This week: Friendship Matters Edited by: Kit  
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Why is your best friend your best friend? Have your friendships helped you grow into the person you are today?
The friendships your characters form can be crucial to their development. That is why this week's Drama Newsletter is all about why friendships matter.
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Friendship is an important part of our life experience. From our earliest days, we tend to bond with others outside of our family circle. These connections teach us about differences and similarities. My primary school class, for example, was quite diverse and through the friends I made there I learned about different faiths and cultures. I also learned that these differences were fascinating, and that they needn't stand in the way of enjoying people's company.
There are many lessons to be learned through friendship. Over the years, I have come to accept that as much as you want to be “best friends forever”, this doesn't often happen. People come and go. As sad as that may be, those friendships still had value. Every person who journeys with us for a while helps us grow into the person we are, now, and who we will become, eventually.
Some friends will support you during times of need. Many will back away. There are those who are loyal and faithful, whilst a few are friendly to your face and rather different behind your back. Some require constant attention and then there's the rare gem who may drift away, but as soon as you reconnect you simply carry on where you left off.
There are friendships that turn into more, and there are those that weather every storm, and last through decades. My grandmother had a friendship like that. It lasted for over 50 years until, sadly, the lady passed away.
Friendship, then, is a great tool for a writer. A lot of focus tends to be on romance, but a character's support network, or lack thereof, can provide the reader with valuable insight.
Consider, for example, Elizabeth's friend Charlotte Lucas in Pride and Prejudice. The two are quite different in temper, but that does not stand in the way of their relationship. Initially, though, Elizabeth does not understand why Charlotte would marry Mr. Collins – a man she rejected. This helps to highlight the differences between them, and the situation women found themselves in during that time. Elizabeth wants love. Charlotte wants security. Whilst, arguably, Elizabeth ends up with the better marriage, her friend finds her own source of contentment.
In Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, the friendship between Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg is intriguing. The two appear to be polar opposites. Granny Weatherwax lives on her own and she is quite a serious, no-nonsense person. Nanny Ogg is the head of a large family and she loves to have a laugh. They irritate the other, they disagree, they approach different situations in different ways, yet they rely on one another. And when it comes to it, they are not that different after all. They are both strong women with a whole lot of courage.
In George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, one friendship that stands out to me is the one between Tyrion and Bronn. As a sellsword, Bronn's loyalties cannot be counted upon. Yet, the two men develop a mutual understanding. A bond forms that shapes both men's lives throughout the years.
A character's friend can play a supporting role or be a main character in their own right. They can be annoying, caring, help the main character along or hinder them. They can assist relationships or tear them apart.
Returning to Pride and Prejudice, the influence Mr. Darcy has over his friend Charles Bingley hinders the blossoming relationship Charles has with Jane. Although Mr. Darcy is only trying to protect his friend, his interference is misplaced and causes pain. Fortunately, it all works out in the end. This exposes a certain side of Mr. Darcy, and it is a part of his development throughout the book.
For a drama writer, friendship can help bring your characters to life, and, if desired, can be used to stir emotions in your readers. So my advice is – don't merely focus on romance, as enjoyable as it may be. Allow friends to have a look-in, too. You won't regret it.
Kit
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Drama: June 03, 2020 Issue [#10208]
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