will quickly identify with these flaws and in so doing relax to watch how the whole story unravels in the very end.

As a screenwriter always bear in mind that you aim to create the kind of characters that will align with the lifestyle of the majority who will be watching your story, and one of the tricks to do this is incorporating character flaws that are relatable to the majority of human beings.

You can use this character flaw to either create a likable character or one that people will hate and pray for their downfall at the end of the story.

And the zeal to see what becomes of this character at the end of the day is what will make these viewers to watch your story to the very end and make it the talk of the town.