Theory of Character and Characterization

B. Review of Related Theories

1. Theory of Character and Characterization

Character is one of the crucial elements in a fiction. Abrams 1999:46 defines character as a person who has certain “intellectual”, “emotional qualities”, and “moral”. According to Forster in Aspects of the Novel there are two kinds of characters based on the complexity of the characteristics. They are flat characters and round characters. Flat characters are simply understood and remembered since they are built only by one characteristic and the characteristic is not changed by circumstances. On the other hand round characters are more complex and they often surprise the reader in a “convincing way”. Besides flat and round characters, character is also divided into major and minor ones. Elizabeth Sky says that major characters are the ones who appear throughout the plot or in the major section. They also involve in the important action and conflict. Besides minor characters are the ones who enter the plot for certain reason but then they may not be heard of again or they may enter throughout the plot but they still in the “shadow of the major character”. Their existence in the plot strengthens the position of the major characters leasttern.com, September 12, 2013. Furthermore Henkle 1977:92-93 describes the criteria of major character. According to Henkle, major characters are the ones who ‘deserve’ reader’s attention. Besides major characters are also whom the readers build expectations and desires to since they are the ones who capable in presenting and also convincing the issues in the novel. Character in a fiction cannot stand alone. There is no character without characterization and vice versa. As Gill says that character is a person in literary work while characterization is the process in which a character is created 1995:127. Abcarian stresses the importance of characterization towards the character. Abcarian says characterization is required since it makes the character seems alive to the reader 1998:6. According to Abrams 1999:33-34 the characterization can be done by using two different methods. The first method is showing method. Showing method is that the author just presents the characters talking and acting, and then the author gives a chance to the readers in viewing how the character is. However, in this method the author can also put the thought and feelings of the character. Otherwise the author can use the second method; telling method. Telling method is that the author describes the characters as she or he views them. The author tells the readers straight forward about how the character is and the author often tells the reasons of what the character says and does. However, the characterization can be done in various ways. Roger B. Henkle 1977:161-173 states there are nine ways of characterization using different angle. The first angle which can be used in characterization is the appearance of a character. The author can describe a character through the appearance or the clothes so that the readers can easily imagine the character. The second angle is speech. By using this angle, the author lets the reader view a character based on what he or she says. Besides the speech, the author also can use a conversation of other characters as the third angle in characterization. By showing the conversation of others characters, the author allows the readers to judge a character from the view point of other characters. The fourth angle which the author can use in characterization is a character’s past life. A character’s past life can be explored in order to shape the characteristic. It can be explored through the direct comment of the author, the character’s thought, the character’s speeches, and also thought of the other characters. Another angle which can be used in characterization is reactions. Reactions can show the image of a character through how the character responds toward certain situations and events. Besides reactions, the sixth angle used in characterization is thought. A character can be viewed from the way of thinking on something. In order to show the thought or the way of thinking, the author can directly give certain information about what the character thinks about or the way of thinking of a character. The next angle is mannerism. In order to shape a characteristic of a character, the author can show the mannerism, habits or some peculiarities. By showing this angle, the readers can know the characteristic of a character. The next angle in characterization is another character. The author uses another character in defining a characteristic of a character. The author uses point of view and opinion toward another character in defining the characteristic. The last angle which can be used in characterization is direct comments. The author puts the direct comment on a character so that the readers directly know what the author wants to say about the character.

2. Theory of Occultism