These opposing characters create tension in the screenplay, and through "the chain of cause-and-effect", force the narrative to develop. Tesich does this in such a way that we as the viewers never question the integrity of the characters. According to Pam Cook, this "realist" aspect of classical narrative derives from two factors: verisimilitude in the diegetic world, and human agency. This is very true in this screenplay; Tesich creates a world enough like our own for us to recognise it. And secondly he creates believable characters with their own personal traits. For example, after the College students have beaten up Cyril, Mike takes the previous somewhat comical scene and flips it on its head, looking at the situation from a completely different point of view. This results in Cyril and Mike arguing about what actions to take, Cyril is more laid back about what has happened, whereas Mike is out for revenge. This does not seem strange to us, because it is what we would expect of the characters.
"In classical narrative, events in the story are organised around a basic structure of enigma and resolution." As Claude Levi-Strauss outlines for us: constant creation of conflict or opposition propels the narrative. Narrative can only end on the resolution on conflict. This is true for Breaking Away, at the very start of the movie there is conflict between Dave and his father, over Dave's constant imitation of his idols the Italian Cinzano cycling team, to the point where he actually changes his persona, and even shaves his legs. The tension between Dave and his father causes an argument that occurs in the first few minutes of the movie. This introduces us to two important characters and initiates the sub plot of Dave's relationship with his father. We learn of Dave's passion for cycling, and of his relationship with his father. As Syd Field writes "The way you drive your story forward is by focusing on the 'actions' of the character.