Literary Character

Literary character definition

The literary character of a story is any person, animal or even inanimate object that has been presented as a person in the narrative of a novel, poem, short story, play or even film.

While the character does not necessarily have to be a person and could be an animal or inanimate object, it must be personified to be classified as a character.

Personification: to attribute human characteristics and abilities to a non-human entity, such as an animal or an object.

A story must have at least one central character (usually referred to as the protagonist), although most stories have multiple characters interacting with one another.

Importance of literary character

But why is a literary character so important?

Plot

Firstly, a story cannot exist without characters. The plot and characters of a story are interdependent on one another. They cannot serve their purpose in the story without each other.

Plot: an interconnected chain of events that occur throughout the story, from beginning to end.

While a story can have a plot, there needs to be a character to propel the plot forward - their choices, their actions and reactions, trials and tribulations, and the lessons they learn. Characters bring the conflict to the story, usually in the form of an internal conflict or external conflict, which must be resolved as the story draws to its resolution.

Even in poems that exist without any specific people or creatures, poets will personify the setting and turn that into a character of its own.

Readers

Good characters are realistic. They make choices, feel emotions, and display reactions that reflect the real lives of their readers. Since readers are only able to understand the story through the character's experiences, they feel whatever the characters feel and identify with the story. Through the use of strong characters, writers can evoke reactions like laughter, anger, sympathy, and empathy from their readers.

Readers are also interested in the story as they are invested in the fate of its characters. Will she be able to defeat the villain? Will he win the girl? Would there be a happy ending?

Additionally, the character's experiences are often used by the writer to convey a message to readers. The character can be a good example of morals for the readers to live by or even serve as a bad example of how they should not behave.

Literary character types

Now that we have learnt how important characters are, there are many different types of characters that drive the plotline of a story forward in different ways.

Based on character roles

This classification is based on the different roles characters play in narratives.

Protagonist

The protagonist is the main character of the story - the central figure around whom the entire plot revolves. The story begins when a conflict arises in the protagonist's life and ends only when the protagonist manages to resolve this conflict. Therefore, the entire plot is basically the protagonist's journey (be it mental or physical) from start to finish. It is the protagonist's dreams, desires, choices, actions, trials and battles that push the plot forward.

The protagonist traditionally possesses heroic qualities, such as immense bravery, courage and virtue. However, over time, more dynamic characterisation has inspired protagonists that are realistic and flawed. Even still, it is essential for the protagonist to be likeable, as it allows readers to identify, relate and root for the protagonist throughout the story.

The protagonist of The Hunger Games trilogy (2008-2010) by Suzanne Collins (1962- present) is Katniss Everdeen, who is depicted as brave, intelligent, loyal and skilled at combat.

Antagonist

The antagonist is the villain of the story. Usually, they are placed against the protagonist and create conflict or, at the very least, serve as a major obstacle in the course of the protagonist's journey.

The antagonist possesses 'bad' qualities that make them unlikable, making the readers root for their downfall.

Bram Stoker's (1847-1912) Dracula (1897) focuses intrinsically on Count Dracula, the antagonist of the novel, who drives a significant portion of the plot. Here is a quote by protagonist Jonathan Harker describing Count Dracula:

Love interest

The love interest is the protagonist's object of desire. Their purpose is to give the story a romantic subplot.

In Pride and Prejudice (1813) by Jane Austen (1775-1817), the protagonist Elizabeth Bennet's love interest is Mr Darcy.

Confidant

This type of character is the protagonist's best friend, assistant or sidekick, who shares the protagonist's goals and accompanies them on their journey throughout the story. Their purpose is to offer commentary, guidance, comic relief, or simply engage in dialogue with the hero to reveal their thoughts.

In The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha (1605) by Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616), the protagonist Don Quixote is always accompanied by his squire Sancho Panza during his travels, who, with his earthly wisdom, ironic Spanish proverbs and witty sense of humour, is the realist contrast to the idealistic Don Quixote.

Fig. 1 - A 1914 picturisation of Dox Quixote and Sancho Panza.

Deuteragonists

These characters also accompany the protagonist of the story. However, they have their own character arc and plot. It is almost like they are the main protagonist of one of the side plots in the main story.

Tertiary characters

At the bottom of the character hierarchy lie the tertiary characters. These characters play supporting roles and serve a variety of functions in a narrative. They are not crucial to the development of the plot and weave in and out of the narrative as per their requirement.

They usually fill in the gaps where the main characters have to communicate with other people as part of the storyline.

In the Harry Potter series (1997-2007) by J.K. Rowling (1965- present), there are multiple tertiary characters such as Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, Crabbe and Goyle.

Foil

The foil is a character that possesses characteristics that are opposite to that of the protagonist. This sharp contrast seeks to highlight all the distinguishable traits that the protagonist has.

Even though the protagonist and the foil rarely start out as friends, the foil is seldom the main antagonist of the story.

In the Harry Potter series (1997-2007), Draco Malfoy is a foil to the character of Harry Potter.

Based on character development

Characters can also be classified based on the changes their personalities and attitudes undergo throughout the course of the narrative.

Dynamic characters

These characters develop and change during the events of the story. In most cases, this change is positive, with characters that were formerly flawed and had 'bad' quality traits undergoing a learning lesson that causes them to evolve and grow into a better person. In some cases, this change may be negative as the character begins to side against the protagonist to become one of the antagonists.

Ebenezer Scrooge from A Christmas Carol (1843) by Charles Dickens (1812-1870) is an example of a dynamic protagonist who goes from being an arrogant, cruel and miserly old man to someone who is kind, cheerful, giving and full of Christmas spirit. This change is a result of his encounter with the three ghosts of Christmas.

Fig. 2 - An 1868 illustration of Ebenezer Scrooge's encounter with the Ghost of Christmas Past from A Christmas Carol.

Static characters

These are the opposite of dynamic characters. They remain the same throughout the course of a story and do not undergo any progress or character development.

Round characters

A round character possesses fluid characteristics and displays a wide range of thoughts and emotions. They are complex, well-developed and three-dimensional, with flaws and imperfections alongside redeemable qualities. Hence, these characters are never quite 'good' or 'evil' but rather a more realistic mixture of the two.

William Shakespeare's (1564-1616) Hamlet (1602) features a complex protagonist that is charming, intelligent, insightful and thoughtful by nature. However, throughout the course of the novel, he is also shown to be cunning, vengeful and contemplative, all of which are catalysts to his tragic death.

Flat characters

Flat characters are two-dimensional and possess a few fixed quality traits that define their entire character throughout the story. They are either completely good or bad, display a limited range of emotions and are simple, obvious and predictable.

Dr Watson from the Sherlock Holmes series (1887- 1927) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) is known for being loyal to Dr Sherlock Holmes. This trait defines Watson's character throughout the series, making him more of a flat character rather than a well-rounded one.

Symbolic characters

Symbolic characters are usually the personification of a larger concept or theme in the story. Hence, their purpose is allegorical in nature.

Allegory: any literary work in which the characters and events are symbolic in representing particular ideals, morals or qualities.

Literary character examples

The Great Gatsby (1925) by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) is a good example of a literary work that has multiple dynamic and round literary characters, all playing different roles in the narrative. Let us look at the four central characters of the novel.

Fig. 3 - 1925 cover page of The Great Gatsby.

Jay Gatsby

Jay Gatsby is the titular protagonist of the novel. As the title suggests, Gatsby is described as 'Great' at the beginning of the novel. Despite coming from humble beginnings, Gatsby is a self-made man who is the architect of his own wealth and success. His ability to climb social ranks demonstrates the power of the American Dream.

American Dream: An American ideal that promotes the idea that the United States is a land where all people find opportunities, prosperity, freedom and social mobility, free of any barriers.

However, it is later revealed that the source of Gatsby's wealth is bootlegging. His lifestyle and mannerisms are gaudy, over-the-top and almost fake, as they represent how hard he is trying to fit into the 'Old money' social class. His blind pursuit of Daisy and their past relationship also makes him seem naive and reckless, as he is willing to risk his own life to save hers, even though she clearly does not love him.

Overall, Gatsby is a dynamic and round protagonist, filled with many flaws and imperfections that lead to his tragic death. Despite this, he is charming, honest and likeable, causing readers to feel sympathy for him.

Nick Carraway

Nick Carraway is the perfect sidekick to the protagonist Jay Gatsby. He is tolerant, open-minded, empathetic, and a good listener. Gatsby comes to trust him and treats him as his confidant in the novel.

It is through Nick's experiences, interactions and commentary on Gatsby that the readers learn more about the protagonist of the novel. Nick appears to be the only character who 'sees through' Gatsby's 'made-up' celebrity personality.

Although Nick assumes a more passive role in the plot, he is a dynamic and round character. Nick shows complexity in his attitudes and feelings. On one hand, he is swept up in the fast-paced and glamorous New York lifestyle. But on the other hand, he finds New York immoral and frivolous. This internal conflict is resolved at the end of the novel, where after Gatsby's death, Nick loses faith in the American Dream and sees the East Coast for what it truly is - cruel, empty and unwelcoming.

Daisy Buchanan

Daisy Buchanan is the love interest in The Great Gatsby. As a love interest, Daisy is extremely powerful, as she serves as a driving force behind all of Gatsby's actions in the novel. To Jay Gatsby, Daisy represents everything he has ever wanted - wealth, sophistication and aristocracy. She is the physical embodiment of the American Dream, and winning her heart becomes part of his quest to climb the social ladder.

However, Daisy is not as perfect and innocent as she seems. Moving through the novel, she begins to appear shallow, fickle and money-minded. She shows her real nature when she kills Myrtle and allows Gatsby to take the blame for murdering her. in doing so, she chooses her husband Tom and her 'Old Money' social status over her love for Gatsby. In this sense, she could also be seen as the antagonist of the novel.

Her negative character development and ability to switch roles in the narrative make Daisy a dynamic and round character.

Tom Buchanan

Tom Buchanan is the antagonist of The Great Gatsby.

Like most antagonists, Tom is an example of a flat and static character. He comes across as an arrogant, dishonest, callous and hypocritical bully who uses threats and violence to assert dominance over those around him. Throughout the novel, Tom develops no redeemable qualities and therefore has no character development. Even in the end, it is Tom's dishonesty and controlling nature that costs Gatsby his life.