Common Character Types

There are specific types of characters that are commonly used within the majority soaps:

The grandparent figure:

Usually female, this wise, old character aids others through their problems despite any difficulty of their own life. They commonly have a functioning relationship with most characters, yet do not necessarily have any relations.

i.e. Eastenders’ Dot Branning

The strong woman:

The strong woman conveys independence, power and sometimes even aggression. She is often the first to jump into conflicts, always believing she is right. However, the audience will usually witness a downfall – at the hands of the reappearance of her past, or a man – before restoring to her well-guarded, ‘strong’ self.

i.e. Eastenders’ Kat Moon

Jack-the-lad:

The male character that breaks hearts and manipulates others for his own benefit. Seen as selfish and insensitive, the Jack-the-lad character may be softened over-time to reveal a more sensitive side. This, along with comical characteristics, wins the audience’s hearts.

i.e. Hollyoaks’ Dodger Savage

Young couple:

A couple that pulls through against turmoil both together and in their separate personal lives. Storylines trying to fail their relationship are endless but they usually find a way to go against the odds and stay together.

i.e. Eastenders’ Whitney Dean & Tyler Moon

Feisty young female:

Often argumentative and miserable, the feisty young female isn’t afraid of a disagreement as she longs for independence, usually from her parents.

i.e. Eastenders’ Lauren Branning

Troublesome oldie:

The older character who interferes and meddles whether she is needed or not. Makes it his/her business to know everyone else’s business and is often known as a ‘battle-axe’.

i.e. Coronation Street’s Deidre Barlow

The boss figure:

The boss figure is usually male, who reigns in a position of authority both in business and in other characters’ personal lives.

i.e. Hollyoaks’ Brendan Brady

Vladimir Propp’s theory:

 Propp proposed a theory on the narrative of fairy tales that consisted of stock characters that continuously appear within them. These characters can also be seen in many other genres of film and television, including Soap Operas.

·         The villain — struggles against the hero.

·         The dispatcher —character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.

·         The (magical) helper — helps the hero in the quest.

·         The princess or prize — the hero deserves her throughout the story but is unable to marry her because of an unfair evil, usually because of the villain. The hero's journey is often ended when he marries the princess, thereby beating the villain.

·         Her father — gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero and marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father cannot be clearly distinguished.

·         The donor —prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.

·         The hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess.

·         False hero — takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess.

Update: 20/09/12

·         The villain — is ofen a boss figure due to their lust for power. i.e. Hollyoaks' Brendan Brady and Eastenders' Phil Mitchell.

·         The (magical) helper — often a helper because of family ties. i.e. Eastenders' Branning Brothers always stick together.
·         The princess or prize — usually a fiesty female because it is such a challenge to win them. i.e.Eastenders' Lucy Beale or Emmerdale's Chastity Dingle.
·         Her father — can be either a troublesome oldie or overprotective, in some cases due to their tough upbringing there is more than one father figure. i.e. Emmerdale's Shadrach Dingle was Chastity's biological father who played a troublesome oldie, however Zack Dingle has taken the role of her father.
·         The donor — often a strong woman that feels the need to help others. i.e. Hollyoaks' Nancy's mission to help Mitzee be proved innocent and Mercedes be found guilty.
·         The hero or victim/seeker hero — often known as someone who can be relied on to help anyone. Marries the girl and lives happily. i.e. Eastenders' Alfie

·         False hero — often a villain-type character too, but hides it well. Usually male - i.e. Eastenders' Yusef Khan. but can be a female (who is usually hated by other females because of her lack of morals) - i.e. Hollyoaks' Mercedes Fisher.