On Narrative Progression

This article about narrative progression was very interesting. I was captured by the "Narrative Jugments: Seven Theses" section in which it is mentioned that audience response actually progresses along with the narrative progression. This is an important part of narrative considerations in prose because it shifts a large portion of the content choice to developing how one's audience will view your characters. I suddenly realized that the entire reason to write for an intended audience is actually to cause some kind of emotional response or judgement for the purpose of the story.

For instance, I wouldn't portray a villain's character in my memoir in such a way that the audience will perceive him or her as having valued traits. This would crush my intent to get a response from the audience from rhetorical choices so that the characters can be viewed ethically and morally. Most people don't agree that a bad person has good character traits. Simply putting it, I, personally, wouldn't have a happy emotional response to an antagonist who is a bad person but also has ethical situations and dialogue that would be valued by the reader. I would call that a bad story. The good guy is supposed to evoke judgments in all of us that we can see or desire within our own values, and would cause a positive emotional response from the reader.

I guess it's better to portray one's characters ethically and honestly for the best reader response.