Writing Question - What the main character wants?

Question

In all the writing books I have, it says to determine what your main character wants. As I try to analyze books that I've read, I'm having a hard time determining what the character wants so that I can see how this affects the plot exactly and at what point that desire shows up in the book...

So if you have read any of these books, could you tell me what you think is the real desire of the main character?

Twilight
(I see Bella's first desire, as - fitting in, or just surviving something she feels she has to do, but doesn't really want to do. But she ends up on a totally different journey. Eventually, she wants Edward and later, wants to become a vampire. So which one is "what the main character wants?")

Harry Potter (Use Book 1)

Fablehaven

Eragon

Dracula

Secondary Question -- Does the main character need to know what it is they want at the beginning of the book, or is that something that comes about with the presentation of events?

Answer 1

In the beginning, Harry Potter just wanted away from his aunt and uncle and he wanted to belong.
Once he began to find out more about his parents and the wizarding world and Valdemort, he wanted to do what was right and NOT be like Dudley.

Dudley was very important to the development of Harry's character. Because of the way Harry was treated at the Dursleys, he instantly recognized Malfoy as someone to avoid--another Dudley. And he's put Valdemort in the same category.

It's a good thing to define a main character's family life. It adds depth and gives you a much better idea what that character wants and what he hates.

Answer 2

I think what the character wants tends to evolve throughout the book. In Eragon, for example, Eragon just wants to avenge the death of his uncle, but as the book progresses, he wants to find out where he fits in with his newly found skills and who he can trust.

Events in books, as in life, can re-shape the goals of the characters. I think that the desires of the characters come out as the events unfold, but sometimes the character is driven by some internal need for love, acceptance, etc. It just depends on what type of book you are writing.

In the end, just write what you want to write. Writing books are just someone else's idea of how to write. Not everyone does it the same. I hope that you use your voice and don't let the opinions of others write for you. Good luck!

Answer 3

You are the main character when you write "subconsciously"
so you must think through the pen into the story line as
if you suddenly became "the last action hero"? This is the
plot of the story. It is better not to analyze just free write
first and see what you find.

Answer 4

Names are not specifically subject to copyright, however if your character were a direct depiction of Princess Zelda then you could run into some trouble. Zelda as a name though is fair. F. Scott Fitzgerald's wife's name was Zelda.