For any work of fiction to enter the realm of
classic: it has to be good, it has to be interesting and of course relevant to
all times; before and after its publishing period.
What separates a good fiction from a great one is not just the literary and technical skills
of the writer, but also the universality
(the universal questions the book deals with in its own inimitable, unique and
interesting way).
Paul Tillich calls it the Ultimate Concern.
The contemporary fiction which falls under the best category has the quality of
the ultimate concern in abundance. Ultimate Concern is something that we take
with unconditional and utmost seriousness in our lives without any
reservations. It’s something that we are ready to suffer for, or, even die for.
Ultimate concern is something which makes every other concern in that person’s
life secondary. The ultimate concern consumes the person. It contains the
answer to the question of the meaning of that person’s life.
A person is Grasped by this ultimate concern.
Take the example of Harry Potter in the
seven books by Rowling. His ultimate concern was to destroy Voldemort's
Horcruxes and make him susceptible to death and also stop him from
unleashing his terror on the wizards. Harry was aware that either he would be
successful in thwarting Voldemort, or, he would die in the process. The outcome
of this ultimate concern was absolutely clear to Harry. But he was grasped by
it, caught in the ultimate concern’s death like grip. This thought haunted him day and night, he was a boy
possessed with just one mission in life. Stop Voldemort.
I
believe that every work of fiction grapples with an ultimate concern which
consumes the protagonist like a fire. The resolution of this ultimate concern
forms the crux of the story. For me the ultimate concern transfers into the
conflict in the book. Maybe the conflict in my book may not be universal, maybe
this conflict is just crucial for my protagonist: but it becomes his or her
ultimate concern, something he or she is
dead serious about. Something for which they are willing to stake their
lives.
How do you decide the ultimate concern of your protagonists? Are they grasped by it
like Harry? Please share. We would love to learn from everyone’s experience.
Often my characters tell me what their ultimate concern is. It is also something they come to realise over the course of the story until, like you said, it consumes them.
ReplyDeleteI don't so much decide as discover it in the writing.
ReplyDeleteThe Harry Potter novesl were also about ethnic cleansing, which is a powerful theme too.
ReplyDeleteLife and death is the ultimate concern and I guess any life-changing event becomes a huge concern to those who are experiencing it and that is what provides the rich tapestry of plots and subplots in the novels we read. Very thought provoking post.
Seems like "ultimate concern" is another way of saying story--what does the character need, what will she do to to meet the need, what obstacles will stand in her way, etc. It does grasp her, and drives the story. Great post, Rachna. It helps to clarify our job--and our love for writing!
ReplyDeleteAwesome post. I'm with Jim, my MC is telling me what her ultimate concern is as I write her story.
ReplyDeleteGreat question to raise, Rachna. I suppose Ultimate Concern is another way of saying "What's at stake for your MC?" But it feels more powerful, more driving, to think of it as the Ultimate Concern, so I like that term and will think of it that way from now on. I don't really decide on the UC for my characters -- or if I do at the beginning, they reveal it to me more in the story's progress, and then, of course, that means rewrites!
ReplyDeleteAmen to praising the muse! I suppose what interests one reader may not interest another, but dealing with universal themes does tend to bag quite a large audience anyhow;) I view the idea of a "quest" int he narrative as a good way to get the protagonist going, but truthfully it can be much simpler or more complicated depending on the story.
ReplyDeleteI love that phrase, "the ultimate concern." Without it, I don't want to read on.
ReplyDeleteHumm. My mentor figure has one. To right the wrongs in the time line. The hero doesn't have one in the first book really. He is going through his journey of adulthood and responsibility. One of the villains I have could qualify. Her ultimate concern is to "own" the love interest of the the Hero.
ReplyDeleteI write what I propose should happen, Rachna. Then in revisions, the characters let me know if I was right or wrong and change it accordingly. I do love that expression. The ultimate concern. Because that is exactly what it is. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteSo true. I think about the universal messages in my writing and how they can be conveyed. Then I make sure they are woven in through dialogue and the characters' thoughts. Great post.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great question, Rachna. I think this is my main problem with my current concept. Until I can find what the Ultimate Concern is for one of my major characters, I'm stymied. Sigh. Back to research.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! My MC in Countless has a life or death situation similiar to Harry's... so her ultimate concern is pretty clear - stay alive!
ReplyDeleteI just finished HP and the Deathly Hallows. I read all seven books in near record time, one right after the other. Awesome series. And I think my character is very similar. He is driven night and day to destroy a breakthrough scientific technology before mankind destroys themselves.
ReplyDeleteooh, I love the idea of the ultimate concern. I agree with you, I think it's another name for the main conflict, but I like the way "ultimate concern" makes it much more a character issue than a plot one. I think having a concern that's truly ultimate requires excellent character development-- and plot development too. So many times they go hand in hand.
ReplyDeleteThe quote from Henry James is true enough, but you could write a whole thesis on "interesting". Fine post. I found it interesting...
ReplyDeleteHi Rachna. I haven't come across the term 'ultimate concern' before, but it's an excellent concept. It's a bit like the 'key question' that David Baboulene refers to, but with more of an imperative attached to it.
ReplyDeleteI think, in my WIP, the ultimate concern came about simply as it was the core theme of the book. Person A has to save person B from an undesirable fate. The plot development pushes the theme to the point where person A has no choice because the stakes have been raised too high.
Interesting post. Thank you :-)
I think the way to do this is that big or small, make the UC something that the MC cannot continue his or her life normally unless they solve it. :)
ReplyDeleteAngela @ The Bookshelf Muse