What Is the Purpose of Dialogue in a Story?

You’ve probably spent countless hours lost in the pages of a good book, caught up in the witty repartee and heartfelt dialogue between your favorite characters.

But have you ever paused to wonder, “What is the purpose of dialogue in a story?” In this article, you’ll learn the essential purposes of dialogue in a story.

What Is the Purpose Of Dialogue In A Story?

Dialogue is versatile, adaptable, and can serve many purposes. Dialogue is so essential that a story without it is like reading a boring wall of tales and exposition. Let’s explore the purposes of dialogue in a story.

1. To reveal Character’s Personality

One important purpose of dialogue in a story is to help develop and reveal the characters in your story. When characters speak, they reveal their personalities, beliefs, and values. For example, consider this exchange between two characters:

Character A: “I can’t believe you cheated on the test!”

Character B: “Hey, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do to survive in this dog-eat-dog world.”

In just two lines, we’ve learned a lot about these characters. Character A seems to value honesty and integrity, while Character B has a more pragmatic (or, let’s be honest, morally questionable) approach to life.

So, remember, the next time you’re penning a conversation between your characters, let them speak their truth and watch their personalities shine.

2. Dialogue Moves the Plot Forward

Dialogue is a fantastic tool for propelling the plot of your story. Characters can discuss important events, make decisions, or reveal secrets that can move the plot forward. You can also create twists and turns that keep your readers glued to the page.

Imagine this scene in a mystery novel:

Detective: “I just got off the phone with the lab. They found traces of arsenic in the victim’s coffee.”

Assistant: “Arsenic? That means the murderer had access to the victim’s kitchen!”

With just a few lines of dialogue, the plot thickens, and the story gains momentum. See how that works? Dialogue can drive your plot forward by revealing crucial plot points, creating twists and turns, or leading to exciting discoveries.

Imagine another example of a scene in a thriller where our intrepid hero stumbles upon a crucial clue:

Hero: “Wait a minute, this note says the villain plans to strike at midnight!”

Sidekick: “We need to warn the mayor and evacuate the city center!”

Boom! The plot barrels forward, and the story gains momentum. Thanks, dialogue, for keeping our hearts racing and our pages turning.

3. Creates Tension and Conflict

A story without conflict is dull and lifeless, like a party without music. And guess what? Dialogue is a superb way to inject some much-needed tension and conflict into your tale.

Remember that iconic scene from Pride and Prejudice when Mr. Darcy exchange cutting remarks about Elizabeth Bennet at the ball?

In Jane Austen’s classic novel, there is a memorable exchange between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy at the Meryton Ball. Elizabeth overhears Mr. Darcy saying to his friend Mr. Bingley, “She is tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me.”

His words hurt Elizabeth’s pride, setting the stage for their initial dislike and misunderstanding of each other.

This dialogue creates tension between the two characters and foreshadows their eventual romance.

4. Show, Don’t Tell: The Golden Rule of Dialogue

You’ve probably heard the classic writing advice “show, don’t tell” a thousand times. But did you know that dialogue is one of the most effective ways to follow this golden rule?

Well, dialogue is your BFF when it comes to putting this advice into practice. By allowing your characters to express their emotions, thoughts, and reactions through dialogue, you create a more immersive and engaging reading experience.

For example, instead of writing:

Samantha was furious with her sister for stealing her favorite sweater.

Try using dialogue to show the emotion:

Samantha: “How dare you take my sweater without asking? I’ve had enough of your selfish behavior, Lisa!”

See the difference? With dialogue, you “show” (allow readers to experience the emotion and tension firsthand) rather than “tell” (telling them about it.)

5. Sets The Scene & Setting

This is another important purpose of dialogue in a story. You might not think of dialogue as a way to convey setting, but trust me; it’s a sneaky and effective method for adding depth and context to your story’s world.

Characters can discuss local customs, landmarks, or events. And this gives readers a glimpse into the unique setting you’ve created.

For example, consider this conversation between two characters in a fantasy novel:

Character A: “The annual Moonfire Festival starts tomorrow in the city square. Are you coming?”

Character B: “Of course! I wouldn’t miss the fire dancers and the midnight feast for anything.”

With this brief exchange, we’ve learned about an important event in the story’s world and some of the exciting elements that make it unique.

6. Establish Relationships

Dialogue is a fantastic way to reveal the relationships between your characters. Whether it’s the flirtatious banter between two love interests or the biting sarcasm exchanged between rivals, the way characters speak to each other can say a lot about their connections and dynamics.

For instance, imagine a scene between two friends who’ve known each other for years:

Character A: “You’re wearing that shirt again?”

Character B: “Hey, it’s my lucky shirt. Don’t judge.”

This casual, teasing exchange speaks volumes about the familiarity and affection between these two characters without explicitly stating their relationship.

Final Notes: The Purpose of Dialogue in A Story

There you have it—the many purposes of dialogue in a story, from revealing character and propelling the plot to creating tension and conveying setting. With the power of dialogue at your fingertips, you’re ready to breathe life into your stories and captivate your readers.

So, go forth and write those engaging, realistic dialogue, and remember to let your characters’ voices be heard. After all, what would our favorite stories be without the magic of dialogue?

To our success 🙂