ABSTRACT

The term character has taken on assorted meanings over time. It developed from a Middle English root associated with something fi xed and permanent, like an identifying mark or a sign on a building. During Shakespeare’s time character was still considered a permanent feature. It was said to result from bodily fl uids called humours that were once thought to control the tendencies of one’s spirit (more about this below). In the nineteenth century character continued to mean a fi xed state of development, though with added implications as in, “She has character. ” This meaning was associated with moral strength, self-discipline, and, most important to the Victorians, respectability. The modern meaning of character is more wide-ranging. Today we consider character the pattern of action that identifi es a person, what Aristotle called habitual action (action acquired by habit or use). This is the understanding we will examine here. In drama, character is not a static object fi xed forever in time, but rather a consistent pattern of actions associated with a particular fi gure in a play. Some writers think this suggests that characters actually change their individuality during a play, while others claim they only reveal traits hidden until that time. It is an interesting puzzle, but it need not detain us here. To recognize that character is composed of a habitual pattern of action identifying a fi gure in a play is satisfactory for practical purposes.