These characters only appear in certain scenes of the story. They may be less sophisticated and less intense, so that their responses to the experience are less
complex and interesting. Holman and Harmon 83 propose two kinds of character namely static
and dynamic. A static character is one that changes a little or does not change at all in his outlooks or personalities during the course of the story because there is
nothing happening within. It can be said that at the end of the story the character pretty much what he was at the start. In contrast, a dynamic character is modified
by actions and experiences as the story progresses, which influence the character to undergo changes. The changes can be for better or for worse, a little or a big
one. However, it is something important and basic, and more than minor changes in opinion.
2. Characterization
Understanding the theory of characterization is considered essential in analyzing the characters that appear in the novel. This part is divided into two.
The first is the definition of characterization, while the second concerns on the ways of characterization.
a. Definition of Characterization
Rohrberger and Woods, Jr. 20, state that characterization is the processes or procedures employed by an author to create character. This creation of the
character includes particular personalities and physical attributes. Moreover, Holman and Harmon 81 define characterization as the creation of an imaginary
person in the story. The aim that lies beneath this creation is to make the
imaginary person exists for the readers as lifelike or seen as real. In sum up, characterization can be defined as the process of creating an imaginary person in a
novel that is lifelike for the readers.
b. Methods of Characterization
In relation to the ways of characterization, Murphy in Understanding Unseens
161-173 mentions nine elements to make the characters understandable and come alive for his readers. They are personal description, character as seen by
another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reactions, direct comment, thoughts, and mannerisms.
Each element will be explained as follows: 1
Personal Description Here, an author attempts to describe a person in the story through his
appearance and the way he wears clothes. 2
Character as Seen by Another Instead of describing a person directly, the author can describe him through
the eyes and opinions of another person. The reader can get the description of the person through another person’s judgment.
3 Speech
The author tries to give description of the person through what he says. Whenever a person speaks, whenever he is in conversation with another,
whenever he puts forward an opinion, the author is giving us some clues to his character. In brief, it can be said that the reader can get the description of the
person trough his daily speech in the novel.
4 Past Life
The author can give the readers clues to events that have helped to shape a person’s character by letting the readers learn something about a person’s past
life. The readers will be able to notice the clues by paying attention to the direct comments by the author, through the person’s thoughts, through his
conversations or through the medium of another person. 5
Conversation of Others The author gives the readers clues to a person’s character through the
conversation of other people and the things they say about him. What people say about a person gives us clues to the character of the person spoken.
6 Reactions
By letting the readers know how a person reacts to various situations and events, the author gives the readers a clue to the person’s character.
7 Direct Comment
Here, the author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly. 8
Thoughts The author gives the readers direct knowledge what a person is thinking about.
In other words, the readers can understand the person’s character by simply knowing what he is thinking.
9 Mannerisms
The author describes a person’s mannerisms, habits, or idiosyncrasies. Moreover, by knowing how the person behaves and acts in the novel, the
reader will be able to understand the person’s character.
Barnet, Burto, and Chain 229 propose other ways of characterization. They propose four aspects that can be used to determine a person’s character. The
first is from what the character the person says. It means that the words expressed in opinions and dialogues by the character in the story are clues for the
readers to know his characteristics. However, we as the readers consider that what he says need not to be taken at a face value; the character may be hypocritical, of
self-deceived, or biased. The second way is from what the character does. Here, the reader will be able to notice the characteristics though the character’s actions,
including his movements, gestures, and body languages. The third is from other characters say about the character. It also includes other characters’ comment and
opinion about him. The last is from what others do. It includes the description of other characters’ action toward this character whether they like him or not and
how they behave toward him.
3. Critical Approach
