Stock Characters
Characters
Characters
The characters in melodrama are all based off of strong stereotypes. The typical scenario in melodrama was as follows: The hero is love with the heroine, and the other way around. The villain, with his sidekick clown, plans to have the heroine for himself via nefarious means (kidnapping, blackmail, etc). The heroine does not love the villain back, and wants to be free of him. The wise and elderly person comes in, and tells the hero where the villain has taken his true love away, and the hero then sets off in attempt to save the heroine. When the rescue is complete, the hero and heroine live happily ever after.
The characters in melodrama are all based off of strong stereotypes. The typical scenario in melodrama was as follows: The hero is love with the heroine, and the other way around. The villain, with his sidekick clown, plans to have the heroine for himself via nefarious means (kidnapping, blackmail, etc). The heroine does not love the villain back, and wants to be free of him. The wise and elderly person comes in, and tells the hero where the villain has taken his true love away, and the hero then sets off in attempt to save the heroine. When the rescue is complete, the hero and heroine live happily ever after.
Stereotypical “stock” characters remained the same throughout the plot, never developing
Stereotypical “stock” characters remained the same throughout the plot, never developing
The Hero: male, brave, moral, handsome, reliable (status = middle class +)
The Hero: male, brave, moral, handsome, reliable (status = middle class +)
The hero is a brave character, who has the potential to do anything. He is the character who will typically save the heroine from her misery via the hands of the villain. The hero will fight the villain in order to get his true love back into his heart.
The hero is a brave character, who has the potential to do anything. He is the character who will typically save the heroine from her misery via the hands of the villain. The hero will fight the villain in order to get his true love back into his heart.
The hero will enter onto the stage with grand and confident steps. With the first hand leading the way, the other hand will rest on his hip, and the hero will walk in a circle till he reaches his desired position. From there, he will create the teapot stance, by having his hands in the same place, although with first hand ending in a higher position, exclaiming his role as hero. His voice is booming with courage and his head is typically raised up, assuming his status.
The hero will enter onto the stage with grand and confident steps. With the first hand leading the way, the other hand will rest on his hip, and the hero will walk in a circle till he reaches his desired position. From there, he will create the teapot stance, by having his hands in the same place, although with first hand ending in a higher position, exclaiming his role as hero. His voice is booming with courage and his head is typically raised up, assuming his status.
HEROINE: female, innocent, beautiful, vulnerable (status = middle class +)
HEROINE: female, innocent, beautiful, vulnerable (status = middle class +)
The heroine is a character who is graceful and elegant. Her voice is loud but higher pitched than the males' voices. She is always captured in the plot of the drama by the villain, and by the end is in the arms of the hero who is her true love.
The heroine is a character who is graceful and elegant. Her voice is loud but higher pitched than the males' voices. She is always captured in the plot of the drama by the villain, and by the end is in the arms of the hero who is her true love.
The heroin walks in a graceful manner, with her hands moving elegantly and her body swaying. When she enters the stage, she walks as if she were a dancer and makes her way to where she will present her stance. She will place her first hand higher up across her face, as if she were gasping. Her other arm will be lower down securing her stance. This is called the s stance.
The heroin walks in a graceful manner, with her hands moving elegantly and her body swaying. When she enters the stage, she walks as if she were a dancer and makes her way to where she will present her stance. She will place her first hand higher up across her face, as if she were gasping. Her other arm will be lower down securing her stance. This is called the s stance.
VILLAIN: male, immoral, evil, greedy, dishonest, sly, corrupt (status = often upper class)
VILLAIN: male, immoral, evil, greedy, dishonest, sly, corrupt (status = often upper class)
The villain is a mysterious character, a character who is always attempting to steal away that which he desires (often the heroine). He is often already rich and powerful.
The villain is a mysterious character, a character who is always attempting to steal away that which he desires (often the heroine). He is often already rich and powerful.
The villain will enter onto the stage with his knees kicking up, his toes pointed, and back arched. His first arm will act as if holding a cape, with it covering his face up to his eyes. His other arm will be parallel to the first arm, but stretched out on the other side. His steps are silent but confident, and he occasionally makes a loud evil laugh.
The villain will enter onto the stage with his knees kicking up, his toes pointed, and back arched. His first arm will act as if holding a cape, with it covering his face up to his eyes. His other arm will be parallel to the first arm, but stretched out on the other side. His steps are silent but confident, and he occasionally makes a loud evil laugh.
VILLAIN’S ACCOMPLICE: male, useless, cowardly helper, sidekick, comic relief (status = lower class)
VILLAIN’S ACCOMPLICE: male, useless, cowardly helper, sidekick, comic relief (status = lower class)
FAITHFUL SERVANT: hero’s loyal servant, does dirty work, sometimes provides comic relief though not very funny (status = lower class)
FAITHFUL SERVANT: hero’s loyal servant, does dirty work, sometimes provides comic relief though not very funny (status = lower class)
MAIDSERVANT: female, heroine’s loyal servant, flirtatious (status = lower class)
MAIDSERVANT: female, heroine’s loyal servant, flirtatious (status = lower class)
The clown/servants are usually (but not always) comic relief characters. They are very bubbly and acts in a manner often contrary to the rest of the action (wisecracking, flirting, bumbling...). These side characters often help or inadvertently hinder those they work for.
The clown/servants are usually (but not always) comic relief characters. They are very bubbly and acts in a manner often contrary to the rest of the action (wisecracking, flirting, bumbling...). These side characters often help or inadvertently hinder those they work for.
The clown like versions are clumsy and jumpy, walking with their stomach forward, hands hanging from their sides, and often searching for something to eat. Other versions (the maidservant) can be more sexual, swinging their hips as they walk.
The clown like versions are clumsy and jumpy, walking with their stomach forward, hands hanging from their sides, and often searching for something to eat. Other versions (the maidservant) can be more sexual, swinging their hips as they walk.
AGED PARENT: Helpless, victim, often sickly, scared, heroine's parent (status, middle class)
AGED PARENT: Helpless, victim, often sickly, scared, heroine's parent (status, middle class)
The wise and elderly person is usually a grandparent or an official of some sort. He is intelligent, and can sometimes even be the heroine's mother/father. S/He is always looking out for the other characters, especially the heroine, which makes him/her a form of an anonymous helper to the hero.
The wise and elderly person is usually a grandparent or an official of some sort. He is intelligent, and can sometimes even be the heroine's mother/father. S/He is always looking out for the other characters, especially the heroine, which makes him/her a form of an anonymous helper to the hero.
The wise and elderly character will come onto the scene with is back hunched over, usually carrying a cane, and speaking in a low shaky voice. His steps are slow and he may need another character to support him.
The wise and elderly character will come onto the scene with is back hunched over, usually carrying a cane, and speaking in a low shaky voice. His steps are slow and he may need another character to support him.
