To
determine the inciting incident of a story, novel, play, or movie, find the event or decision
that causes the main character to enter into a conflict or establish a goal for himself. As
stories begin, the characters are living their normal lives. The inciting incident breaks them
out of their day-to-day routine, setting the main character(s) on track to a new normal. Thus,
the inciting incident kicks off the rising action of the story arc. Although it's tempting to
take something from a flashback or backstory as the inciting incident, that's not allowed. The
inciting incident must be something that occurs after the action of the story begins.
As opens, the Loman family is operating in their normal pattern.
Yes, Willy's mental state is deteriorating, which has caused Biff to come home for a visit or
possibly for good, but these events occur prior to the curtain rising, so neither can be the
inciting incident. As act 1 continues, we see Happy and Biff in a bedroom...
No comments:
Post a Comment