Do You Know How to Climax a Theme in Your Story?

A plot must be climaxed, not only in a way that resolves all the character goals and conflicts, but alsoin a way that answers the key idea issue of the story. A climax must answer the main theme question of the plot.  

How many times have you seen a film where its climax and payoff were a dud? That often happens because the keythematic ideas in the script were not properly developed and climaxed. It is the climax and the final payoff scenes of a film that an audience most wants to and should talk about after a screening. These conversations are vital to great word of mouth and profitable resonance. And to a film being an unforgettable experience and repeat engagement. 

Think about the endings of such great films as Casablanca, Judgement at Nuremberg, Cyrano de Bergerac, Officer and a Gentleman, and Tootsie.

The endings of such films make us cry, cheer, or sit stunned. And then we are compelled to share our reactions with friends and to watch the film again, and again. It is intensely hard to make the characters, events, and climax of a story express an important theme that we all can care about. But that is what great storytellers do.

It is especially vital in the climax that the theme question of the story be confirmed or rejected.

For example, in Casablanca, one of the most popular and influential films of all time, the story dramatizes the thematic question of should the protagonist (Rick Blaine) become involved in war and love or should he remain isolated from life and people? The film’s climactic events reveal the important answer and message: It is right to be involved with life and people and so to fight in the war for liberty against evil despotism and thus to foreswear romance. That is the key meaning of Casablanca and the thematic climax that the audience so strongly reacts to. The whole plot of Casablanca drives towards this theme resolution. Take it away and the resonance and deep emotion built up in the story is dissipated. The audience will not care so much and not be big repeat viewers or water cooler exclaimers about the film.  

 Do you work out the explicit theme of your story and how to best answer it in your climax?

If you need help with your theme and climax write to me at

[email protected]

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Scott McConnell is a story consultant who especially focuses on the importance and power of Theme in a story.

       “Scott McConnell is an excellent Script Editor.”               Snorri Þórisson,  CEO Pegasus Pictures 

                           Stories are ideas in action!

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