2.2 Theory of Character and Characterization
Specifically, Murphy 1972: 161-173 has presented nine ways of observing characters. These references will exclusively guide the analyses of the characters in
the study.
1. Personal description
“The author describes a person’s appearance and clothes”. Here, the author can describe the person’s appearance through describing the person’s tallness, body
weight, and hair. The author can also describe the type of clothes the person wears. The description of the type of clothes will make readers notice what kind
of person he is—the job.
2. Character as seen by others
Characters in the play do interact with other characters. The person’s trait can be described through the opinion of the other ones. For example, when Jim
talks about Laura Williams 1737 in Williams’ The Glass Menagerie, the author indicates Laura’s traits—shy.
3. Speech
Through speech of characters, readers can gain insight into the characters through “what he says, whenever he speaks, whenever he is in conversation
with other, whenever he puts forward an opinion”. The character’s responses to certain events give clues to his character.
4. Past life
Past life of a character can give clues to events that have helped to shape a person’s character. The person’s character can be showed through direct
comment of the author himself. The author can give comment related to the person’s character. Through the thoughts of the person while dealing with
something, the author can indicate the person’s character. In the play, conversation to one another are irresistible, it also shows the person’s character.
5. Conversation of others
The clues of a person’s character can be gained through the conversation of other character and through the things they say about him. Commonly, “people
do talk about other people and the things they say often give a clue to the character of the person spoken about”. Synonymously, when characters talk
about the other, the things they say often indicate the characters’ traits.
6. Reaction
The way characters react to certain events or situation give clues to readers about the persons’ characters. For example, when parents are talking to each
other, the child who passes will bow slightly Javanese tradition. This example shows how the author lets reader know that the character is polite.
7. Direct comment
The author describes or gives direct comment to characters. The author describes the character’s traits directly. For example, the author can directly say
that a character is sullen, happy, and proud. PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
8. Thoughts
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