By Sara Beth Williams @WilliamsSaraB
What makes a great story?
A well-developed plot.
What helps drive the plot forward, besides a character’s strong, identifiable goal?
Misunderstandings.
Misunderstandings come in many forms. They can be accidental. A simple misunderstanding can throw a wrench in the character’s plans and hamper their goal. Or misunderstandings can be purposeful. Deception is a form of creating misunderstanding and distrust. A protagonist may purposefully mislead others throughout the story in order to further their goal or protect themselves, which allows them to achieve their goal. Below are some examples of well-crafted misunderstandings in books and movies.
Spoiler Warning Ahead!
Examples of Misunderstandings
The Mask of Zorro (1998)
A disguise is a misunderstanding all on its own—it could be the villain disguising himself, or the hero/heroine. Either way, someone is going to think one thing then realize later on, that what they thought was true, wasn’t true at all.
In The Mask of Zorro, Don Diego De La Vega (Anthony Hopkins) dresses up as a butler, in order to become closer to his daughter, who was kidnapped when she was an infant and raised by a greedy and ruthless Montero. Alejandro (Antonio Banderas) who is the current Zorro, pretends to be a nobleman, Don Alejandro del Castillo y García, to fool Montero into trusting him enough to bring him into his inner circle. The misunderstanding – Montero thinks he can trust both of them.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
When Elizabeth Swan, a governor’s daughter, is captured by Captain Barbosa and the crew of the Black Pearl, she intentionally gives him her name as Elizabeth Turner, because she is under the impression that giving her real name would put her in more danger. She doesn’t realize, until the captain explains himself, that he’s after the kin of Bill Turner and his offspring, and not her.
By giving the incorrect surname, she unknowingly has put her life in even more danger – driving the entire plot of the movie forward.
The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani
Missed opportunities are often the result of an unfortunate misunderstanding, and missed opportunities are what drive this story forward. More than once, the main characters, Ciro and Enza. cross paths after each one has separately immigrated to the United States from Italy. At one point, Ciro has finally decided to go and ask Enza for her hand in marriage, only to discover that she has left the house in which she’d previously been employed as a servant girl. The mistress she’d worked for claims she went back to Italy. Though he doesn’t believe the foul-mouthed woman, the fact that she is gone is true enough. He takes this as a hint that their love is not to be. And so, he goes off to war for several years. \
There are a myriad of missed chances and misunderstandings throughout this novel that make it the beautiful immigration story of life and love that has become timeless.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
In many stories, a key misunderstanding encompasses the entire plot. In this WWII era novel-turned-movie told from the viewpoint of a child, Bruno is forced to move to a house out in the country with his family so that his father can be “closer to work” as it were. Bruno befriends a little boy behind a chain-linked fence. He thinks that the boy and his family and friends live on a farm.
The boy in the striped pajamas definitely does not live on a farm.
If you’ve never read this book, I will not spoil it for you at all. Read it, watch the movie, or look it up. It’s tragic, riveting, and eye-opening.
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Deception and lies have devastating consequences. In this famous tale, the White Witch lies intentionally, and causes Edmond to lie in turn.
When Edmond, the younger brother of the four children in the Chronicles of Narnia, ends up traveling to Narnia, he meets the White Witch. She promises to make him a prince and gives him all sorts of goodies, including some chocolate, which she enchants. She promises power, if he delivers his brother and sisters to the Witch. Of course, once the Witch gets what she wants, she negates her promise and proceeds with her evil-doing, as witches are wont to do. The entire bargain between the two sets up the story. Poor Edmond.
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There are a plethora of misunderstandings in books and movies. I chose popular ones, but I bet you can find one in the book you’re reading now. A well-developed misunderstanding in the story furthers the story along in a believable manner, and keeps readers turning pages, which exactly what you want.
What is your favorite example of a misunderstanding in a movie or book?
Check out the rest of the What Makes a Great Story? series posts
Sara Beth Williams is a published author, an ACFW and CIPA member, wife, mother of two daughters, and dog mom of a lovable, spunky Pomeranian-Shih Tzu mix. Her third novel, Anchor My Heart, was a 2022 Selah Award finalist. She lives in Northern California and also works as a freelance publicist. When she’s not held hostage by the keyboard, she enjoys playing guitar, reading, and spending time with her family. Get to know her better on her website, www.sarabethwilliams.com
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