Emotional Manipulation, Defining Theme

As we’ve discussed previously, crafting emotionally manipulative characters drives character development and character arcs in fantastically singular ways. Oftentimes, creating characters who rely on emotional manipulation can create a shorthand for character design that’s impactful and resonant. But, what’s perhaps most interesting about weaving emotional manipulation tactics into the beats of your story is how well these tactics can define theme as well as character.

When it comes to the themes and ideas of your script, there’s no better messenger for these themes than the growth and definitions of your characters, particularly your protagonist. Once these characters have been clearly defined, either through the tactics of emotional manipulation or other means, the next and final step in capitalizing on these tactics is to interweave them with your theme. There are many fantastic examples of features and shows that do this through emotional manipulation. Let’s take a look at a few of them:

Conspiring

Characters who conspire or craft intricate machinations against friends, enemies, or loved ones are often some of the most compelling characters in film and TV. As an audience, it can feel electrifying to watch the nature of these schemes play out in intriguing, specific ways. But, what’s perhaps most compelling about writing characters who conspire against others is how much of a shorthand you can develop for theme by using this device.

Succession, a series that has no shortage of emotionally manipulative characters, showcases this conceit expertly in the finale of its first season. After Kendall’s (Jeremy Strong) role in the death of a cater waiter comes to light, his father Logan (Brian Cox) sets up a sting that sees Kendall’s attempt to steal the family company out from under his father’s clutches decimated. Logan, essentially, bribes Kendall into dropping out of the deal in exchange for legal protection.

However, beneath the legal aspect of this conspiracy, there’s a deeply manipulative subtext simmering below the surface. Ultimately, Logan’s conspiracy is less about simply destroying Kendall, but rather, winning him back as part of the family. Logan even specifically cites their familial reconciliation as part of the terms of his conspiracy. So, past the plot-driven and character-driven elements of this sequence, we as the audience glean insight into one of the most important thematic elements in Succession: family.

Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) & Logan Roy (Brian Cox) in Succession. Photo courtesy of HBO Max

The importance of family runs through everything in Succession. More specifically, the fact that family has the power to make you who you are just as much as it has the power to destroy who you are. And the difference between the two depends on the strength of your own spine. While there are many other times in the series where this theme is explored, there is perhaps no other moment that feels more theme-defining than this climactic sequence between Logan and Kendall at the end of season one. It puts a fine point on this motif and draws us in as viewers through the compelling portrayal of emotional manipulation.

Passive Aggression

Though one of the more commonly used tactics of an emotional manipulator, passive aggression can also help craft well-developed characters while pointing toward the themes and ideas of a story. This attitude exemplifies both specific personality traits and behaviors in characters, but also helps encapsulate theme in some instances. This is largely because passive aggression is easily recognizable to most, and can help writers subtly clue their audience into the underlying machinations of their characters.

A classic character who employs passive aggression in their behavior is none other than the most memorable Queen Bee herself Regina George (Rachel McAdams) from Mean Girls. In the film, Regina often utilizes passive aggression or underhanded compliments to manipulate others to her designs and maintain her position on top of the popularity hierarchy. What’s perhaps the most singular about Regina George’s proclivity towards passive aggression is how often this behavior pattern speaks to the overall theme of Mean Girls.

Regina George (Rachel McAdams) in Mean Girls. Photo Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

An incredibly impactful idea that Mean Girls explores is the idea that society trains young women to express aggression underhandedly rather than directly. Aggression, sadness, jealousy, and other strong emotions are meant to be conveyed or expressed out loud. However, the characters in Mean Girls have been conditioned to conflict with one another in a passive-aggressive, indirect manner. Seeing how Regina’s methodologies regarding passive aggression disseminate to the other characters, namely Cady (Lindsay Lohan) helps exemplify the themes of the narrative in sharp, specific ways.

Evoking Fear

Another tried and true tactic of emotional manipulators is to evoke fear. Similarly to our previous discussion regarding I, Tonya, inspiring fear or insecurity in characters can often shape character growth and arc in fantastic ways. However, there are also great examples in film that showcase how much fear, and the evocation of that fear, can expose the nerve of a feature’s theme in incredible ways.

One such example of this idea can be found in the film Promising Young Woman. The film, which follows a young woman named Cassie (Carey Mulligan) in her quest for revenge for the sexual assault of her friend, tackles theme through the use of emotional manipulation in one incredibly climactic scene. In the scene, Cassie enters armed with the information that her boyfriend Ryan (Bo Burnham) was actually complicit in the assault of her friend. She threatens to expose Ryan unless he complies with her demands.

Cassie (Carey Mulligan) in Promising Young Woman. Photo courtesy of Focus Features

While this scene is by no means the first time Cassie has evoked fear in those she manipulates to complete her revenge, this particular sequence highlights something fantastic regarding thematic resonance and how writers can best use emotional manipulation tactics to their advantage. This sequence reveals one of the overarching ideas found in Promising Young Woman, namely, instilling the same fear regarding sexual assault that women experience. The fear that Cassie evokes in Ryan instills this emotion perfectly and puts a fine point on the overall themes the feature expertly explores.

As we’ve discussed over this series, emotional manipulation and the tactics that are associated with it can make for a fantastic shorthand for writers to craft characters, arcs, and themes. But why? Why does this storytelling device provide a proxy for audiences to latch onto regarding the characters and themes of a narrative?

While there’s no one singular answer to this question, the most overarching thread that connects all forms of emotional manipulation is emotion itself. Because these tactics, and the victims these tactics are used upon, deal with emotion, they often lead to fantastic insights on character, plot, and theme. Emotion must serve as the underpinnings for all these storytelling elements. Without it, characters and stories tend to fall flat. So, while emotional manipulation should be used carefully when cultivated as a storytelling device, finding ways to do so can help assure that the emotional impact of your story is felt to its highest degree.