Character (arts)
A person or being in a narrative, fictional or real.
A character is a person or being in a narrative, such as a novel, play, or film. The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life person, in which case the distinction of a 'fictional' versus 'real' character may be made. From this, the sense of 'a part played by an actor' developed. Before this development, the term dramatis personae, naturalized in English from Latin and meaning 'masks of the drama', encapsulated the notion of characters from the literal aspect of masks. A character, particularly when enacted by an actor in the theater or cinema, involves 'the illusion of being a human person'. In literature, characters guide readers through their stories, helping them to understand plots and ponder themes.
- field
- Narrative arts (literature, theater, film)
- known_for
- Central element of storytelling; basis for characterization, types, and analysis
Lore & Background
The sense of 'a part played by an actor' developed from this. Earlier, the term dramatis personae, meaning 'masks of the drama', was used. Since the end of the 18th century, the phrase 'in character' has described effective impersonation by an actor. Since the 19th century, the art of creating characters, as practiced by actors or writers, has been called characterization. Characters can be types, representing a particular class or group, including stock characters and those more fully individualized. The study of a character requires analysis of its relations with all other characters in the work, defined through a network of oppositions (proairetic, pragmatic, linguistic, proxemic). The relation between characters and action shifts historically, often miming shifts in society and its ideas about human individuality, self-determination, and the social order.
Reader's Guide
The significance of character in the arts lies in its role as the fundamental unit of narrative, guiding readers and audiences through stories and helping them understand plots and ponder themes. The concept has evolved from ancient Greek drama, where Aristotle defined character (ethos) as one of six qualitative parts of tragedy, emphasizing that character reveals decision and is subordinate to plot. Over time, the term expanded from dramatis personae to include the actor's impersonation and the writer's creation. The development of characterization as an art in the 19th century formalized the craft. Modern analysis distinguishes between flat and round characters (as defined by E. M. Forster), dynamic and static characters, and various types such as stock characters, archetypes, and charactonyms. The study of character involves analyzing its relations with other characters through oppositions, reflecting broader societal shifts in ideas about individuality and social order. Characters can be based on real people, including historical figures, acquaintances, or the author themselves, and can serve allegorical purposes. The legacy of character study continues to inform literary criticism, acting, and screenwriting, providing a framework for understanding how narratives represent human experience.
Did You Know?
- The English word 'character' derives from the Ancient Greek word χαρακτήρ.
- The term 'dramatis personae', meaning 'masks of the drama', was used before the modern sense of character developed.
- Since the 19th century, the art of creating characters has been called characterization.
- E. M. Forster defined two basic types of characters: flat characters and round characters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a character in the context of narrative arts?
A character is any person or being who appears within a story told through literature, theater, or film. They serve as the central building block of storytelling, anchoring characterization, type classification, and literary analysis.
Where does the word 'character' originally come from?
The term traces back to the Latin phrase dramatis personae, meaning 'masks of the drama,' which described the roles performed on stage. Over time, the concept shifted from the literal idea of wearing a mask to referring to the fictional person an actor inhabits.
Can a character be based on a real person?
Yes. A character may be wholly invented or drawn from an actual individual, and when the latter applies, writers and critics often distinguish between 'fictional' and 'real' characters to clarify the degree of invention involved.
How does a character function differently in theater versus in a novel?
In theater and cinema, a character is enacted by an actor, creating what is described as the 'illusion of being' a real person on screen or stage. In a novel, the character exists purely through the reader's imagination, shaped entirely by the author's words.
Why is the concept of character considered foundational to all narrative arts?
Characters are the primary vehicle through which audiences connect emotionally and intellectually with a story, making them the basis for every major analytical framework in literature, drama, and film studies. Without characters, narrative structure, conflict, and thematic development lose their human anchor.
More in Literary Forms & Tropes 1-23
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record