4.2 Character Development and Analysis
4 min read•july 30, 2024
Characters are the heart of any novel. They drive the plot, embody themes, and connect readers to the story. Understanding how authors craft complex, evolving characters is key to grasping the novel's deeper meaning.
Round characters feel real, with flaws and growth. Flat characters serve specific plot functions. Authors reveal character through direct description and indirect clues. and development propel the story forward and bring themes to life.
Round vs Flat Characters
Characteristics of Round Characters
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- Complex, multi-dimensional characters that undergo significant development and change throughout the course of a story
- Have conflicting motivations, strengths and flaws that make them relatable and realistic
- The is typically a , as their journey and development is central to the plot and themes of the novel
- Major secondary characters are often round to add depth and realism to the story world (Hamlet, Elizabeth Bennet)
Characteristics of Flat Characters
- One-dimensional, simple characters that typically do not change much over the course of the story
- Often embody a single trait or idea and primarily serve to advance the plot or support the development of the main characters
- Antagonists can be round or flat, depending on their complexity and role in the story
- Minor characters are frequently flat as they play a smaller role in the overall narrative (Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice)
Direct vs Indirect Characterization
Techniques of Direct Characterization
- Explicitly tells the reader about a character's traits, motivations or background
- Through the narrator's description
- A character's own thoughts or dialogue
- Another character's observations
- A character's private thoughts, emotions, fears and motivations provide direct insight into their inner world and psychology
- Inner monologue and reactions show how a character processes events
Techniques of Indirect Characterization
- Reveals a character's traits and motivations implicitly through:
- The character's actions, speech, appearance
- How other characters respond to them
- Requires the reader to make inferences based on textual evidence
- A character's appearance, including their clothing, possessions, and mannerisms, can provide indirect insight into their personality, social status, values and self-perception
- Authors often use a character's surroundings and possessions as symbols of their inner traits
- How a character interacts with and is perceived by other characters reveals aspects of their personality and relationships
- A character's treatment of others and their role in conflicts can unveil their values, beliefs and flaws
- Authors may use a mixture of direct and to gradually reveal different facets of a character over the course of the novel
- Controls the reader's understanding and when key traits are unveiled for dramatic effect
Character Impact on Plot
Relationships and Conflicts Drive Plot
- Character relationships form the basis for many of the central conflicts that drive the plot of a novel forward
- How characters' goals, values and personalities clash creates rising action and tension
- Familial relationships and friendships impact a character's development and often lie at the heart of their motivations and struggles
- Dysfunctional family dynamics or challenges to friendship can be key subplots (Hamlet and his mother, the March sisters in Little Women)
- Romantic relationships frequently form a core part of the plot
- The development of the relationship from initial attraction to resolution mirrors the arc of the overall story structure
- Romantic conflicts like love triangles heighten drama (Elizabeth, Darcy and Wickham in Pride and Prejudice)
Interactions Propel Story Forward
- Antagonistic relationships between characters, whether hero/villain, rivals, or foils, generate external conflicts that propel the story
- How characters respond to and grow from these conflicts is crucial to their arc
- Character flaws and internal conflicts influence their relationships and interactions with other characters
- A character's personal struggles are often projected outwards onto their external conflicts with others
- A character's key interactions and relationships at different points in the novel often align with important plot points
- The inciting incident, rising action, climax and resolution
- Each interaction moves the plot forward
Character Growth and Change
Significance to Theme and Meaning
- and change is often central to the theme and message of a literary work
- A character's transformation represents the novel's overarching meaning about human nature or society
- The protagonist's usually closely mirrors the narrative arc of the plot as a whole
- As they develop new traits, overcome flaws, learn important lessons, or have key realizations
- Analyzing the key stages of a character's growth, the influences and events that spur their development, and the overall meaning of their transformation is crucial to interpreting the novel's themes and messages
Catalysts for Character Development
- Characters usually must undergo significant growth and change in order to resolve the central conflict of the novel
- Whether that is an internal struggle within themselves or an external challenge they face
- A character's growth is often catalyzed by pivotal moments like the inciting incident or climax of the novel
- Setbacks and challenges force them to adapt, learn and change in order to succeed
- How a character changes over the course of the novel determines whether the story is one of triumph and redemption or tragedy and downfall
- The character arc is crucial to the emotional impact of the ending (Sydney Carton's redemption in A Tale of Two Cities)
- The significance of a character's growth and transformation is often underscored by contrasting them with flat or static characters who do not change
- The differences highlight the impacts of the character arc
Key Terms to Review (20)
Antagonist: An antagonist is a character or force that opposes the protagonist, creating conflict in a story. This opposition can come from other characters, society, or even internal struggles within the protagonist, driving the narrative forward and influencing character development and plot progression.
Archetypal criticism: Archetypal criticism is an analytical approach that focuses on recurring symbols, themes, and character types in literature, rooted in the idea that these archetypes resonate universally across cultures and time periods. This method examines how these archetypes shape character development and narrative structure, revealing deeper meanings and connections in literary works.
Character Arc: A character arc is the transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story. It illustrates how a character evolves, often as a response to the events of the plot and their interactions with other characters, and it plays a critical role in driving the narrative forward.
Character Growth: Character growth refers to the transformation or development that a character undergoes throughout a narrative, often as a result of experiences, challenges, and personal reflections. This growth can reveal deeper layers of a character's personality and often drives the plot forward, making it an essential element in character development and analysis.
Character relationships: Character relationships refer to the connections, interactions, and emotional bonds between characters within a narrative. These relationships help to shape character development and drive the plot, as they reveal motivations, conflicts, and growth throughout the story.
Coming-of-age: Coming-of-age is a literary theme that refers to the transition from youth to adulthood, focusing on the personal growth and self-discovery of a character. This theme often explores the challenges and experiences that lead to maturity, shaping an individual's identity and understanding of the world. It typically involves significant life events or realizations that prompt characters to confront their values, beliefs, and relationships.
Direct characterization: Direct characterization is a narrative technique where the author explicitly describes a character's traits, personality, and motivations. This method allows readers to understand characters quickly and deeply through straightforward descriptions rather than having to infer qualities from their actions or dialogue. It serves as a critical element in character development, helping to establish emotional connections and drive the story's plot.
Dynamic Character: A dynamic character is a character who undergoes significant internal change throughout the story, often in response to events and conflicts. This evolution can be seen in their thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs, making them more complex and relatable. The development of dynamic characters plays a crucial role in the narrative, as their transformations often drive the plot forward and influence other characters.
External conflict: External conflict refers to the struggle between a character and an outside force, which can include other characters, society, nature, or even fate. This type of conflict is crucial for advancing the plot and developing characters, as it often drives them to face challenges that reveal their true nature and growth throughout the narrative.
Flat Character: A flat character is a type of character in literature that is relatively uncomplicated and does not undergo significant change or development throughout the story. These characters are often defined by a single trait or idea, making them predictable and easy to understand. They serve specific roles within the narrative, often providing contrast to more complex characters and helping to move the plot forward.
Foil: A foil is a character in a story who contrasts with another character, usually the protagonist, to highlight particular qualities of the other character. This technique helps to enhance the audience's understanding of the main character by emphasizing their traits, motivations, and development through the use of juxtaposition. Foils can help illustrate themes and add depth to character interactions.
Indirect characterization: Indirect characterization is a literary technique used to reveal a character's personality, traits, and motivations through their actions, speech, thoughts, appearance, and how other characters respond to them. This approach allows readers to infer deeper insights about characters rather than being directly told by the narrator, enhancing the complexity and richness of character development in storytelling.
Internal Conflict: Internal conflict refers to a psychological struggle within a character, often involving competing desires, emotions, or beliefs. This conflict can drive the character's development and impact the overall narrative, as it can affect their decisions, relationships, and actions throughout the story.
Love interest: A love interest refers to a character in a narrative who is the object of romantic affection for another character. This term is crucial in storytelling as it often drives the plot, influences character development, and helps reveal the emotional landscape of the characters involved. The dynamics between a love interest and the protagonist can lead to conflict, growth, and pivotal moments in the narrative.
Protagonist: The protagonist is the main character in a story, play, or narrative who drives the plot forward and is often faced with challenges or conflicts that must be resolved. This character's experiences, decisions, and growth typically shape the story's central themes and engage the audience's emotions.
Psychological Realism: Psychological realism is a literary technique that seeks to depict the inner thoughts, feelings, and motivations of characters in a way that mirrors real human psychology. It emphasizes the complexity of characters' mental states and how these influence their actions and relationships, allowing readers to gain insight into the characters' true selves beyond their external behaviors.
Round character: A round character is a complex, fully developed character in a story who displays a range of emotions and personality traits, making them more relatable and realistic. These characters undergo growth or change throughout the narrative, which helps to engage readers and allows for deeper exploration of themes and motivations.
Static Character: A static character is one who remains unchanged throughout the story, experiencing little to no internal growth or transformation. This type of character often serves a specific purpose in the narrative, either as a foil to dynamic characters or to maintain consistency in the storyline, allowing other elements like plot and theme to develop without distraction.
Symbolism: Symbolism is a literary device where symbols are used to represent ideas, themes, or concepts beyond their literal meaning. This technique enhances the depth of a narrative, allowing for a richer interpretation of characters, settings, and themes, while also inviting readers to engage with the text on multiple levels.
Tragic flaw: A tragic flaw is a character trait or weakness in a protagonist that ultimately leads to their downfall in a narrative. This concept is central to understanding character development, as it reveals how a character's internal struggles and decisions can shape their fate. Recognizing a tragic flaw can also help identify overarching themes and central ideas in the story, illustrating how personal choices influence larger outcomes.