8 probably see what the author wants to convey from the story. The minor
characters are characters who plays less important role than the main characters. Their appearance supports the main character to develop the story so that they
appear only in a certain setting. They do not endure the problem of the story.
2. Methods of Characterization
Murphy 1972, pp. 160-173 in Understanding Unseen: Introduction in English Poetry and the English Novel for Overseas Students
states that there are some ways of the author to make his or her characters understandable are:
a. Personal Description
The author can describe the person‘s appearance and clothes in the story. The author describes what the characters are like and tells the reader the details of
the characters‘ appearance such as the face, skin colours, eyes, hair, and the clothing.
b. Character as Seen by the Other Characters
Instead of describing the character directly, the author can describe a character through the eyes and opinions of another people in the story. The reader
gets as it were, a reflected image. In other words, the author describes a character in the story by letting another people in the story make an opinion toward the
character him or herself.
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c. Speech
The author can give the reader an insight into the character of one of the characters in the story through what the person says. Whenever a person speaks,
whenever he is in conversation with another, whenever he put forward an opinion, he is giving his readers clue to his character.
d. Past life
By letting the reader learn something about a person‘s past life, the author can give the readers a clue to events that have helped to
shape the person‘s character. This can be done by direct comment by the author, through the person‘s
thought, trough the conversation or through the medium of another person.
e. Conversation of Other Characters
The author can give the readers‘ clue to a person‘s characters through the conversation of other people and the things they say about the character. The clues
which the readers have, comes from the character who talk about the things they say to the character of the person who spoken about.
f. The Character’s Reaction to Various Situations and Events
The author can give the readers a clue to a person‘s characters by letting the readers know how that person reacts to various situations and events.
Therefore, through this reaction, the readers can understand the mental and moral qualities of the person in the story.
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g. Direct Comment of the Author
