Success in Daniel Plainview's arc is portrayed as a singular pursuit, leading him to dismiss empathy and relationships, resulting in a progressive moral corruption . For Louis Bloom, success is tied to professional achievement, leading him to disregard basic morals to capture news, resulting in an anti-hero transformation . Both characters see success as paramount, but while Plainview becomes isolated in his corruption, Bloom's success-driven immorality places him within darker societal critique.

Jaggu's belief that no one is inherently bad and everyone deserves love forms the basis of her flat arc, meaning her inherent beliefs remain unchallenged and unchanged throughout the story . In contrast, Daniel Plainview's belief in money and success leads to a negative change arc, characterized by increasing moral corruption and detachment from others . This juxtaposition highlights varying impacts of personal beliefs on character transformation.

Juror 8's steadfast belief in the defendant's innocence is crucial to '12 Angry Men's' resolution. His unwavering stance in the face of unanimous opposition sets the foundation for critical examination of the evidence, provoking doubt and discussion among other jurors . This steadfastness implies that firm belief, when paired with reason and patience, can lead to truth and justice, influencing others to reconsider and eventually align with his perspective.

Nader's self-perception as a responsible man who is fair and truthful is central to his negative change arc . His journey through 'A Separation' reveals the conflict between perceived morality and lived actions. As the story unfolds, Nader's certainty is challenged, leading to self-doubt about his moral convictions. This reveals how self-perception can falter when confronted with complex realities, highlighting the nuanced relationship between self-image and moral integrity.

Moral ambiguity is central to both Daniel Plainview's and Nader's narratives, though it manifests differently. Daniel's arc in 'There Will Be Blood' reflects increasing moral corruption, driven by his belief that only money and success matter, resulting in a disillusionment arc where his ruthless pursuit blurs moral lines . Conversely, Nader's arc in 'A Separation' involves an internal struggle with his moral beliefs as his certainty is challenged, leading to self-doubt but not complete transformation . Both arcs highlight how rigid initial beliefs can lead to morally ambiguous outcomes.

Jaggu's flat arc in 'PK', where her inherent belief in the goodness and love deserving nature of all individuals remains robust, emphasizes the power of steadfast positive beliefs in storytelling . In contrast, Louis Bloom's corruption arc in 'Nightcrawler' shows how inherent beliefs centered on ambition can lead to moral decay . This contrast highlights the diverse narrative potential of inherent beliefs, illustrating how they can drive characters toward either ethical conviction or moral erosion.

In 'There Will Be Blood', Daniel Plainview's arc shows little awareness of moral decline as he prioritizes success, resulting in deepening corruption without self-reflection . Meanwhile, in 'A Separation', Nader's arc involves growing awareness of his moral ambiguity and self-doubt, highlighting a nuanced journey towards ethical realization . These arcs signify that while not all characters gain insight into their ethical transformation, those with self-awareness can undergo profound internal conflict and recognition of their moral state, even without complete transformation.

Daniel Plainview's belief that money and success are the only important things contribute to his negative change arc, specifically a disillusionment arc . As the story progresses, his ambition leads to increased moral corruption. His transformation is characterized by a growing disconnect from empathy and relationships, reinforcing his belief that such attachments are obstacles to success.

Louis Bloom in 'Nightcrawler' and Nader in 'A Separation' both experience negative change arcs, but with differing implications. Louis Bloom's belief that work and ambition justify ignoring morals leads him to corruption and the deepening of his antihero persona . Nader, on the other hand, starts with a belief in his moral correctness, but as events unfold, he enters a disillusionment arc where his certainty is challenged, leading to self-doubt rather than corruption .

A flat character arc involves a protagonist who remains largely unchanged throughout the story, maintaining their beliefs despite external pressures . In '12 Angry Men', Juror 8's arc is flat because he consistently believes in the defendant's innocence and does not waver from this belief, despite the initial opposition from other jurors. He ultimately remains steadfast, resulting in the jury's unanimous decision aligning with his original stance .