Portraying Change: Why Actors and Writers Need Empathy for Growing Characters
Because Characters Aren’t Born Ready
Writing Human Growth into Historical Figures
Imagine you're a young German, born in 1917.
The First World War is still raging, so you grow up under economic stress, constant propaganda against “the French”, while Germany, your country, slides into Nazi dictatorship. Yes, there’s a historical person who experienced this.
Fritz Hartnagel was born in 1917, in Germany. He is often remembered as the boyfriend of Sophie Scholl, the young woman who became a central figure in the “White Rose” resistance movement against Nazi Germany. Hartnagel’s story, however, stands out on its own.
Imagine you're a young man and, under pressure from your family, you decide to become a soldier. Then the Second World War starts... and you're part of the German military machine.
Hartnagel was German soldier during World War II, his personal transformation—from a patriot eager to serve his country to a man who realised the war was unjust—reflects the challenges faced by many young people in difficult times. His journey illustrates that youth is a time for experimentation, mistakes and the gradual formation of values. In this way, Fritz Hartnagel is a reminder that no one is born with a fixed moral compass, and that growth is a fundamental part of being young. Understanding Fritz Hartnagel’s evolving perspective on the war provides insight into the complexities of youth, especially in times of turmoil.
From Mistakes to Moral Clarity: Understanding a Character's Journey
Imagine you were raised in a generation caught between the horrors of World War I, an economic downfall, and the weight of national pride.
In the beginning, like many young men of his time, you might have felt a sense of duty to defend his homeland. So did Fritz. He joined the “Wehrmacht” (German military) in the 1930s, likely seeing it as an opportunity to serve and protect his country.
Fritz thoroughly enjoined training younger soldiers, and he made it his life’s work to be a good leader for the group of soldiers he had to train.
At this point, Hartnagel, like so many of his peers, did not fully grasp the magnitude of Hitler’s plans or the brutal consequences of the regime's ideology.
Why Growth and Change Make Historical Characters More Relatable
This early period in Hartnagel's life is important to consider when we think about the development of young minds. Youth is a time when ideals and beliefs are shaped, often through trial and error.
People do not enter adulthood with fully formed beliefs about politics, morality, or even themselves.
Much like Hartnagel, many young people start with a desire to belong, to follow a path set out by authority figures, without necessarily questioning its broader implications. But as they gain experiences and face challenges, their perspectives shift.
In Hartnagel's case, his transformation did not happen overnight. As a soldier on the front line, he witnessed the horrors of war - the death, the destruction and the deep moral contradictions that came with serving a regime like Nazi Germany. He heard rumours of mass killings in Russia. He saw with his own eyes how his squad of soldiers desperately searched for firewood and couldn't get any. He learnt that sometimes it was better to keep quiet, and to deliberate when to speak freely to fellow soldiers and superiors. As he was sent around war-torn Europe—the Netherlands, the Balkans, Greece, Germany, Poland, Russia, etc.—he met many people, both soldiers and civilians, who were suffering from the ongoing Second World War. As a historian, I was able to read most of his letters in a Munich archive. It was a gripping to read how he navigated the difficult personal situations he was in.
Now imagine you start doubting your choices. Your inner world is crumbling, while the war keeps crossing your personal life plans.
Through his experiences, Hartnagel began to question the purpose of the war and, eventually, the actions of Hitler’s government. His relationship with Sophie Scholl, who was involved in the White Rose, a non-violent resistance group from Munich/Germany, also helped shape his evolving understanding of the world. Sophie, with her strong moral conviction, helped Hartnagel see the conflict for what it truly was: not a defense of Germany, but a violent and unjust campaign led by a dictator.
Flawed, Not Fixed: How to Portray Evolving Historical Characters
Hartnagel’s letters to Sophie provide a window into his changing thoughts. At first, he struggled with conflicting emotions—his loyalty to his fellow soldiers and the duty he felt as a German citizen, versus his growing awareness of the immorality of the Nazi regime. Over time, Hartnagel’s correspondence reveals a man wrestling with guilt, regret and an increasing understanding of the inhumanity around him. His inner journey was painful, but it was also profoundly human. It is a testament to the fact that young people are allowed to make mistakes, and that it’s through these mistakes that real growth occurs.
Writing and Acting with Empathy: The Importance of Understanding Growth
Youth is often romanticised as a time of clarity and purpose, but in reality, it’s usually a period of uncertainty. There is pressure on young people to make the “right” choices, to find themselves quickly, and to always have a firm grasp on their values. Yet, this is rarely how life works. The story of Fritz Hartnagel shows us that it’s okay to be wrong at times. It’s okay to start down one path, only to realise later that it’s not the right one. It’s okay to evolve, to question, to change. This is how values are formed—slowly, and through a process of discovery.
Imagine you were NOT born with an innate understanding of the political situation in Germany, nor did you instantly know that the war was wrong. Like most people, your beliefs and values developed over time, influenced by the world around you and the people you met.
Hartnagel’s friendship with Sophie Scholl and the other members of the White Rose ultimately pushed him to see beyond his initial beliefs, helping him to confront the harsh realities of the regime he once served.
Now imagine: Your girlfriend Sophie, her brother and friends suddenly get executed after their fight against Hitler had been found out.
Your beheaded girlfriend’s family is put into jail.
But you continue to help them, even though this brings you disadvantages in the German military. You’re grieving a lost future with your girlfriend, but can’t let people see it.
By the time the war ended, Hartnagel had become a deeply reflective man—forever changed by the events he had lived through. After the war, he studied law and became a judge in post-war Germany, and was an active member in the German anti-nuclear movement and Peace movement during the 1980s.
What Can We Learn From This For Writing and Acting with Empathy?
What does it say about the importance of understanding growth, especially when we, as writers or actors, research a person’s biography so that we can recreate the past in our stories? Maybe this.
It’s important to remember that developing a strong set of values takes time.
Young people need the space to experiment, to fail, to learn.
They should *not* be expected to know everything from the start, nor should they be judged harshly for decisions made in moments of uncertainty.
Forcing your characters to do this in your stories is fundamentally wrong.
Embracing Human Flaws: Why Historical Characters Should Grow Over Time
This understanding is crucial for those who write about the past or play historical figures in films. When writing a character like Fritz Hartnagel, or portraying him on screen, it’s essential to capture the complexity of his personal evolution. He wasn’t a hero from the start, nor was he a villain. He was just a young man trying to make sense of a chaotic and morally confusing world.
As an actor or writer, you need to approach such characters with empathy, acknowledging the humanity in their mistakes and the importance of their growth.
The same holds true for any figure from history—they weren’t born with a fixed set of values, and neither should the characters you bring to life.
In the end, Fritz Hartnagel’s story reminds us that growth is an integral part of being human, especially during youth. It’s a process that should be embraced, not avoided.
And if you’re writing about or portraying someone from history, this aspect of their journey should inform your approach—allowing you to create characters that are not just figures from the past, but fully realised human beings with all their flaws and complexities.
Want To Read More?
On Fritz Hartnagel: I can recommend this biography in German, and this book with selected letters that Hartnagel’s son has annotated, also in German.
On the Resistance movement called the “White Rose”, a group of German students in Munich: Check out these pages (in English) at https://www.weisse-rose-stiftung.de/white-rose-resistance-group/
The fabulous Marina Amaral, a digital colorist from Brasil, has colorised an 1942 photo from the White Rose resistance group. She wrote about their story here (paywall).
Written by Dr. Barbara, historian with German precision. Unreasonably fast reader 📚. 800 pages before lunch ☕. Helps actors & writers prepare biopics 🎬 and historical roles using forgotten archives, letters, and diaries 📜. More at https://withdrbarbara.com/