The document summarizes the main characters in a short film according to Erving Goffman's character theory. Jade is the 17-year old protagonist who is hiding her secret of being a lesbian from her family and friends. Millie is Jade's 19-year old sister who has a secondary role in revealing a secret to Jade. Cara, Jade's secret lesbian girlfriend, is also a secondary character who wants Jade to be open about her sexuality. Carol, Jade's single mother, has a major role through a big reveal even though she dies, and the family liaison officer is a minor character who informs Jade of her mother's death.

1. Kieran Morris
CharacterProfiles:
Jade:
Jade is a 17 year old girl who lives with her mum and her sister Millie. Everyone around her
seems to think that she is a ‘girly-girl’ who loves dresses and make-up. But something she is
hiding from everyone is that she is a lesbian. Will Jade ever be able to tell her family and
friends her big secret and how will they react?
According to Erving Goffman’s character theory, Jade would be ‘the protagonist’ due to her
major role as the leading character which is followed throughout the narrative.
Millie:
Millie is a 19 year old who lives with her younger sister Jade and her mum. Millie is very
popular with her fellow students at university and also has a boyfriend that she misses very
much. How will the events back at home affect her relationship with her boyfriend and will
she ever be happy again?
Erving Goffman’s character theory would suggest that Millie is a ‘deuteragonist’ - secondary
character. This is due to her having a vital role at the end of the story in which she reveals to
Jade that Jade was adopted. However, she wouldn’t be seen as a protagonist as the
narrative doesn’t directly follow Millie’s personal journey.
Cara:
Cara is a 17 year old who everyone thinks is best friends with Jade. Whilst Cara is openly
lesbian, Jade hasn’t yet been able to tell her friends and family her secret. Cara and Jade
have secretly been dating for the past few months and Cara wants to end the relationship if
Jade cannot be truthful soon. Will Jade be able to tell everyone her secret and will the
relationship be destroyed by Jade’s sad news?
Erving Goffman’s character theory would suggest that Cara is also a ‘deuteragonist’ -
secondary character. This is due to her having a minor role of being Jade’s new girlfriend
who isn’t widely involved in the main narrative.
Carol:
Carol is a single mum who runs her own bakery shop. No one understands why Carol is
single, however it is believed that she ended the relationship shortly after Jade was born. But
is she telling the truth? And how will Jade react to Carol’s big secret?
Erving Goffman’s character theory would suggest that Cara is also a ‘deuteragonist’ -
secondary character. Whilst Carol will hardly feature in the short film due to her death, the
character will have a major role in the ‘big reveal’ at the end of the film. She largely
influences the narrative and Jade struggling to come to terms with her sexuality.
Family Liaison Officer:
The Family Liaison Officer is a minor character who reveals to Jade that her mum has
passed away in a car crash. This incident is quite normal for him to reveal to families of
those that have passed away; and Jade’s situation is seen as no different.
According to Goffman’s character theory, the family liaison officer would be a ‘bit player’ as
he only has a minor role in the narrative and the audience doesn’t gain an understanding of
his personal background. The officer will also be played by a male cast member due to the
stereotypes of social workers and family liaison officers being female; therefore juxtaposing
from the stereotypical representations of women being more kind and caring than men.