1. Deeper Connection and Empathy:
* Understanding motivations: We learn why characters act the way they do, understanding their desires, fears, and past experiences. This makes them relatable and helps us understand their choices.
* Emotional resonance: We experience the story through the characters' eyes, feeling their joys, sorrows, anger, and love. This creates a more engaging and emotionally impactful reading experience.
2. Increased Story Impact:
* Conflict and tension: Strong characters create conflict, internal or external, making the story more dynamic.
* Resolution and meaning: Character development and their choices contribute to the story's resolution, revealing themes and messages.
3. Complex and Realistic World:
* Diversity and individuality: Well-developed characters, even minor ones, add depth to the fictional world, showcasing its diversity and complexity.
* Life-like interactions: Realistic interactions between characters, shaped by their personalities, make the story feel more authentic and grounded.
In short, characterization makes a story come alive. It allows readers to connect with the characters on a personal level, creating a more meaningful and lasting experience.