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A character coming to understand that what they want is impossible and instead learning to live with what they have, is a perfectly reasonable character arc. The character overcomes something (wish...
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#4: Attribution notice removed
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/46844 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/46844 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision
**A character coming to understand that what they want is impossible and instead learning to live with what they have, is a perfectly reasonable character arc.** The character overcomes something (wishing for the impossible), learns something, while their life is not perfect, it surely is somewhat better as a result - those energies invested in trying to attain the unattainable can instead be invested in improving the existing situation. Probably the character learns _how_ the existing situation can be made tolerable. A tragic character arc is also perfectly reasonable: **it's possible that your character starts out believing in endless possibilities, and his arc is learning that sometimes life is painful, unfair, etc.** _The Lord of the Rings_ offers a mild example of this: Frodo sets out expecting a "there and back" journey - to have an adventure, and then come back and settle down in a happily ever after. As his story progresses, he comes to realise that his trials have changed him, there can be no happily ever after for him even if he "wins".