Character (arts) - Foundations of Character

Understanding Character in Literature What is a Character? A character is a person or being that appears in a narrative—such as a novel, play, or film. This is one of the most fundamental concepts in literature, as characters are what bring stories to life and what readers connect with emotionally. It's important to understand that characters can exist on a spectrum between completely fictional and based on real people. When a character draws heavily from an actual historical or living person, we sometimes make a distinction between the fictional portrayal and the real person who inspired it. However, once a character appears in a narrative, they function as a literary creation with their own fictional identity. Why Characters Matter: Their Functions in Literature Characters serve two essential functions that make stories meaningful: First, characters guide readers through a story. They are the vessels through which we experience the plot—we follow their decisions, witness their struggles, and watch how they react to events. Without characters, we would have only abstract events with no one to care about. Second, characters enable us to explore themes. Through what characters do, say, and believe, authors can explore larger ideas about human nature, morality, society, and meaning. For example, a character's moral journey might help us contemplate questions about right and wrong, or a character's social position might help us examine issues of class and privilege. This is why studying character is not just about understanding individual personalities—it's about understanding how authors communicate their deeper messages to readers. Characterization and Character Types When we talk about characterization, we're discussing the methods an author uses to develop and reveal character. One important concept in characterization is the idea of types—characters who represent a particular class, group, or category rather than being entirely unique individuals. Types exist on a spectrum. At one end are stock characters—familiar, archetypal figures that readers recognize immediately because they embody conventional traits. Examples include the wise mentor, the loyal sidekick, the cruel villain, or the innocent victim. Stock characters are useful because readers instantly understand their general nature and role. At the other end of the spectrum are fully individualized characters—complex, unique figures who cannot be reduced to a simple category. These characters surprise us because they defy our expectations of their type. The key insight is that even individualized characters often start with or are influenced by types. Authors use our familiarity with types as a foundation, then layer on complexity to create memorable, unique personalities. Classical Foundations: Aristotle's Theory of Character Understanding how the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle thought about character is essential for literature study, because his ideas shaped literary thinking for over two thousand years and remain influential today. Aristotle's Definition of Character In his work Poetics, Aristotle identified character (ethos) as one of the six essential elements of tragedy. He defined character specifically as "that which reveals decision, of whatever sort." This definition is more precise than it might first appear. Aristotle is saying that a character is not simply revealed through description or background, but through what they choose to do. A character's decisions—the choices they make when facing difficult situations—are what truly show us who they are. In practical terms, this means that a speech or moment with no decision behind it, no choice being made, cannot reveal character. Character emerges through action and choice, not through passive qualities. The Priority of Plot Over Character Here's where Aristotle makes a controversial but important claim: plot is more important than character. Aristotle argued that tragedy primarily represents action and life, not merely descriptions of human beings. The plot—the sequence of events and how they connect—is the foundation of a tragedy. Characters exist within the plot to carry out actions, but the actions themselves matter more than the characters performing them. This might seem to contradict what we said earlier about characters being essential to stories. The key to understanding this apparent contradiction is recognizing that Aristotle is prioritizing the structure of the story (the plot) over individual character development. He's saying that a well-constructed sequence of events is more important than detailed psychological portraits of characters. Characters serve the plot; the plot doesn't serve the characters. This idea—that character reveals itself through decision and action—is illustrated beautifully in the sketch above, which shows how different characters might stand or carry themselves differently based on their nature and the decisions they make. <extrainfo> Aristotle's Six Elements of Tragedy Aristotle listed character as one of six essential components of tragedy, alongside plot (mythos), thought, diction, music, and spectacle. While character is important, his framework shows that plot occupies the most central position in tragic structure. </extrainfo>