Characters in literature are portrayed through direct or indirect characterization. Indirect characterization is achieved through the STEAL method, which includes speech, thoughts, effects, actions, and looks. This method reveals character traits through dialogue, private thoughts, reactions of other characters, actions, and appearance.
The personalities of characters in novels, prose, or any other literary work are portrayed to the audience through indirect or direct characterization. Through direct characterization, the author tells the reader about those character traits. In contrast, indirect characterization shows the reader those characteristics. This form of characterization is usually accomplished through a combination of words, thoughts, effects, actions and looks, known as the STEAL method.
The first method of indirect characterization is to use speech in a way that adequately represents the character and reveals certain qualities of the individual. Character traits and personalities are revealed to the reader through the use of dialogue. This speech may be delivered by an individual character, revealing some characteristics about themselves, or it may be a dialogue delivered by another character about the individual.
This form of characterization also requires the author to convey certain personalities and character traits through the thoughts of the characters. Many novels and other works of literature reveal a character’s private feelings and thoughts to the reader. For example, instead of simply stating “Adam felt sad,” which would be an example of direct characterization, the author could convey Adam’s sadness to the reader by revealing the character’s private thoughts. Through the indirect expression of thoughts and feelings, readers may be able to develop a better understanding and closer relationship with the character.
A third method is to show the effect that the character has on other individuals. This is generally accomplished by revealing the other characters’ thoughts and actions in relation to the individual. The author must show how other characters feel about the individual and how they interact with the character. This method is perhaps one of the most difficult to achieve because it is somewhat of a double characterization, meaning that the author has to show the reactions of other characters to reveal the effect and indirect characterization of the individual in question.
The last two methods are achieved by revealing the character’s actions and appearance. Instead of simply telling the audience what the character’s actions are, the author shows the actions by revealing the behavior of the individual. For example, if Adam is excited, the author shows this by revealing Adam’s actions instead of stating, “Adam was excited.” Similarly, a character’s physical characteristics are revealed to the reader through indirect methods, such as saying, “Adam’s blue eyes sparkled with anticipation.”
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