The Drama Triangle is one of the most common structures found in drama. The basic concept of this structure is where the protagonist, antagonist or the antagonist himself play the role of three distinct characters. While the example above may not be all that original, it does cause problems and friction for those involved. In the following blog, I will share briefly how can escape the Drama Triangle to create tension-free and interesting dramas.
There are three distinct characters within a drama triangle. These characters have different motivations, behaviours and strengths and weaknesses. Although the storyline is centered on these three characters, you can build it around the other two if you need to. In this way, you can explore all the sub-structure of the story and reveal the different personalities and behaviours of your secondary characters. By doing so, you can show not only the different personalities but also how each character interacts with others.
Now let's say we've designed a scenario where the protagonist is the victim and all the others involved are the suspects or antagonists. As the victim, your goal will be to escape the triangle by any means necessary. You may choose to give up the struggle or risk facing severe consequences. Your actions will determine what happens to the suspect characters.
This is where things get complicated. If your protagonist is the one being held responsible for the crimes, then he/she must confront his/her faults by playing the roles of both the protagonist and the antagonist. If you felt like giving both major roles to someone else, that's fine too. However, if you feel like giving only one major role to the protagonist, then this will require you to come up with another story idea that justifies this major change. You may even have to explain why you decided to change the roles.
When we look at some of the most successful TV dramas out there today, one of the most striking elements is the use of multiple relationships within the same drama. This is usually done to keep the show moving along. Two couples get married, then they have a daughter. These couples then have another daughter who they have been saving for. Eventually, the wife gives birth to another child and the cycle continues with the couple's son and daughter.
In short, the drama triangle serves as an extreme example of a psychological need. When the protagonist faces a situation where they feel like they are helpless, they may feel a sense of responsibility to do whatever it takes to escape such a predicament. However, before you decide to implement this method in your own story, take note of the other characters and how their behavior affects yours. Also, note how the changes affect the various characters. This way, you will know how to properly escape from the drama triangle.