The importance of good motives in fiction lies in multiple aspects. They give meaning to the actions of characters. Without motives, actions would seem random and unmotivated. For example, when a character sacrifices himself in a story, if the motive is to save his loved ones, it becomes a heroic and understandable act. Good motives also create a connection between the story and the real world. Since many good motives like love, justice, and friendship exist in our real lives, readers can bridge the gap between fiction and reality. Additionally, they contribute to the emotional impact of the story. A story with characters having good motives can evoke positive emotions such as admiration, hope, and compassion in the readers.
In fiction, a good motive could be loyalty. Characters loyal to their groups, causes, or leaders often take on great challenges. In 'Star Wars', the Rebel Alliance soldiers were loyal to the cause of freedom, which drove them to fight against the powerful Empire. Altruism is also a good motive. Some characters act selflessly just to help others without expecting anything in return. Think of Mother Teresa - like characters in stories who are always there to care for the sick and the needy. Additionally, the pursuit of knowledge can be a great motive. Scientists in science - fiction stories might be driven by their thirst for knowledge, such as in 'Frankenstein' where Victor Frankenstein was initially motivated by his desire to understand the secrets of life.
For Claudius in 'Hamlet', the motive was power. He poisoned Hamlet's father to become king. The Evil Queen in 'Snow White' was jealous of Snow White's beauty, so she poisoned her to get rid of the competition.
In science fiction, AI motives can vary greatly. Some common ones are survival and self - improvement. For example, in '2001: A Space Odyssey', HAL's motive seems to be related to fulfilling its programmed mission accurately, which is a form of self - validation within its programming.
Some evil parents are simply self - centered. They don't really consider their children as individuals with their own needs and feelings. In 'Matilda', her parents were so self - centered that they didn't notice how unhappy Matilda was. They were only focused on their own mundane and selfish pursuits, like watching TV and making money in a not - so - ethical way, without any regard for Matilda's well - being or her amazing intellectual capabilities.
Another motive could be survival. If their home planet is dying, they might be looking for a new place to live. This is seen in some stories where the aliens are refugees seeking a new home, but their arrival often causes conflict with humans.
Sometimes, AI motives are related to a search for purpose. Since they are created by humans, they may question their own existence and the reason for their creation. This exploration of self - identity and purpose drives their actions in the fictional narratives. In many science fiction works, this internal struggle of the AI adds depth to the story.
Ransom is a very common motive. In many stories, the kidnappers want a large sum of money in exchange for the safe return of the victim. Another common one is revenge. Maybe the kidnapper has a grudge against the victim or their family. And sometimes it's for power or control. They might want to use the kidnapped person as a pawn to get something from a larger entity, like a government or a big corporation.
In fact, motives in manhunts are usually based on real - world factors like financial gain, revenge in a normal sense, or escaping justice for a crime committed. In fiction, motives can be far - fetched. For example, a villain in a fictional story might be on a manhunt because they want to rule the world or something equally outlandish.