what is the difference between a complex character and a flat character?

An instructive constant: Though silly and evil static characters are far more common, it’s not unheard of for static characters to be positively symbolic or instructive.Lady Catherine de Bourgh in Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is an example of a static antagonist.

While the protagonist has to grow to overcome the antagonist’s obstacles, the antagonist usually remains the same (and is defeated). They prevent the protagonist from achieving their goal and this propels the story forward.

An antagonist: An antagonist is written not only to contrast the protagonist but to be in direct opposition with them.For example, Meg March in Little Women acts as a foil to her impulsive and tomboyish sister Jo. They might contrast the protagonist, often in a humorous or negative way, or simply provide context by being more conventional. A foil character: The purpose of a foil character is to draw attention to the attributes of the main character.Usually, a static character is one of three things: They might create conflict, build drama, or provide context, for example. Any strong static character will serve a particular purpose in relation to the protagonist. That doesn’t mean that static characters are trivial. The protagonist is the main event - the protein, if you will - while our static friends exist to fill out the story - the vegetables. If they don’t change or develop in any way, then why do static characters exist? Well, while most authors opt for a dynamic protagonist, they recognize that too many dynamic characters will spoil the storytelling broth.

What is the difference between a complex character and a flat character?