One of the most-used (and most beloved) character types in literature is the best friend. Variants appear in Greek plays (Achilles had Patroclus, Antigone had Ismene), the earliest novels (Don Quixote had Sancho Panza), famous movies (Mav had Goose, Cady had Janis), and on and on.
The best friend can serve lots of roles—not just for the main character but for the author as well. The friend can be the foil, revealing things about the protagonist by serving as the opposite or complement. The friend can be the guide or sage who helps the hero achieve his/her goal (think of Yoda or Dumbledore). The friend can exhibit the key characteristics of stock figures like the magician, the everyman, the outlaw, or the innocent.
I believe every serious character in a novel should be an end not just a means. That is, every character should have individual drive and agency, not simply accomplish one of the author’s aims. With that said, each character should also advance the novel’s plot and/or themes—so they shouldn’t be free agents doing whatever whenever; they need to serve the author’s purpose. Here’s how I thought about my favorite character in my novel Community Day. His name is Pith and he’s the narrator’s best friend.
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