If you think about your favorite characters from literature and film, one thing they most likely have in common is a compelling arc, which is basically a distilled summary of the journey they went through over the course of the story and the inner change it inspired.
But this phenomenon isn't exclusive to fictional realms. And the subreddit 'Character Arcs' has plenty of examples to prove it. From finding out their true sexuality to getting a job, here are some of the strongest and most original real-life transformations that were shared by the online community.
#1 Wholesome Arc
Image credits: ori1kenobi
#2 When It's Not Wednesday Act More My Dudes
Image credits: JanelleCShane
If it seems that people from this list could star in their very own movie, it's because they probably could.
"The most interesting plot, filled with twists and turns, won't matter much to readers unless they're invested in [the] hero," Jerry Jenkins, author of The Left Behind Series, said.
Jenkins says that it doesn't matter if the character moves from flawed to fabulous or the other way around. The important part is that they should face significant obstacles—both internal and external—that fundamentally change them.
"In the most memorable classics—especially those with happy endings—the character develops skills and strengths that transform [them]," he explained.
Just like folks from these screenshots.
#3 Adamboard
Image credits: villekissa
#4 He Has Been Saved
Image credits: Minute_Suggestion_86
#5 Real Life Progression
Image credits: reddit.com
According to Jenkins, the bigger the change the character goes through, the more dramatic their arc.
The author said he considers Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol to be a quintessential positive example.
"So poignant was the ... portrayal that the very name Scrooge has become synonymous with a selfish, miserly, miserable curmudgeon," he highlighted.
#6 Banana Dog
Image credits: BoyoOftheNorth
#7 Redditor Posts In Local Subreddit Asking For Directions To A Bridge. Other Members Put 2 And 2 Together And Call The Police, Saving Their Life
Image credits: maddielovescolours
#8 Dinosaurs
Image credits: Gently-Weeps
However, Jenkins thinks that if done well, a negative arc can be every bit as compelling, though it generally doesn't result in a feel-good ending.
"The character makes bad decisions and ends far worse off than when the story began," he said.
"In J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, Voldemort—Harry’s nemesis—is a classic example of the negative character arc. He begins as an innocent orphan named Tom Marvolo Riddle who attends Hogwarts, eventually changing his name. During his years at Hogwarts, he becomes a ruthless, power-hungry killer, and meets a humiliating demise."
#9 Homosexual Awakening
Image credits: Alhruz
#10 Purr Arc
Image credits: YusufTariq
#11 Maybe A Little Bit Earlier Next Time
Image credits: Pickle_200
#12 Redemption Arc
Image credits: EarFap
Jenkins thinks that pretty much everyone in a story should have well-rounded arcs; they can't remain flat.
"Too many writers reserve this wholly unacceptable approach for orbital characters or for main characters who may influence the story but remain personally unchanged," he said.
#13 Don’t Mess With Gordon
Image credits: That_Raccoon_Boi
#14 Any Sufficiently Advanced Technology Is Indistinguishable From Magic
Image credits: zudduz
#15 They Saw The Error Of Their Ways
Image credits: Existing_Mechanic_84
#16 Why Would You Not Wash Your Rice In The First Place Bro???
Image credits: NinjayajniN
"Characters who aren't even named and whose arcs would be irrelevant to the story fit this category, but it's otherwise unwise to assume significant secondary characters can have flat arcs.
In this regard, the subreddit 'Character Arcs' as a whole would make quite an interesting fictional 'universe,' don't you think? Imagine a book with all these folks running into each other on their personal journeys.
#17 Found It!
Image credits: Eingi
#18 It Happens To The Best Of Us
Image credits: SomeLoser74
#19 Reddit User Comes To A Realization
Image credits: Em9500
#20 A Frog Learns The Error Of Its Ways
Image credits: Pieguy_____________
#21 Happy Ending
Image credits: BLANKTWGOK
#22 Found In The Comments About Hogwarts Legacy Not Involving J. K. Rowling
Image credits: SirFancyDuck
#23 Princeton
Image credits: jakspedicey
#24 Acceptance
Image credits: Anthman_
#25 He Realized His Mistake
Image credits: Kirbytofu
#26 From The Channel Nilered
Image credits: dutifon
#27 Sleep Is For The Weak
Image credits: Banthrox
#28 Hope This Counts
Image credits: Supernihari12
#29 Murdering Arc
Image credits: elguachojkis7
#30 The Prophecy Is Fulfilled
Image credits: Jlegomon
