What is important for the development of character and conflict

There are several effective writing techniques to shape and develop a fictional character in a way which is natural and contributes to the plot of the story rather than being an end in itself. First of all the use of authentic dialogue can give a lot of depth to a character. Joyce Carol Oates' short story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been is a good example for that. More than three quarters of the story consist of dialogue between Connie and Arnold and although a lot of characterization of Connie is given on the previous two pages already, this dialogue reveals her true self with all its contradictions and individualities which ultimately lead to the tragic ending. The character of Arnold Friend stays shady, but his impalpable and symbolic being is developed even more throughout the dialogue ("I know everybody", "Aunt Tillie's. Right now they're uh—they're drinking. Sitting around"). Sometimes dialogue can be superfluous and without connection to the story at first glance, but crucial to a character and its motivations on closer examination. And what is crucial to the character is ultimately crucial to conflict and story itself. Although not from literature, I think the dialogue in most movies by Quentin Tarantino is a good example for this.

Even more important for the development of character and conflict in a story is the use of sufficient relatable detail. Amy Bloom's short story Silver Water gathers a lot of its emotional strength by stressing that every family can get into the same situation as Rose's. It is important that the mother "bangs out 'Gimme a Pigfoot'" and "Schubert's 'Schlummerlied'" to give the reader the impression that all of the characters could basically live next door. Drama and tragedy must never be abstract, its protagonists have to be relatable. Rose only becomes the human being she is because we get to know about her incredible singing talents as well as the "extra-extra-large Celtics sweatpants". It is easy to sketch a mentally ill through the thousandth generalization - what makes a story and its characters human and touching is detail.