Can a Novel Be Written Without Any Characters?

Wow, that's a tough challenge for anyone who can make marks on paper with a pencil: we call the letters of the alphabet 'characters'. Now, aside from the sarcasm that was inherently irresistible, can we seriously consider writing a novel without any characters?

Even writing a simple story with no actual active characters seems pointless to me. The absence of relatable figures could make the narrative seem hollow and lacking in substance. Characters serve as the heart of a story, enabling readers to connect with their journey, be they in agreement or disagreement. These emotional bonds drive the plot and engagement.

Why Characters Are Essential

Some might argue that the challenge is impossible, but I believe it would be nearly impossible to achieve success. People reading a book want to be able to identify with the characters involved. Whether it be empathy or opposition, the interaction with these characters creates the tension that propels a story forward. Emotional reactions to these characters are a critical driver of a novel and keep readers engaged.

My first inclination would have been to provide a cautious answer along the lines of 'it's difficult to see how' or 'I certainly couldn’t…' However, on reflection, the answer is a straightforward no. Stories are about people. While you can certainly write a book that doesn’t involve people—such as a history of the formation and plate tectonics of the planet Earth, or a book about network engineering—a story is always about people, even if those people are anthropomorphic personifications of an idea, a place, or a concept.

The Role of Characters in Storytelling

Literary theory delineates seven story types, collectively known as the 'master plots,' from which all stories derive. These are:

Overcoming the Monster. Rags to Riches. The Quest. Voyage and Return. Rebirth. Comedy. Tragedy. The Pursuit of Happyness.

These archetypes have existed since before the invention of writing, and what they all share is the necessity of characters or the recounting of the deeds of real persons. A story that manages to abstain from having characters would have to invent an eighth plot type—a feat never effectively achieved. It would require redefining the very meaning of the word 'story' and creating something entirely alien to the narratives most people understand.

Further, such a narrative would likely be entirely alien to human psychology and thought, meaning that no human can write it because any thought a human can have is by definition a form of human thinking. Therefore, while not an absolute hardcoded no, the answer is very close to one.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the idea of writing a novel without any characters seems intriguing and challenging, it would be nearly impossible to achieve a meaningful or engaging story. Characters form the core of storytelling, and any narrative that excludes them would struggle to resonate with the human experience and emotional depth.

Ultimately, the answer to your question is not a complete hard no, but it is as close to one as makes no difference.