Today, my thoughts went off on a weird tangent—as they so often are prone to do. I cannot specifically remember what triggered the tangent, but I remember wondering how everyone around me would respond if we had suddenly been caught on the outskirts of a natural disaster. Not in the midst of it; just close enough to it to feel its effects and express confusion over what exactly just happened, and why.
My first instinct is that we would come together in our confusion. Strangers on the street would ask each other, What was that all about? and others would shrug. Perhaps some would just carry on with their day, but the rest would probably seek answers. Among those people who had asked each other “what happened,” groups would form. Authorities would be sought; research would be made; discussions would be had. And I suddenly had the thought that nothing brings people together better than a shared disaster.
But then I remembered this is not the first time that thought has struck me. Many times throughout fictional storytelling, I’ve witnessed characters becoming introduced and bonding with each other through rough and sometimes terrifying situations. Most often this is brought on by the plot itself, but occasionally it may be a side-quest, something unexpected that throws two or more people together for one reason or another.
The thing about disaster or tragedy within fiction is that it is an action which tends to produce several specific reactions: 1) It forces characters, even if they are complete strangers, to work together; 2) It reveals to our audience who in the group tends to be a leader, a follower, a help, or a hindrance; 3) It reveals to our characters who tends to be a leader, a follower, a help, or a hindrance; and, depending on the severity of the situation: 4) It reveals to our audiences / characters just how far boundaries can be pushed and strengths can be tested within these dynamics.
And because of this, our characters become further introduced to the best and the worst within themselves and each other. Even if they started the day as strangers, there is no coming back from so truly seeing who a person is when they are at their most vulnerable and uncertain. And it is because of this that tragedy and disaster often seem to be the “go to” situation for introducing characters in fiction. From more quiet tragedies like unexpected illness to loud, destructive disasters like a planet being taken over by a hostile force, bringing characters together through unforeseen circumstances tends to suspend the disbelief of your audience just long enough to bond a group of strangers together quickly and permanently.
— C.M.
Night Owls, how did the characters from your favorite story meet up and form a friendship?
