Purpose: This research aims to investigate and explain the possible applications of moral conflicts in the evolution of a dramatic character arc.
Methodology: In this interdisciplinary research, we have used three methods: empirical psychology to explore the inner life of characters, philosophical analysis to extract assumptions and logical tools, and artistic hermeneutics to discover the meaning of works.
Findings: For a dramatic character facing moral conflicts, eleven stages can be identified. These stages depict how the character transforms through their internal and external actions. The stages are: 1) Initial state; 2) The emergence of the moral conflict; 3) Denial and struggle to avoid the conflict; 4) Failure and anger; 5) Doubting the ethical principle; 6) Despair; 7) Acceptance and return to ethics; 8) Decision-making for the least costly option; 9) Ethical action; 10) Costs and benefits of ethical action; 11) Reaction to the incurred costs of the action.
Conclusion: In moral conflicts, characters must face their most challenging ethical choices, which could lead to the most crucial transformations in their arcs and are among the essential factors shaping a character's dramatic arc.