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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nFirst, let\u2019s talk about what a redemption arc actually is. In our Plots and Character Arcs series, we\u2019ve been talking about the Positive Change Arc\u2014when a character starts out believing the Lie, and comes to believe the Truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The redemption arc is just a particular kind of Positive Change Arc. Typically, the MC is extremely flawed, and is generally in a position that draws disdain or pity from others. They may be plagued by symptoms such as guilt and shame, though some characters with redemption arcs are full of pride and arrogance. At the end of a redemption arc, the character will recognize their faults and gain redemption\u2014often performing brave, sacrificial acts during the Climax. Sometimes, that sacrificial act may end in death, thus bringing full completion to the redemption arc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This kind of arc can be used it for any type of character, including the protagonist, a supporting character, or even the antagonist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now let\u2019s take a look at some tips we can use to create a good redemption arc:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Symptoms<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This is a Positive Change Arc, so those symptoms should be present. And in a redemption arc, they will often be emphasized more than usual\u2026 your character needs to seem very ir<\/em>redeemable. The way that this irredeemability manifests itself can be anything, ranging from having an arrogant, unlikable personality, to possessing guilt from an evil deed they did in their past.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The movie, \u201cThe Redemption of Henry Myers\u201d is a great example of a redemption arc. The main character, Henry, is an outlaw who\u2019s made a lot of bad choices in his life\u2014and the consequences of those choices are about to come back on him. Henry\u2019s main symptom is guilt over his past actions\u2026 especially one particular crime. Along with the guilt, Henry has a sense of despair. As he says at one point during the movie, \u201cThere\u2019s no hope for good in my life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In our example from Judges, Samson\u2019s main flaw is selfishness. Pretty much everything he does is for himself, which leads to one bad choice after the other. Even when his choices begin hurting those around him, he continues to behave selfishly. This self-centeredness manifests itself in outright rebellion\u2014even towards God Himself. He\u2019s also a showoff and quite prideful, which stems from his selfishness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- The Lie<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
The Lie is a must-have for any Positive Change Arc, but especially for a redemption arc. After all, the only thing keeping the character from<\/em> redemption is the Lie. For many redemption stories, the Lie will be some kind of misconception about redemption\u2026 who can have it, how to get it, where it comes from, etc. However, that isn\u2019t always the case. Some characters in a redemption arc may not even consider<\/em> redemption until something finally forces them to face their misdeeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Henry\u2019s Lie is that he can never be redeemed. This directly causes his symptoms of guilt and hopelessness. Throughout the movie, he seems to be wandering around almost aimlessly, searching for answers. But it\u2019s only once he realizes that redemption comes freely from God that he finally gains it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Samson\u2019s Lie is that he can do whatever he wants. The entire story is literally him acting on a whim and reacting without control to what the other characters do. He doesn\u2019t seem to care about the effects of his choices, nor does he appear to desire any kind of redemption. He\u2019s too wrapped up in himself to really care\u2014until his eventual capture forces him to consider how selfish he\u2019s been.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- The Want<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
In a redemption arc, this Want can still have quite a range. Again, it may have something to do with redemption, but not always. Sometimes, the Want is redemption itself, and the character must first gain the Need (aka realizing their need for redemption, recognizing that redemption comes from God, etc.) before receiving it. Other times, the Need<\/em> is redemption, while the Want is something completely different. But no matter what it is, your character is going to pursue the Want vehemently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Henry\u2019s Want is peace, but he doesn\u2019t realize that he can\u2019t get that until he gains redemption (his Need). Since his Lie is that he can never get redemption, he\u2019s stuck in a never-ending loop until he finally rids himself of the Lie, thus paving the way for redemption and true peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Samson\u2019s Want is\u2026 well, whatever he wants. He doesn\u2019t seem to have much direction in his life, and he just sort of does whatever he feels like at the moment. This comes from a mindset of following your heart instead of letting God’s truth guide you. It\u2019s an unsteady way of life, which Samson soon finds out. It\u2019s only once he faces his mistakes that he sees his Need\u2014redemption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- Potential<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
While we\u2019ve been focusing mainly on the character\u2019s misbeliefs and flaws, there is another side to things. Since God originally created us as perfect beings that were meant to glorify Him, each of us has the potential to fulfill that design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, that does not<\/em> mean that we have some small bit of goodness in us that will impress God. What it means is that each of us has talents and strengths that can be used for either good or evil. We cannot use them for good on our own, but when God redeems us and gives us a new heart, we are then free to use our talents as He intended them to be used\u2026 for His glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is why every character\u2014whether they\u2019re in a redemption arc or not\u2014should have this potential inside of them. If, in the end, the character still isn\u2019t redeemed (like in a negative arc), then readers are saddened and sobered by such a waste of potential. If the character does<\/em> get redeemed (like in a redemption arc), readers will be able to see them using their gifts for good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Henry has much potential in his life. A strong-yet-sometimes-tender personality, an able body, and handy skills are just some of the gifts he possesses. While we see him using these for evil at the beginning of the movie, he slowly progresses. However, he doesn\u2019t truly do good from the heart until he is redeemed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Samson, too, has potential, though it\u2019s a bit more hidden. Often, with the more arrogant, self-centered redemption arcs, readers find it harder to recognize the character\u2019s talents and strengths. Samson\u2019s greatest gift is\u2014of course\u2014his impressive strength, and he also has a lot of bravery and daring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- Struggle<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
As with any Positive Change Arc, the character will start out believing the Lie, and end believing the Truth. But along the way, we find this battle inside the character. They\u2019ve begun to see the Truth, yet they\u2019re still trying to cling to that old Lie. This provides great internal conflict and also shows them that they must let go of the Lie forever before they can believe the Truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Henry\u2019s struggle is quite evident. Even during the bank robbery at the beginning, we see him trying to stop a man from getting shot\u2014all the while helping with the robbery. Throughout the movie, he continues to struggle with this idea of redemption. As the Truth becomes clearer and clearer, he only becomes more confused. That is, until he throws off his Lie once and for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Samson appears to have less of a struggle. In fact, up until the Third Plot Point and Climax, we really don\u2019t see him considering the Truth all that much. However, since the story is told in 3rd<\/sup> Person Objective (a very limited point of view), we aren\u2019t told what\u2019s going on in Samson\u2019s mind. It\u2019s definitely possible that, as his choices continued to have bad consequences, he slowly began to consider the Truth. But, either way, he never fully rid himself of the Lie until the end, when the Truth stops him right in his tracks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n- Sacrifice\u2014and redemption<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
This is, of course, the crowning piece of the redemption arc. The character has already rejected the Lie and embraced the Truth, thus gaining redemption. However, they have yet to demonstrate this new-found redemption\u2026 until the Climax.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pretty much every redemption arc I can think of involves some kind of sacrificial choice. And, since the character now believes the Truth, they choose sacrifice\u2014often ending in serious loss or even death for themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s dramatic, yes, but it\u2019s an amazing way to show how the character has changed. They\u2019ve already gained redemption in the eyes of God, and, through this sacrificial Climatic Moment, they display this redemption to the world. This redeems their character in the minds of observers and supporting characters once and for all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Henry shows his redemption when he pushes Marilyn out of the way, taking a bullet for her. This seals in her and Will\u2019s minds that he truly has changed. It isn\u2019t just an act\u2014he really has been redeemed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Samson\u2019s outward redemption comes in the last scene. He\u2019s been captured, blinded, and humiliated by the Philistines, and, at some point during this time, he humbled himself before God. Now, he finds himself in between two pillars holding up the building in which three thousand Philistines are partying. He does exactly what knows he must, finally using his God-given gift of strength for good. And I think it\u2019s fitting that the Bible says, \u201cSo the dead which he slew in his death were more than they which he slew in his life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nHere are several more redemption arcs for you to consider:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Will Reynolds (\u201cBeyond the Mask\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Long John Silver (\u201cTreasure Planet\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Carlos (\u201cDo You Believe?\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Mirage (\u201cThe Incredibles\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Sydney Carton (\u201cA Tale of Two Cities\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Goob (\u201cMeet the Robinsons\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Martin (\u201cThe Treasure of the Secret Cove\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
(Note: I chose these example arcs from different styles of stories, with the characters serving different roles. This is so you can look to them no matter what kind of story or character you\u2019re writing.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nAnd that is all for our last post in the Judges series! I hope you will continue to study this amazing book on your own. God\u2019s Word is so rich and deep that we will never be able to fully mine its depths, so keep reading to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nComment below your favorite redemption arc story or character, and let me know if you have a future Bible Analyses post suggestion!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We have arrived at the last post in our Judges series. Today, we are talking about Samson, whose story can be found in Judges 13-16. While often seen as the most wicked of the judges, I hope we\u2019ll see today how we can use Samson\u2019s example to write redemption arcs for our own protagonists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,20],"tags":[31,24,26,29,28,33,66],"class_list":["post-415","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-analyses","category-the-book-of-judges","tag-bible-analyses","tag-character-arcs","tag-characters","tag-christian-writing","tag-judges","tag-protagonist","tag-redemption-arc"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=415"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":417,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/415\/revisions\/417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=415"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=415"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/christianwriter.blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=415"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Martin (\u201cThe Treasure of the Secret Cove\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Goob (\u201cMeet the Robinsons\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Sydney Carton (\u201cA Tale of Two Cities\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Mirage (\u201cThe Incredibles\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Carlos (\u201cDo You Believe?\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Long John Silver (\u201cTreasure Planet\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Will Reynolds (\u201cBeyond the Mask\u201d)<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Sacrifice\u2014and redemption<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Struggle<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- Potential<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- The Want<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
- The Lie<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n