One way the Enneagram can be useful is in identifying motivations for different characters. Each Enneagram Type has a secret fear, which isn’t true, but which drives their actions and reactions. These underlying false fears can be helpful in choosing characters’ behavior over the course of the play.
One: Mistakes are unacceptable.
Two: I am not lovable.
Three: I am what I do.
Four: No one understands me/there is something wrong with me.
Five: I am not competent to handle the demands of life.
Six: The world is not safe.
Seven: I can’t count on people to be there for me.
Eight: Only the strong survive.
Nine: I don’t matter much.
A story is a journey, and in the resolution, often the central character has grown and developed. One way to show this is to have the character act in a way that belies the false belief they used to hold. For example, a Seven could make a commitment to another person. An Eight could show great vulnerability. A One could let go of a mistake. These behaviors clearly demonstrate the main character’s arc to a healthier, more integrated self.
More on the Enneagram in Part 3.