from the beginning to the end of the story. The character’s personality is revealed in the interaction with others. While minor characters appear in certain setting or
just becomes the background of the major one. Their roles are less important than those of the major characters.
2.1.2 Characterization
I use the theories of characterization proposed by Greenville, Thrall and Hibbart, and Murphy to understand Marguerite’s characters. Characterization is
the process of creating the character. According to Greenville 36, characterization is everything that the writers do to build up the characters.
Moreover, it is the process of transforming the real-life people into fiction characters. Therefore, the way of the author creates the character can be seen
through the characters’ dialogues and actions. According to Thrall and Hibbart 81, there are three important methods of
characterization. The first is an explicit presentation through direct exposition that is illustrated by action. The second is a presentation of character by action with
little comments from the author so that the readers can recognize the character through the actions. The third is a presentation within the character without the
comment from the author. It also presents the emotion and action in the character itself so that the readers will understand the attributes of the character.
Additionally, Murphy 161-173 states that there are nine ways of characterization. He says that the author tries to make the character alive for his
readers. The explanation for each way will be given as follows. The first way is
personal description. The author may portray a person’s character based on appearance and clothes. He can tell the details of the character’s appearance such
as face, skin, body, hair and clothes. The readers may see the character’s appearance by looking at the person’s clothes.
The second way is character as seen by another. The author may also describe the character through the eyes and opinion of others instead of describing
the character directly. He represents the character’s performance and personality by letting other characters in the story convey to their readers what they are like
based on the character that they encounter. The readers may gain the description as a reflected image.
The third way is speech. The author describes one of the characters in the story through what he says. Whenever the character speaks or states an opinion,
he is giving some clues to his character. The fourth way is past life. The author may give the past life of one
character in the story in order to understand the character. He gives some events that have helped to shape a person’s character by learning something from
someone’s past life in the story. He may reveal a person’s character by giving direct comment, through the person’s thought, through conversation with others or
the medium of another person. The fifth way is conversation with others. The author may give clues to the
readers in order to show the person’s character through conversation with other characters. People often talk about other people. And the matter of the
conversation can give us reference to the person’s character.
