What is a character's motivation?

A character's motivation refers to the reason behind their actions or behavior within a story. Understanding a character's motivation provides insight into why they make certain choices and how those choices affect the plot and their relationships with other characters. For instance, if a character decides to help another in distress, knowing their motivation sheds light on their values, experiences, or goals that drive them to take that action. This allows readers to comprehend character development and the underlying themes of the narrative more deeply.

The other concepts mentioned, such as the emotional impact of relationships, a character's role in conflict, and their historical background, while relevant to understanding a character, do not directly define what motivation is. Motivation is focused specifically on the reasons behind actions, making it a fundamental aspect of character analysis in literature.