1. Driving the Plot: Characters are the agents of action. Their choices, conflicts, and relationships propel the narrative forward. The protagonist's journey, their goals and obstacles, often form the backbone of the plot. Antagonists provide conflict and challenge, forcing the protagonist to grow and change.
2. Developing the Theme: Characters embody and illustrate the themes of the story. Their actions, motivations, and flaws reveal the author's message about human nature, society, or a particular issue. A character's struggle might represent a broader societal struggle, for example.
3. Creating Conflict and Tension: Characters generate conflict, both internal (within a character's own mind) and external (between characters or with their environment). This conflict creates tension and suspense, keeping the reader engaged.
4. Representing Different Perspectives: Different characters offer various viewpoints on the events and themes. This allows the author to explore multiple sides of an issue and create a richer, more complex narrative.
5. Developing the Setting: Characters can help to define the setting and atmosphere of the story. Their clothing, language, behavior, and relationships can illuminate the time period, social class, and cultural context.
6. Evoking Emotions in the Reader: Characters are designed to evoke empathy, sympathy, antipathy, or even indifference in the reader. This emotional response is crucial to the reader's experience and understanding of the work.
7. Acting as Symbols or Archetypes: Some characters represent larger ideas or concepts. They might be archetypes (like the hero, villain, or trickster) or symbols of particular qualities or social groups.
In essence, characters are not merely puppets manipulated by the author. They are complex individuals (or beings) who contribute significantly to the overall meaning and impact of a literary work. Their roles are dynamic and interconnected, contributing to a holistic reading experience.