All the objective characters have the fundamental desire to love and be loved.

The objective characters have a fundamental need to be loved and admired.  Othello, growing older, craves a woman’s love.  Desdemona, seeking love and adventure, falls for the experienced general.  Brabantio needs the love and devotion of his flesh and blood, and when Desdemona pledges her allegiance to Othello, he’s heartbroken and soon dies.  Roderigo, needing Desdemona’s affection, fights to win her even after she’s married.  Iago needs an overt sign of Othello’s admiration, the lieutenant post, and works to get it after Cassio is promoted ahead of him.

As Jonathan’s teacher says to Bruce before the final match, there is only so much you can teach a child—ultimately they are who they are. Fred is driven by his desire to protect Josh’s ability to play, saying that Josh is better at chess than he has been at anything in his life. As Fred tells Josh’s teacher at school, “He’s better at this than you’ll ever be at anything.” Bruce fears what the drive to play can do to Josh, and has to face his own demons in the process, ultimately playing speed chess for the thrill, and attending the championship. Josh has to balance his desire to win with his basic drive for fairness.

All the objective characters are concerned with their own and others’ romances.  Gatsby’s concerns include Daisy leaving Tom and becoming his wife; Daisy’s concerns include a chance at reliving her girlhood through a romantic fling with Gatsby—yet retaining her secure marriage with Tom; Tom is concerned with retaining both his wife, Daisy, and his mistress, Myrtle.  Myrtle would like to leave her husband, Wilson, and become the next Mrs. Tom Buchanan; Wilson is concerned with keeping his wife Myrtle; Nick and Jordan are halfway in love with each other.

Virtually everyone in the story has a fixed opinion about human nature, specifically about what drives human beings at their very core.  Mike is at first convinced that none of the Lords can be considered worthy of admiration, simply because of their class.  His opinion changes once he realizes their basic drives and desires are no different from the common folk.  Kittredge is driven to be one of the upper class, but deep down holds them in contempt as incurable snobs.  Seth Lord is certain his extramarital affairs are just a natural part of fulfilling his desire for loving attention.  Dexter has very definite opinions about what drives Tracy, even Dinah thinks she knows what’s best for Tracy and what (or who) will make her truly happy.

Most everyone in the Objective Story is concerned with finding the kind of love that will last for the rest of their lives. Serving as a Greek chorus, the documentary couples relay their love stories, while the Objective Characters search for Mr. or Ms. Right.