Character driven vs Plot driven narrative

You hear some people define a certain story or book as either character driven, or plot driven.  In this blog post I thought I would touch a little bit on each one, if for no other reason than for reflection.  In a character driven story or narrative, the emphasis usually lies on the character, or a series of characters.  The weight of the story falls on the internalized pressures the character deals with.  You are privy to the character's thoughts and feelings.  Emotions play a larger role, as it is the protagonist themselves that will ultimately change, or be changed.  This doesn't mean that the narrative itself doesn't have significance, it only means that the influences on the character, specifically those that will alter, reroute or otherwise force a change within the character are more prolific.  A character driven story allows us as readers to delve deeper within the character.  To see how they have been altered, or will be, by any number of influences.  Events need to inspire a shift within the character, for good, or for worse.  Whether the change is necessary, or simply a byproduct of those influences is irrelevant, but nevertheless the key to the story.

On the other side of the coin you have plot-driven stories, in which the external pressure, or twists and turns define the narrative.  The defining actions may be quest based, or specific goals the character has to complete.  You could look at it like stairs vs an escalator.  In a character driven story, there has to be an inner need for someone to get to the top of the stairs.  Therefore they have to make the decision, and then take the action to physically climb to the top.  The second floor may be the end point and the actual climb constitutes the change.  On the escalator, and in a plot driven story, a character may be pushed along by no decision or action of their own, but are swept up in the currents of the story and carried along.  Its about the ride, not the conscious action of moving, or changing.  This may be an overly simplified way of describing it, but its always worked for me.

I have to admit that I can see the benefits of either philosophy.  I love reading about relatable characters, it makes them so much more believable for me.  But I also love a good action-packed, thriller.  Sometimes its okay to take a step outside of the character's head and just get wrapped up in a story.  And then there are moments when we want to get more introspective, to delve deeper into what it means to be human, and hope for change.  Isn't that a universal truth?  That we are never too old to grow or change.  Let me know what you think.