Character

       The protagonist is the main character of a story. The protagonist may be in an external conflict with an antagonist. In contrast, the conflict can also be internal. In “Hamlet,” the protagonist is Hamlet and the antagonists is Claudius and they are in conflict over the thrown. However, in Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth is the main protagonist and is generally in conflict with society and societal norms. In general, the main characters will transform throughout the course of the play, which is referred to as a “coming of age” story. There are usually two types of categories for characters. A round character is one who displays a diverse range of emotions and changes throughout the story, such as the protagonist. A flat character only possesses one or two traits and provides a background for the protagonist’s actions, such as the foil.  Stock characters represent stereotypes, which are used for comic relief. The author may choose to develop the characters in a direct or indirect fashion. Direct characterization is when a narrator describes the background, motivation, temperament, or appearance of a character explicitly. Jane Austen uses this technique to describe the psychological profile of Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice. Indirect characterization is when an author describes a character by showing rather than telling. William Shakespeare uses this technique in his play “Hamlet” to discuss the qualities of Hamlet himself. A play uses dialogue instead of narration in order to develop character. This is evident when comparing William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and Jane Austen’s novel Pride and Prejudice. The three elements of dialogue are the following: content of what is being said, the way it is being said, and the reaction/response from the other characters.  Thus, dialogue is very vital in a play in order to fully develop the characters.