Dialogue that does double duty: How to advance plot and reveal character

Dialogue isn’t just there to make characters sound like they’re speaking. It’s one of the most powerful

tools in a novelist’s kit. The right line of dialogue can move the story forward, deepen a character’s personality, and sometimes even hint at future conflicts. 

When your dialogue serves multiple purposes, it pulls more weight, making your prose more efficient and engaging. Here are four well-known literary examples of how you can achieve this.

1. Dialogue that establishes relationships and foreshadows conflict

Consider Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. When Mr. Darcy famously remarks to Elizabeth Bennet at the Meryton assembly, “She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me,” it’s not just a comment on her appearance. 

This line sets up the dynamic between the two characters: Darcy’s initial pride, Elizabeth’s offence, and the tension and chemistry that drive the plot. In a single moment, Austen reveals Darcy’s arrogance and Elizabeth’s wounded pride and lays the groundwork for their adversarial relationship, which evolves as the story progresses.

2. Dialogue that reveals character flaws and tensions

In Joan Didion’s Play It As It Lays, the clipped, sparse conversations between Maria and Carter highlight the emotional void in their relationship. 

Carter’s dismissive tone and Maria’s terse responses reveal their mutual alienation, Maria’s deepening despair, and Carter’s inability or unwillingness to connect. By using dialogue that feels more like a verbal tug-of-war, Didion not only moves the story forward but also gives readers insight into the growing cracks in Maria’s life.

3. Dialogue that drives action while feflecting emotional depth

Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises is often praised for its spare, impactful dialogue. When Jake Barnes tells Lady Brett Ashley, “You’re damned nice. You’re damned nice now,” it seems simple, but it’s layered with longing and frustration. 

In just a few words, Hemingway moves their story forward by revealing Jake’s feelings while also exposing the heartbreak of their situation. The dialogue conveys a sense of emotional restraint, which is typical of Hemingway’s characters, and hints at the unresolved tension that underpins their relationship.

4. Dialogue that balances wit and subtle exposition

In Martin Amis’s Money, the main character, John Self, uses sharp, sarcastic exchanges to entertain and expose his vices and insecurities. For example, when Self jokes about his excessive drinking, his dialogue might seem humorous at first glance. 

However, it also reveals the deeper self-loathing and recklessness driving his choices. Amis keeps the plot rolling through witty, biting lines and gives the reader a sharper understanding of Self’s chaotic, self-destructive personality.

Finally: How to make your dialogue do double duty

When writing dialogue, think about what each line needs to accomplish. If a character must reveal a secret, consider how they might do so in a way that highlights their personality: nervous rambling, biting sarcasm, or quiet resignation. 

Let the dialogue drop subtle hints or misdirect the reader just enough if you need to set up a plot twist. Consider what a character’s tone, choice of words, or level of formality says about their relationship with the other person in the scene.

Instead of using dialogue to deliver information, use it to show how characters think and feel, what they’re hiding, and what they want. This will create exchanges that feel richer, more authentic, and more essential to your story’s overall impact.