Glossary
Character Analysis through Actions
The method of discerning a character's underlying thoughts, feelings, and personality traits by observing what they physically do, especially when their actions contradict their stated intentions.
Example:
Despite claiming to be a loyal friend, Macbeth's character analysis through actions shows his ruthless ambition as he murders King Duncan to seize the throne.
Character Analysis through Choices
The process of understanding a character's true motivations, beliefs, and inner world by examining the decisions they make within the narrative.
Example:
When Elizabeth Bennet rejects Mr. Darcy's initial proposal in Pride and Prejudice, her character analysis through choices reveals her strong principles and refusal to marry for anything less than genuine affection.
Character Analysis through Speech
The examination of a character's dialogue, including their vocabulary, tone, rhetorical devices, and dialect, to reveal their intelligence, beliefs, background, and true intentions.
Example:
The witty banter and clever wordplay in Beatrice and Benedick's character analysis through speech in Much Ado About Nothing reveal their underlying affection and intelligence, despite their outward disdain.
Character Complexity
The multifaceted nature of a literary character, encompassing their layered emotions, conflicting motivations, and evolving desires, which makes them feel lifelike and relatable.
Example:
In The Great Gatsby, Jay Gatsby's pursuit of wealth and lavish parties, while seemingly superficial, masks a deep, almost childlike longing for a past love, revealing his profound character complexity.
Empathy (as a function of character complexity)
The audience's ability to understand and share the feelings or perspectives of a character, often fostered by revealing their complex motivations, vulnerabilities, and internal conflicts.
Example:
Despite his villainous acts, the revelation of Severus Snape's tragic backstory and hidden loyalties in Harry Potter elicits empathy from readers, complicating his portrayal.
Function of Character Complexity
The various narrative purposes served by a character's multifaceted nature, such as enhancing realism, generating tension, developing themes, and fostering audience empathy.
Example:
The function of character complexity in Frankenstein allows Mary Shelley to explore profound ethical questions about creation and responsibility through Victor Frankenstein's conflicted motivations.
Nuance (in characterization)
The subtle distinctions, variations, or shades of meaning in a character's personality, motivations, or behavior, which prevent simplistic interpretations and reveal deeper truths.
Example:
The nuance in Scout Finch's evolving understanding of Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird moves beyond initial fear to a profound appreciation of his quiet heroism.
Realism (as a function of character complexity)
The quality of a character feeling authentic and believable, achieved when their complex motivations, flaws, and contradictions mirror those of actual people.
Example:
The protagonist's struggle with moral dilemmas and imperfect decisions in The Catcher in the Rye contributes to the novel's realism, making Holden Caulfield feel like a genuinely troubled teenager.
Tension (as a function of character complexity)
The narrative suspense or conflict created by a character's internal struggles, conflicting desires, or external clashes with other complex characters.
Example:
The constant internal debate within Hamlet about revenge versus inaction generates significant dramatic tension throughout Shakespeare's play.
Themes (as a function of character complexity)
The way a character's struggles, development, and complex nature illuminate or embody the central ideas, messages, or universal truths explored within a literary work.
Example:
The tragic downfall of Jay Gatsby, driven by his unattainable dream, helps to develop the themes of the American Dream's corruption and the elusiveness of the past in Fitzgerald's novel.