Write An Essay On The Power Of Story By John Yorke

The Power of Story

Stories are everywhere. As creators, we teach, learn and entertain through stories. The human mind processes facts and experiences to form coherent narratives. We are programmed for stories, as they allow us to connect with other humans—fictional and otherwise—and form order out of chaos. They help us remember, integrate knowledge, and express our emotions. However, the lives we live are so saturated with narratives that we barely notice most of them. Some are internal thoughts and scenarios, others are advertisements, and many are recreational such as music and books. All of them affect us in some way, shaping us into the creatures we are. The story is mankind’s primary medium, though few realize it. Many consider stories

Most readers connect more deeply with characters than with any other part of the story. Why? Because we relate to them. We automatically respond to stories that we see ourselves in, and we are drawn to characters that we relate to (Crossfield). We do not have to like the characters we read about, but we should be able to relate with them on some level. A good writer can force their reader to relate to anyone, even villains (Yorke 6). Even if we barely relate with them, we can still feel empathy for characters. In fact, another step in the process of connection is when we begin to mirror the emotions and feelings of characters. As John Yorke states in his book Into The Woods: A Five Act Journey Into Story, “There is something immensely attractive in living through a character who does obtain revenge, who is proved to have value, or is finally proved right” (Yorke 6). We love feeling victory and success through characters. We want them to get what they want, because—in a sense—that means we get what we want. The reader enters the head of the protagonist, and takes on their desires and fears. If one reads a book that begins with a stranger who is being tortured by terrorists, they will probably feel for the person somewhat, but it does not really matter that much to them. As callous as it may sound, their brain is going “I don’t know you. Why should I care?”. On the other hand, if they are reading a story about a close

Said simply, flat characters are not as interesting as characters that change. If they want the same thing at the end of the book as they did at the beginning, or if they don’t learn anything important about themselves, then they seem two dimensional and shallow (Yorke). People love characters that are deep, complex, and that change—the more complex they are, the more real they seem. Often characters have a want or need that they try to fulfill during the story. In doing so, they instead realize what they really need. This new need is prohibited or obstructed by some personal flaw that they must overcome. They defeat their flaw, fulfilling their true need to become whole (Yorke). By ousting a flaw and filling a hole in themselves, they work towards being