The Role of Flat Characters in Fairy Tale Plots with Morals

How do unchanging character qualities add to a fairy tale plot line with a moral?

Does a cast of flat characters add to the plot in the water of life?

Answer:

Fairy tales teach a lesson, which is why having flat characters works well for advancing the plot. If a character learned a lesson and changed for the better because of events, the lesson would not be as clear for the reader.

In a fairy tale plot line with a moral, a cast of flat characters can add to the plot by highlighting the moral of the story. These characters often represent the extremes or stereotypes of certain qualities, allowing the moral lesson to become more apparent.

For example, in the story 'The Boy Who Cried Wolf,' the flat characters of the gullible villagers and the dishonest boy emphasize the importance of honesty. The unchanging character qualities help reinforce the moral lesson and make it more memorable for the audience.

Flat characters, with their consistent traits and behaviors, serve as a clear contrast to emphasize the moral message of the fairy tale. By remaining static throughout the story, these characters highlight the consequences of certain actions and reinforce the overarching lesson for the readers.

Therefore, the presence of flat characters in a fairy tale plot line with a moral serves to enhance the storytelling by emphasizing the moral lesson and making it more impactful for the audience.