A Device for Differentiating Characters in Fiction

In a recent post, I briefly discussed the idea that voice can, and possibly will, determine the persona and behavior of a character in fiction. There are other options as well.

Lara Vapnyar makes use of an interesting device for differentiating her characters in "Waiting for the Miracle." Although part of a novel she is working on, the piece was published as a short story in The New Yorker and can easily stand on its own.


Vapnyar's three main characters -- two young Russian men and a young American girl -- are all extremely found of Canadian singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen's song of the same name as the story. But they believe it means different things.

Here's what Vapnyar has to day about that in her New Yorker author interview:

"Sergey sees it as the tale of a man whose expectations have been too lofty, who has been waiting for a miracle and ended up wasting his life. And that is exactly what happens to him in the story.

Rachel interprets the song as the tale of a man who is ready to discard a woman because he feels that he is destined for something greater. And, of course, that is what happens to her with Vadik.

 

And then we have Vadik [the main characte], who just loves the song and believes that it is about a man who has to keep waiting for a miracle, no matter what. And so Vadik is granted the miracle."

 

Well, not quite as those who read the story will see. Or perhaps it is a classic case of not being careful as to what one wishes for.

 

In any event, Vapnyar's device works well in this instance and is worth considering.