Theory of Critical Approaches
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Third is speech. The author is able to give the readers an insight into the character of one of the persons in the book through what the person says. The
most important evidence of all is the character’s own dialogue and behaviour. Stanton 1965 adds that in good fiction, every speech, every action is not only a
step in the plot, but also a manifestation of character p. 18. The fourth is past life. An author can give readers a clue to events that have
helped to shape a person’s character by letting them learn something about a person’s past life. This can be done through the person’s thoughts, the person’s
conversations, the medium of another person or by direct comment by the author. This knowledge may help the readers to explain why a person behaves and acts as
he does at the present time. Fifth is conversation of others. Character may also be presented through
conversation of others and what other characters say about certain character. People do talk about other people and the things they say often give as a clue to
the character of the person spoken about. The sixth is reactions. An author can also give readers a clue to a
person’s character by letting them know how that person reacts to various situations and
events. Gill 1995 adds that the way in which a character is reacting is one of the main ways in which authors create personality p. 144. An author can make
everything a character does important. Next is direct comment. The
author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly. The author can
describe or comment on a person’s character directly through the narration, especially in third-person narrator. The
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characterization in this way is done by giving the readers a straightforward description about or comment on the character. It helps the readers to find out
information on the character easily. The eight is thoughts. The author can give the readers direct knowledge of
what a person is thinking about. In the novel, the author can tell the readers what the characters think. The readers then are in a privileged position; they have an
access to the private thoughts of a person in a novel. The last is mannerisms.
The author can describe a person’s mannerisms, habits or eccentricity which may also tell us something about his character. Some
writers, who occupied their novels with hosts of characters, try to distinguish the flat ones by giving each a single odd physical feature on mannerism.