10 all the variations and complexities of human nature. It can move us to any
feelings, emotions and makes the novel becomes more interesting.
2. Characterization a. Definition of Characterization
Rohrberger and Wood, Jr. 20 state the opinion that characterization as the process by which an author creates character. It is like the way of the author to
describe the characters to the readers. Every character in the story has different personality and physical attributes that will differentiate with another character.
According to Baldick 34 characterization is the representation of persons in narrative and dramatic works. This may include direct methods like the
attribution of qualities in description or commentaries, and indirect methods inviting the readers to infer qualities from characters’ actions, speech, and
appearance.
b. Ways of Characterization
Murphy in his book Understanding Unseens: An Introduction to English Poetry and English Novel for Overseas Students 161-173 defines nine ways to
understand character. There are: 1
Personal description The author can describe a person’s appearance and clothing. He can
describe clearly what the characters are like and tell the reader the details of the character’s appearance: the face, skin, eyes, and clothing.
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11 2
Characters as seen by others The author describe the character from others character opinion. The author
helps the reader to understand the character by revealing other character opinion about the character being observed.
3 Speech
The author can give the readers an insight into the character of one of the person in the story through what the person says. Whenever the person speaks,
whenever he puts forward the opinion, he is giving the readers some clues to his characters.
4 Past Life
The author shows a person’s character by revealing the person’s past life. It can be done by direct comment from the author, through the person’s
conversation, and through the medium of the other person. 5
Conversation of others The author can also give the readers clues about a person’s character
through the conversation, either by other people or by the things, they say about him.
6 Reactions
The author gives the clues by letting the readers know how the characters in the story react to various situations. Using this kind of characterization, the
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12 readers may expect to find the quality of the characters in dealing with those
various situations. 7
Direct comment Usually the author gives his comment and opinion explicitly towards his
characters in the story. 8
Thoughts The author may give the readers direct knowledge of what a person is
thinking about. Here, he can tell the readers what different people are thinking. 9
Mannerism The author can describe a person’s mannerism or habits both positive and
negative one, which may also tell the readers something about his character. Little in his book Approach of Literature , states that there are three steps to
study a character 93. First is from a person’s basic characteristics. These can be seen from the physical condition of the character including a person’s age, the
social relationship that means the personal relationship with others characters and the mental qualities, which is the typical ways of thinking, feeling, and acting.
Second is from a person’s appearance from various points of view. These include how the character sees herself, how various other characters see her, and
how a person develops or fails to develops during the course of story. Third is from a person’s place in the works. It means the treatment of the
author sketch or fully rounded, a portrayed descriptively or dramatically, treated
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13 sympathetically or unsympathetically, a person’s place in the story a leading
character or a minor one, and a person’s relationship to theme.
3. Critical Approach
