ABSTRACT
Using the intro of Marge in Fargo as a guide, we can explore the various ways in which a character’s traits are revealed by what they say, what others say about them, and primarily, through what they do. These actions have the requisite consistency only when they are motivated by their moral disposition and their reasoning. The intersection of those two qualities results in the character wanting something specific in any given circumstance, and leads to the precept that a character is believable and serves the story when their actions are always motivated by an immediate goal. Pursuing that goal subsequently reveals the character’s inner life while advancing the story.
