The person is described not as an individualized personality but as an example of some vice or virtue or type, such as a busybody, a glutton, a fop, a bumpkin, a
garrulous old man, a happy milkmaid, etc. 1986: 81.
It is also stated that there are a static character and a dynamic character. A static character is one who changes little. A dynamic character is one who is changed by
actions and experiences 1986: 83.
While Forster in the book entitled Aspects of the Novel, divided characters into flat and round characters. Round characters are usually the major figures in a
story. They have many realistic traits and are relatively fully developed by the author. For this reason, they are often given names hero and heroine while the flat characters
are essentially undistinguishable from their group or class. Therefore, they are not individual, but representative. They are usually minor characters, although not all
minor characters are flat. Usually they stay the same; they are static, and not dynamic like round characters 1974: 46.
Theory of character is needed to support the writer on doing an analysis toward Soroku Okamoto. This theory is useful to help the writer to answer the
problem formulation about what sort of character Soroku is.
2. Theory of Characterization
Characterization according to Holman and Harmon in A handbook of Literature
is the ways the author reveals the characters of imaginary person in the story 1986: 81. In another words, characterization is the way the author presents the
characters in the story. In the other hands, according to Rohrberger and Woods,
characterization is “the process by which an author creates a character, the devices
by which he make us believe a character is like particular person he is” 1971: 20 According to Murphy, 1972: 161-173, there are nine ways how the author
reveals the personalities of the characters to the reader.
a. Personal Description It is the way on how the author can describe a person’s appearance and
clothes. b. Character as seen by another
It is the way the author can describe a character through the eyes and opinions of another.
c. Speech The author can give the readers an insight into a person’s character through
what the person said. Whenever a person speaks in conversation, or gives an opinion, he gives a clue that the readers may know how his character is.
d. Past life The author can give the readers clue to events that have helped to shape a
person’s character by letting the readers learn something about a person’s past life. e. Conversation of others
Characters can be seen through the conversations of other people and the things they say about him.
f. Reactions To describe a person, the author can show how the person reacts to various
situations and events which allow the readers to get a clue to his character. g. Direct comment
The author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly. h. Thoughts
The author can describe a person’s character by giving the readers knowledge of what the person is thinking about.
i. Mannerism It suggests that the author can convey something about a person by describing
his mannerism, habits, or idiosyncrasies. Characterization must follow three principles in order to be convincing.
Firstly, the characters in the story must have a consistency in the way they behave. This consistency might be broken if only there is a sufficient reason to explain this
change of behaviour. Secondly, whatever the characters do, they must have clear motivations especially when they break the consistency of their behaviour. Finally,
the characters must appear life or plausible Perrine, 1974: 69.
3. Theory of Personality and Personality Change
