bindingskarakter

Bindingskarakter (Swedish for “binding character”) is a term used to describe a figure or element that serves to link disparate parts of a narrative, structure, or system together. It is often applied in literary theory, scriptwriting, and storytelling to denote a character whose actions, relationships, or presence create coherence across multiple plot strands.

In literary analysis, a bindingskarakter typically fulfills one or more of the following functions: it may act as a physical or symbolic bridge between settings, it can embody thematic continuity, or it can reconcile conflicting character motivations. Classic examples include Gandalf in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, who connects the various races and quests, and the narrator in Franz Kafka’s The Trial, whose personal journey frames the surreal events.

The concept is not limited to fiction. In screenwriting, filmmakers use a bindingskarakter to maintain pacing and logical flow, ensuring that event sequences remain interdependent. In non-fiction documentary production, a host or recurring expert often fulfills this role. In psychology, the term has occasionally been adopted metaphorically to refer to an attachment figure that maintains coherence in a person’s identity across developmental stages, drawing on John Bowlby’s attachment theory.

Related ideas include the “anchor character” used in serial storytelling, the “plot driver” in dramatic theory, and the “glue concept” in systems design, all of which emphasize the role of a unifying element within complex structures.