What Is a Static Character and Why Are They So Stubborn?

Some people never change.

At least, that’s the case in literature. While discussions about character development tend to put a lot of emphasis on characters who evolve over the course of the story, many of the characters we find in books don’t change at all.

Those are the static characters, and they deserve their share of the attention, too. These unshakeable beings play many crucial roles in the stories they occupy, from highlighting other character journeys to embodying a theme to simply ensuring the plot doesn’t get too unwieldy.

And you can’t write a good story if you don’t know how to use your static characters to their greatest purposes.

So let’s get into it. We’ll discuss:

• What static characters are and where you’ve seen them
• How they differ and overlap with other character types
• Their most common traits
• How they enhance your story
• How to write static characters

Before we get into any of that, however, I need to clarify one concept that’s central to this whole discussion.

What is a Character Arc?

To understand static characters, it helps to understand character arcs.

A character arc is the transformation a character goes through over the course of a story. 

Character arcs deal with significant internal change, meaning the character stops living by fear or succumbs to corruption or discovers the hero within. A makeover doesn’t count if it doesn’t also change their soul.

Now there are a few different types of arcs:

• Positive arc - The character becomes a better person
• Negative arc - They become a worse person
• Transformation arc - They remain the same morally speaking but undergo another type of massive transformation, like becoming a hero or the leader of a rebellion
• Flat arc - The character doesn’t change at all. Sometimes people will just say a character with a flat arc has no arc. 

As an example, Walter White in Breaking Bad transforms from a timid chemistry teacher to a villainous drug lord. That’s a negative arc.

You can learn more about writing character arcs here or, if you’re a member of the DabbleU Academy, by watching this crazy in-dept (and very fun) workshop.

Okay, so now that we’ve knocked out that definition, let’s tackle the one you came here for.

What is a Static Character?

A static character has a flat arc. They do not undergo significant change; they are the same at the end of the story as they were at the beginning.

The vain, self-serving character remains vain and self-serving. The hopeless romantic never becomes jaded. The goofball keeps goofin’.

Any type of character can be a static character, though some are more likely to be static than others. (More on that in a bit.) 

Static Character Examples

The world of fiction is positively swarming with static characters. There are way more of them than there are of their dynamic counterparts, so you won’t have a hard time finding static character examples in the stories you consume.

Nevertheless, here are some famous examples to help you start recognizing what these unchanging folks look like:

Romeo (Romeo and Juliet)

Classic example of a static character. Romeo is a hopeless romantic from “Two households both alike in dignity” to “Thus with a kiss I die.”

His perspective remains the same throughout the story. His motivation and goals never falter. He doesn’t wrestle with an internal conflict that ultimately leads him to reverse direction.

For Romeo, nothing ever matters more than love, and the only endgame is Juliet.

Sherlock Holmes

As we’ll soon discuss, it’s pretty common for the protagonists of serialized stories to be static. Sherlock Holmes is a great example of this. In every single book, from beginning to end, he thinks, speaks, and behaves the same way.

Observational skills are off the charts. His passion for finding the truth and seeking justice never fails. He consistently does not care about cuddles. 

And fans count on that same guy showing up again and again.

Cruella de Vil (101 Dalmations)

Cruella is your classic static villain. (Again, we’re talking 101 Dalmations Cruella, not Cruella Cruella.) She’s an evil heiress who wants to turn puppies into fur coats. She does not waver in this goal. She just loses and gets really mad about it. 

Celine (K-Pop Demon Hunters)

This is a great example of a static mentor character with deeper layers. Celine dedicates her life to guiding and protecting Rumi, and a major part of that commitment involves teaching Rumi to conceal her half-demon identity. Even as Rumi’s own perspective of her identity evolves, Celine holds fast to her beliefs, causing a painful rift between these two characters who genuinely love each other.

The Difference Between Dynamic and Static Characters

Now what about the characters who do change? Those folks are known as dynamic characters.

A dynamic character is a character who undergoes significant internal change over the course of a story.

Ebenezer Scrooge is a good example of a dynamic character. At the beginning of A Christmas Carol, he’s a misanthropic miser. After a magical little waltz through his past, present, and ultra-gloomy future, he transforms into a joyful and generous man.

It’s extremely common for the main character of a story to be dynamic. Their arc is often integral to the story’s plot, and it takes quite a bit more work to flesh out a dynamic protagonist.

(Quick side note: DabbleU Academy is a great place to find support as you develop these characters. We talk characters a lot, from live workshops to self-guided courses to community discussions and more.)

But having a dynamic protagonist isn’t mandatory. There are plenty of static main characters (like Romeo and Sherlock Holmes, as discussed).

On the flipside, you’ll also see dynamic side characters. But we’ll get to all that in a bit.

Is a Static Character the Same as a Flat Character?

This mix-up happens a lot. People confuse static characters with flat characters. They can overlap, but they are not interchangeable. 

A flat character is a one-dimensional character. They have no backstory and no internal contradictions. You can sum up a flat character in a single word or sentence.

Now, flat characters tend to also be static. After all, a character who has no inner life or conflicting desires doesn’t really have a reason to change.

Scar from The Lion King is an example of a character that is both flat and static. He’s the evil, power-hungry uncle. That’s his whole deal (which makes him flat), and it never changes (which makes him static).

But while flat characters are typically static, not all static characters are flat. Literature is full of well-rounded, complex characters who remain the same throughout the story. 

Take Atticus Finch, for example. He plays a huge role in To Kill a Mockingbird. He’s a realistic character who possesses emotional depth and struggles with the complexities of goodness and wickedness in the world. He’s what we’d call a round character. But he’s not dynamic. His core traits and principles remain unchanged throughout the story.

Which Character Types Tend to Be Static?

We touched on this before, but in the interest of total clarity, I’ll say it again here:

Any character can be static. Technically. There’s no law that says protagonists have to be dynamic or that the main character’s mother should always have a positive arc.

We’ll take a look at each character type and talk about the circumstances under which they’re usually static, but the most important thing to take away is that a character should be static if their growth wouldn’t do anything to support the plot or themes.

In other words, if you’re going to make a character dynamic, know what their development does for the story. If it doesn’t do much, keep it simple and let them remain static. 

Now let’s talk character types.

Primary Characters

A primary character is a main character, and as I mentioned before, these folks are often dynamic. Their journey of internal transformation gives the readers a deep emotional experience to relate to and heightens tension within the external conflict.

Even so, there are times when readers love a static protagonist, namely:

• When it’s a serialized work where they hope to return to the same character with the same personality again and again
• When the character’s refusal to change is a key element of the plot or theme
• When it’s a plot-driven story and deep character development has the potential to distract from the adventure

Secondary Characters

Secondary characters are major characters who contribute to the primary storyline in meaningful ways. Gollum in The Lord of the Rings series and Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls are both supporting characters. I also like to imagine them as old friends.

A secondary character can be dynamic, with an arc that further complicates the conflict or contributes a new angle to a major theme. Just as often, they’re static, creating a sense of stability and consistency as the protagonist undergoes a transformation.

Some of the most common static secondary characters include villains, mentors, and best friends.

Tertiary Characters

Tertiary characters are extremely minor characters. They only pop up a handful of times in the story and usually serve exactly one purpose, like delivering information or providing comic relief. The carpet from Aladdin is a tertiary character.

These characters are pretty much always static, because they don’t have the depth to change, nor do they take up enough real estate in the story for their evolution to make sense.

Common Traits of Static Characters

Okay, so let’s say you want to identify all the static characters in the book you’re currently reading. What are you looking for?

Consistent Personality

This one’s a little trickier than it seems. Of course a static character’s personality is consistent. Their whole thing is that they don’t change. 

But here’s the thing: a lot of dynamic characters maintain a pretty consistent personality, too. Sure, Walter White had a bit of a vibe change there, but a lot of these dynamos change their beliefs or priorities while still being just as sassy or gentle as they always were.

So make sure you keep an eye out for the next three traits, too.

Unwavering Goals

This is where static and dynamic characters really diverge.

A static character wants what they want and that doesn’t change. If they want to get out of this one-horse town on page one, that’s still what they’ll want by the very end. 

Strong Worldview

Many static characters have a clear perspective that guides their actions. This is also true of many dynamic characters, but their worldviews are ultimately challenged and changed by the events of the story.

A static character’s beliefs are steadfast. Whether it’s because they’re tragically ignorant, naturally unquestioning, or have already been through a period of growth and are solid in who they are now, they stand strong in what they know (or “know”) to be true.

(Usually) More Entertaining Than Emotionally Engaging

Don’t misunderstand: static characters can steal readers’ hearts and stir their souls. It’s just that dynamic characters are usually the ones audiences connect with the most. Their internal struggles tend to be more relatable than reading about someone who’s sure they’ve got it all figured out.

Because of this, a static character is more likely to entertain you than devastate you. The best static characters are memorable and engaging with unique personalities that set them apart.  

The Purpose of a Static Character

Every character in your story should have a role to play. So what does a static character do?

It depends on the individual character, but here are a few things these steadfast friends are good for:

Contrast Dynamic Characters

This is a big one. A static character’s unchanging nature can highlight the protagonist’s transformation simply by creating contrast.  

If your protagonist is a cynic who ultimately learns to trust someone else and allow themselves to fall in love, you might give them a best friend who never gets over their fear of true connection. By having this flat character around, you highlight the stark differences between their lives: one learns to embrace vulnerability, while the other resists it.

This is why a dynamic character’s foil is often flat. (A foil, by the way, is a character that highlights specific qualities in another character by exhibiting the opposite traits.)

Drive the Plot Forward

This one feels kind of silly to point out, because every character should play a role in moving the story forward.

But I bring it up because dynamic characters also have to worry about moving themselves forward. They’re out here wrestling with their demons and reflecting on consequences and making tough decisions.

Most flat characters exist to advance the stuff going on around them. They throw a wrench in the protagonist’s plans or deliver information that changes everything.

Highlight Themes

A flat character is also great for bringing out a story’s themes. As we discussed, they often do this by serving as a foil for the protagonist. But they don’t always have to be in direct contrast with a dynamic character in order to shine a light on a deeper message.

A mentor character can embody the theme you’re trying to get across. Or a wayward sibling could serve as a cautionary tale that supports the validity of your story’s message.

Keep the Plot Under Control

It’s very rare to see a story populated entirely by dynamic characters, and even then, it’s a contained story with only a few characters.

This is because it’s too much to manage a whole bunch of character changes in one story. It gets way too complicated for you and your reader.

Somebody’s gotta be static. 

How to Write a Great Static Character

While you may have heard the term “static character” used negatively, these fictional folks are not inherently dull. In fact, some of the most memorable characters in literature have been steadfast in their personalities and worldviews.

So don’t be afraid of writing static characters. Just be afraid of writing dull characters.

The tips below will help you make sure the static ones shine.

Know Their Role

This is honestly good advice for writing any character. 

Why is this character in the story? How do they enhance the plot or build on the themes?

When you know that, you have a better sense of which traits to emphasize and how to build your static character’s relationships with dynamic characters.

Know Why They Don’t Change

To be clear, it’s more important to communicate why your dynamic characters change than it is to specify why your static characters don’t.

That said, giving a static character a reason not to change is a great way to add more dimension to their personality.

Are they terrified of change? Are they stubborn or overly confident in their worldview? Have they already undergone significant internal change and are now in a place of wisdom and stability?

Make Them Unique

Beware of writing flat characters you’ve seen a million times before. It’s an easy mistake to make.

The sassy best friend. The mentor who speaks in vague proverbs. The overbearing mother.

Even if you start with a familiar formula for your static character, add a detail or twist that makes them feel like their own unique person.

One easy way to do this is to give them a goal and motivation. It doesn’t even have to play a huge role in the story. Maybe the sassy best friend is studying for the LSAT or the mentor can’t get anyone to take him seriously now that he shaved his long white beard.

Little details like these help establish static characters as complete, unique beings on their own rather than people who merely exist for your protagonist’s sake.

Of course, how much you flesh this character out will depend on whether you want them to be flat or round, both of which are acceptable options for a static character. The main point is to remember that static doesn’t mean generic. 

Give Them a Backstory

Again, this isn’t something you need to worry about so much if your static character is flat. But if you mean for them to be well-rounded, give them a little bit of history.

It doesn’t have to be anything super in-depth. Maybe they were bullied as a kid and that’s why they go out of their way to make sure everyone is included. Or they served as a general in an intergalactic war and that experience has greatly impacted their world view.

Just remember to make their backstory relevant to who they are now and the story you’re telling.

Be Consistent

It probably goes without saying, but you want to make sure you keep this character consistent. Consistency is kind of their whole deal.

Now, that doesn’t mean you can’t surprise your reader by revealing different layers to this character. Joyce Meadowcroft (The Thursday Murder Club) initially comes off as sweet and oblivious, until both readers and other characters begin to realize she’s a lot sharper than she seems.

At no point does she behave differently or change on a fundamental level. Everyone else is simply beginning to get a more accurate picture of who she is.

Go Ahead and Challenge Them

You don’t have to challenge all your static characters, but you’ll want to put some pressure on your major secondary characters, and you’ll definitely want to push your static protagonist, if you have one.

Show them what they have to gain by changing and what they lose by staying the same. Then motivate their decision to remain static.

If you read or watch any mystery series—especially gritty crime fiction—you’ve probably seen this in action. The grizzled detective is haunted by personal demons that make them a great sleuth but terrible at personal relationships. Their spouse or child or partner begs them to change, and they genuinely try, but in the end, the demons win. Book after book after book.

When you make your character’s static nature a choice, you give them more dimension and make them way more interesting.

A Li’l Bonus Tip for Character Development

I think it’s pretty clear at this point that static does not mean basic. Even without a twisty journey of growth, static characters often demand some strategic development. And the more you flesh them out, the harder it’s going to be to keep them organized in that idea notebook of yours.

Dabble character profiles are a much smoother way to go.

Dabble is a comprehensive fiction writing tool that provides everything you need for the planning, writing, and revising process. That includes the ability to create custom character profiles that are just a click or two away from your manuscript at all times.

Upload images for inspiration. Create property lists. Organize your characters into casts. Do whatever you need to do to capture the details of your fictional folks in a way that makes sense to you.

If you’re not already a Dabble user, you can test this and all other Dabble features for free for 14 days by clicking this link. This is a free trial with zero risk of accidental charges; you don’t have to enter a credit card to get started. And your trial even gets you two weeks of access to DabbleU Academy and all those in-depth character workshops I was telling you about earlier.

Give it a try, and start creating some static characters we’ll never forget.