Literature is never about a person or a single character, it's about people, characters, and more than one individual. Consider this, if you're the main character in your life, your story is incomplete without the people who surround you. From short stories to novels to autobiographies, every kind of literary work requires more than one character to gain the appreciation of the intended audience. Because the central character represents only 1% of the crowd. That is why side characters are important.
Most of the time people prefer supporting characters over the main lead and there could be a lot of reasons for that. Side characters bring life to the story as they are more natural and relatable than the actual hero. Finding a flawless hero with extraordinary intelligence is less likely than finding people like the side characters who got flaws and give the best advice whenever needed. The list of why people love supporting characters is never-ending, but here I am mentioning some of the prominent ones.
Show Stealer
The role of a side character isn't just a filler in the plot; it can be the show stealer as well. You might have noticed that many times, a show or a plot survived because the side characters had a better dialogue game and more reasonable actions than the central ones.
In this scenario, humor also plays an important role. Real life is already full of hectic routines, and never-ending problems, which is why people enjoy a comic, non-serious, or childish character over a serious one. Such characters lighten the mood, lift the spirits, and provide an escape from stressful realities.
Another reason for a side character being a show stealer is that the writer may have put more effort into sketching them rather than the hero. Even if they don't possess strong personalities or have flaws, they still manage to attain all the attention of the audience because the author intended to do so.
Source of Plot Twist
One of the reasons to appreciate a side character is the plot twist they introduce in the story. I mean, who doesn't enjoy plot twists and turns? They bring life to a boring, dull plot line. And what makes a plot twist more intriguing is when it comes from the least expected side character. Now there can be a lot of ways to introduce that.
For instance, the mother with untreated dementia suddenly reveals a 25-year-old secret, the wife turns out to be the main villain, or a morally grey character saves the central character at the last moment.
Such sudden and unexpected actions can alter our perspective of that side character in seconds. We start to love the one most ignored or hate the one most adored. However, in both cases, we applaud how all of the actions were executed, leaving us wondering why we never thought this way.
Role in Character Development of the Protagonists
Every single character in a story influences the development of the main characters. The lead character can sometimes get stuck or lost on the wrong track. This is when the author sends in side characters for his emotional and moral rescue. It can be his spouse, a friend, a sibling, or even a fruit seller the will never meet again. All of these supporting characters contribute to the protagonist's character development.
Even if they don't appear much in the plot, their tragedies or death can play an essential role in initiating the protagonist's story. The central character could be a poor young boy with dreams when his uncle dies unexpectedly, leaving all his wealth for this young guy, and thus his story begins. Or the hero wasn't always a good guy until his only child had to pay for his sins.
It could've been his father's accident that made him take his life seriously or his brother's murder that changed his personality forever. Such side characters may not have much screen presence or recognition on pages, but they leave an longlasting impression on the audience because they were written for us as well.
Strong Subplot
A story is never just about the hero; other characters also have their own lives to live, problems to solve, and flaws to correct. And their stories can, sometimes, be more interesting than the actual plot. This can happen if the main plot gets boring or stuck at a certain point or if the motive of a side character is bigger or more convincing than the protagonist.
Even a compelling and relatable backstory contributes to the audience's empathy toward them. All this happens when the author focuses on the development of a subplot rather than the central idea.
Acting of the Actor
When the plot of a movie or drama fails to captivate the viewers, the acting skills of an actor save the day. And if the supporting character is played better than the lead, nothing can stop the audience from rooting for them. Some side characters also receive recognition because the actors who play them have a huge fan base.
Represents a Community
Another reason for a side character's popularity is that it represents a whole community. For instance, a Pakistani character in an English novel or a Turkish actor in a Pakistani film. But this only works if the representation is correct and not misleading.
Shows Second Perspective
Sometimes the protagonist is missing a significant amount of information. Or what he kniws is just half of the truth. Because he can't see through the fourth wall like the audience. At this point, either he misinterprets reality or makes false assumptions until a side character reveals his point of view.
In such cases, the perspective of a side character gives a clear 360-degree view. And it gives us yet another reason to appreciate their presence in the story. This is why the plots written in the third person narrative are easier to understand than those written in the first person. Because the protagonist is unaware of most of the information until someone uncovers the other side of the story.
The viewpoint of a side character also helps us judge the grey characters. A grey character may appear innocent in front of the hero, but only his guard knows the truth. I can't imagine a story without any supporting characters. We don't know how crucial they are until they play their part.
Conclusion
The list may never end but the blog has to. It doesn't matter if a fictional character is two-dimensional or developing with time, has a central role or a side one, what's important is that it communicates the message it was supposed to convey.
Share your thought, do you like ever preferred a side character over the leads? What was the reason for that?
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