How To Write A Regress Character Arc?

Regressive character arcs are a powerful but underused plot device in fiction. Rather than growing and improving, the main character can get worse and worse until he becomes the embodiment of his worst traits. The arc of Walter White in Breaking Bad and that of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars prequels are classic examples of this type of arc. They are powerful because they show how humans can sometimes fail in the same ways even when they have the chance to do better. In order to write a regressive character arc, you must first have a good idea of where your character started out and what made him vulnerable in the first place. Then you must be able to show how outside forces can slowly bring him down to a low point.

First, work out what your character was like before they started to regress. Try to make them somewhat sympathetic and relatable to the audience before they start to decline. This could be a character who is ambitious but also insecure. They may be an idealistic character who is naive to the true nature of the world around them. A great example of this type of character development is Macbeth and his fall from king to murderer. Or perhaps the character of Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight, who was the idealistic district attorney of Gotham City before he was corrupted by the abuse of power of the Joker. It’s easier to make a tragic fall believable when your character starts off with virtues that are laudable to the audience.

Of course, pacing is important as well. Usually, a slow-burning story is best for a regressive character arc, because you can illustrate how each compromise the character makes leads to greater moral failures. In the beginning, the character should be making somewhat positive choices for somewhat negative reasons. Compare how the character behaves at the beginning of the story to how he or she behaves at the end. (For example, Walter White told Jesse that he started making methamphetamine only to secure his family’s financial future, but by the end, he killed people simply to protect his own done-wrong self.) Surround your regressive character with foils, people who could have been just as good or better in the same situation. They may even attempt to pull your character back from the edge. How does the rest of the world react to your regressive character? Some people may enable his or her behavior, while others try to resist it. As for the end of your story, a regressive arc does not necessarily have to end with the death or decline of your main character. In fact, he or she could win everything he or she set out to achieve, but suffer such great losses that, in the end, the victory is hollow. It is a very chilling realization, watching a main character finally grasp the full extent of all that he or she has lost.

While exploring a regressive character arc can be frustrating for some writers and displeasing for some audiences to watch, it can make for a very powerful and memorable story. There are many examples of compelling stories that do not have heroes. Rather, there are main characters who, throughout the story, slowly lose themselves to their flaws. Their downfall can be truly tragic, making for a story that leaves a lasting impression on the reader. Just be sure to make their decline believable and earn their downfall.