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Character in a story can be categorized into two types, major character and minor character. According to Stanton 1965, major character is a character that
may dominate the whole story and is frequently presented in it. Meanwhile, minor character is presented in order to explain and help the others character, especially
the major character pp. 17-18. Perrine 1974 classifies fictional characters into static and dynamic
character. Static characters are character that changes little in their outlook or personalities during the course of the study. They are described without many
details and they are not changed by circumstances. Dynamic characters are those who undergo changes in some aspects of their characters, personalities or outlook
from the beginning to the end of the story. The changes could be for better or for worse and may be a large or small one, but it is something that is important and
basic, and more than a minor change in opinion p. 71. Foster 1974, p. 21 states that there are two kinds of character. Those are
flat and round character. Flat character is a static character which develops in a single idea or quality. There is no detail of the character in the novel and we see
only one side of the character, while round character is dynamic and complex in temperament. It is not just static but also dynamic and always changes, therefore
the action of the character is unpredictable or hard to guess by the reader, and rather difficult to be described.
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b. Characterization
In order to make the analysis of the character of Sheila much easier, there are several ways needed to be conducted. Murphy 1972: pp. 161-172 explains
that there are nine ways to know the characterization.
The first way is personal description. Personal description is the way the
author describes the physical appearance and clothes of the character. It is intended to help the reader to visualize the characters based on what they wear or
they look. In knowing the characterization of a character, the reader can see from other characters’ eyes and opinion about him or her. The encounters between one
character and other characters will open a chance for the other character to explain and judge the characteristics of a character. It means that the reader will know the
characteristics of a character as seen by another. The third way of characterization is the speech of the character itself. The
author is giving the readers an insight into the character of one person in the book through what the person says. Whenever the person speaks something, he or she
always gives us some clues to his or her character. By learning something about a
person’s past life, the author can give them a clue of events that have helped to
shape a person’s character. This can be done through a direct comment from the author, through the person’s thought, through the conversation or through the
medium of another person. Through the conversation of the other people about a person, people can take clues of the person’s character. This way is slightly
different from understanding characterization using speech. The conversation of others will make the reader automatically understand a person’s character through
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a conversation between two people about someone and they say their opinion about someone.
Reaction is the next way of characterization from Murphy 1972. In
analyzing a person’s character, the author gives a clue to the reader to know a person’s character through the person’s reaction to various situations and events.
The way a person responds to something helps the reader to see hisher real character. It is also possible for the author to describe or comment on a person’s
character in the story directly. The author will describe a person’s character based on his or her point of view towards the character. The character of a person can be
analyzed through the character’s direct comment.
Murphy 1972, p. 171 clarifies that “the author can give us direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about.” The author is able to do what
human beings cannot do in a real life. The author can tell the readers the difference thought of people. In this part, the readers will take a position as good
observers in concluding what comes to their mind about a person’s character through what he or she is thinking about. This characterization’s way is called as
thoughts. Moreover, a person’s mannerism, habits, or idiosyncrasies may also tell the readers about the character. Mannerism is the way to understand a person’s
character through his or her behavior. This will help the readers to know easily what kind of a person heshe is.
