Structure of Sympathy

What This Tool Measures

Measures character engagement via recognition, alignment, and allegiance scores to estimate audience rooting dynamics.

Methodology

• Extract major characters and scene presence.
• Score engagement dimensions per character.
• Visualize multi-character sympathy spread.

Key Terms

Recognition

How distinctly a character registers as an individuated person — memorable traits, clear wants, a face in the crowd.

Alignment

How much the narration attaches us to a character: time spent with them and access to what they know and feel.

Allegiance

The audience’s moral rooting — sympathy earned (or lost) through the character’s evaluated actions.

Knowledge position

Whether the audience knows the same as the character (aligned), more (superior — suspense), or less (inferior — mystery).

Research References

• Murray Smith - Engaging Characters: Fiction, Emotion, and the Cinema (2nd ed.)
• Cohen (2001) Defining Identification: Audiences and Media Characters