Characterization refers to the process of creating characters’ personalities, traits, and motivations within a story. There are two main types that authors use in their works: direct and indirect.
What is Indirect Characterization?
Indirect characterization is used to reveal and develop a character’s traits and qualities inexplicitly. Instead of straightforward descriptions of a character’s attributes, indirect characterization relies on subtle cues, actions, thoughts, dialogue, and interactions with other characters within the story to provide insights into their nature.
For example, in Harper Lee’s To Kill A Mockingbird, Jem Finch indirectly reveals Boo Radley’s good character when he says:
“Boo Radley. You were so busy looking at the fire you didn’t know it when he put the blanket around you.”
Boo subtly puts a blanket on Scout, who was shivering while looking at the fire. Boo’s generous nature is shown to the readers through his actions and other characters’ dialogues.
This style of characterization allows readers to draw their own conclusions and make inferences about the characters. It encourages reader engagement, deeper connection with the literary work, and analysis and interpretation of various narrative elements.
Five Methods of Indirect Characterization
An author can indirectly characterize a character in five different ways:
1. Appearance
Appearance is the most self-explanatory indirect characteristic and involves the physical description of the character. Describing the character’s physical traits and clothes is a quick and easy way to hint at their personality. In some cases, appearance can even be used to reveal a character’s mental state.
2. Thoughts
Thoughts are what goes on in a character’s head. It can be their dreams, fears, or fantasies. If a protagonist is daydreaming about being a famous painter, that hints at their creative personality. A character’s thoughts of fearing failure might suggest their insecurity and lack of confidence.
3. Actions
Actions are what a character does. It can range from big emotional acts to small mannerisms. If a protagonist is non-punctual, it leaves a clue to the readers that they might be disorganized in life.
4. Words
Words are what the character says, both out loud and in their internal monologue. This includes everything from casual conversation to heated arguments.
5. Reactions of other characters
Reactions of other characters toward a specific one also provide subtle clues about the character’s nature. Direct characterization also plays a role in this. If all characters are afraid of a protagonist, it hints that the protagonist might have a violent personality.
Any one of the five methods or all of them can be used to show readers a character’s trait(s) or traits.
Indirect Characterization Examples from Literature
Indirect characterization is very useful in literature because it allows readers to observe and interpret a character’s behavior and uncover the depths of their personalities. As readers engage with a story, they become active participants and form emotional connections with the characters.
In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Romeo’s character is understood by subtle clues left by Romeo’s father and, at times, by Romeo himself. This is evident in the following excerpt:
“Many a morning hath he there been seen,
With tears augmenting the fresh morning dew.
Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs…
…Away from the light steals home my heavy son,
And private in his chamber pens himself,
Shuts up his windows, locks far daylight out
And makes himself an artificial night…”
This description by Romeo’s father provides an insight into Romeo’s traits to the readers. The readers can understand that Romeo is sad; he locks himself in his chamber, writes his thoughts, and just wants to be alone. Some of Romeo’s own dialogue also reveals his personality.
“O me!…
O brawling love! O loving hate!
O any thing, of nothing first create!
O heavy lightness! serious vanity!”
Another example of indirect characterization is from Arthur Miller’s The Crucible. Reverend Hale questions Abigail about the events that transpired in the woods, and she responds by pointing at Tituba and saying:
“She made me do it! She made Betty do it! … She makes me drink blood! … She sends her spirit on me in church; she makes me laugh at prayer”.
Through these lines, it is evident that Abigail Williams is a selfish, manipulative girl because she blames Tituba, the slave, and avoids getting punished for dancing in the forest.
Tom Buchanan’s dialogue in Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby shows his indirect characterization as he talks about his own house in front of party guests:
“I’ve got a nice place here,”
Readers can learn of Tom’s overpowering arrogance clearly in the above line. Instead of letting other characters like Nick form their own opinion about his house, Tom points it out first and states it as a fact. This leaves a subtle clue about Tom believing his own opinion to be the only right one.
Another line about Gatsby himself shows how Fitzgerald characterizes him indirectly:
“You look at him sometimes when he thinks nobody’s looking at him. I’ll bet he killed a man.”
Gatsby’s character is preceded by rumors no matter where he goes, and he seems unwilling to quell the confusion with a few simple statements about his life. He definitely keeps his acquaintances guessing.
Indirect vs. Direct Characterization
An author may use both direct and indirect characterization in their work depending on character arcs and story plotlines. The following table lists these differences clearly.
| Direct Characterization | Indirect Characterization |
| Direct characterization is done through the physical description of character traits. | Indirect characterization shows a character’s traits through dialogue and action. |
| It is also known as explicit characterization. | It is also known as implicit characterization. |
| It tells readers directly what and how a character is like i.e., it is a direct commentary on the character. | It requires more work from readers while comprehending characters i.e., indirect commentary. |
| It is used for the most important aspects of character development such as personality and physical features. | It is used to provide readers with a deeper understanding of a character. |
| It is usually done at the beginning when a character is introduced. | It is done after direct characterization, later in a story when readers get to know characters a little better. |
| The characterization is revealed directly by the narrator, another character, or the character themselves. | The characterization is indirectly revealed through the thoughts, words, and actions of the character as well as the reactions of other characters to this particular character. |
| Example: Excerpt from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird: “Dill was a curiosity. He wore blue linen shorts that buttoned to his shirt, his hair was snow white and stuck to his head like duckfluff; he was a year my senior but I towered over him.” | Example: Passage from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird: “Calpurnia was something else again. She was all angles and bones; she was nearsighted; she squinted; her hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard.” |
Indirect characterization makes characters seem more human and helps readers in empathizing with them, thus fostering a stronger emotional bond. Overall, it makes reading a rich and immersive experience.
