One of the best is Zuko from 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'. He starts as an angry, banished prince trying to capture the Avatar to regain his honor in a rather cruel way. But as the story progresses, he experiences many things, like seeing the pain the Fire Nation has caused. His journey with Iroh also plays a huge role. He slowly realizes the wrongness of his ways and eventually joins the Avatar to defeat his tyrannical father and help bring peace, making his redemption arc very satisfying.
One famous redemption arc is that of Zuko in 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'. He starts as an antagonist, hunting the Avatar to regain his honor in the eyes of his father. But through his journey, he realizes the wrongness of the Fire Nation's actions and eventually joins the Avatar to bring peace. Another is Severus Snape from the 'Harry Potter' series. Despite his initially cold and seemingly villainous behavior, it's later revealed that he was protecting Harry all along out of love for his mother. The third one could be Javert in 'Les Misérables'. He is a strict law enforcer who is obsessed with catching Jean Valjean. But in the end, after realizing the futility of his unwavering pursuit of the law over mercy, he has a moment of redemption.
In 'Les Misérables', Jean Valjean has an iconic redemption arc. He is a convict who has been treated harshly by society. After stealing from a bishop who then shows him kindness, he decides to turn his life around. He becomes a good man, a mayor, and spends his life trying to do good deeds and help others, all while being haunted by his past and Inspector Javert. His story is a powerful exploration of redemption, forgiveness, and the power of second chances.
Another character ripe for a redemption arc in the fanfiction of '300 Rise of an Empire' is Ephialtes. He was a traitor in the movie, but fanfiction could rewrite his story. He could realize the error of his ways after seeing the true nature of the Persians he sided with. He might then try to make amends, perhaps by using his knowledge of both sides to broker peace or help the Spartans in some way. This would be a great way to explore his character more deeply and give him a second chance.
To create a compelling redemption arc, it's important to have consequences for the character's past actions. If Captain America made a wrong decision during a battle that led to civilian casualties, he would have to face public outcry and the disappointment of his team. This would force him to re - evaluate his actions and strive for redemption. Writers should also include moments of growth, like Cap learning new strategies to avoid such mistakes in the future.
For 7 of 9, a great character - development arc could be her learning to fully embrace her humanity. Starting from her Borg - influenced mindset, she gradually becomes more in tune with human emotions and values. Captain Janeway can play a big role in this, guiding her and providing examples of what it means to be human. For Captain Janeway, an arc could be her learning to trust 7 of 9 completely, especially when it comes to making decisions that involve Borg technology. At first, she might be hesitant, but as they go through various situations together, she realizes 7 of 9's worth.
For me, the 'Davros' arcs were outstanding. They brought back a classic villain and had some intense moments.
The Time War arc is often considered one of the best. It had high stakes, intense drama, and really explored the Doctor's character.
One notable redemption arc is that of Mr. Darcy in 'Pride and Prejudice'. He is initially seen as proud and haughty, but as he falls in love with Elizabeth Bennet, he realizes his flaws and changes his ways. In 'The Green Mile', John Coffey, a wrongly - accused man on death row, has a redemptive presence. His kindness and sacrifice for others are part of his 'redemption' in a way. Also, in 'Fight Club', the Narrator has a sort of redemption arc. He realizes the chaos and destruction that his split - personality Tyler Durden has caused and takes steps to end it and find himself again.
The story of Nelson Mandela is also a remarkable redemption story. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for his fight against apartheid. Instead of being filled with hatred, he emerged from prison with forgiveness in his heart. He worked towards uniting South Africa, leading the country through a peaceful transition and becoming an international symbol of reconciliation and redemption.
Yes, 'The Shawshank Redemption' is fiction. It's a fictional story created for the screen.