Understanding how authors reveal character traits through direct and indirect characterization can transform your reading (or writing) experience. But what are they?
In essence, direct characterization tells you exactly what you need to know about a character. On the other hand, indirect characterization shows you through subtle details and actions. Keep reading to discover how these techniques work and how to spot them in your favorite books!
Related:
- What Is a Hero’s Journey?
- Antagonist vs Villain: What’s the Difference?
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Person Point of View in Storytelling
What Is Direct Characterization?
As the name suggests, a direct characterization is when the author or narrator directly tells you what you need to know about a character. These details can be anything from their personality to appearance.
Authors often use direct characterization to help establish a character quickly, and in some cases, because the characters’ personalities are crucial for the plot or narrative.
Direct characterization examples
- Julie is not mad; she is just socially awkward in these kinds of situations.
- The sales rep never wore pastel eye shadow and a matching pair of blue shoes.
When and How to Use Direct Characterization
Direct characterization, a literary device, leaves little room for interpretation, giving the reader a set of facts to work with as they make their way through the book. While this seems to go against the common “show, don’t tell” rule when writing, it is important when introducing a character.
However, it doesn’t mean you should be dull; you can still use creative descriptions. For instance, “Her eyes shined the same blue as the crystal water surrounding her island” can be said instead of “Her eyes are blue.”
Tip: Too much direct information can be boring. So, keep direct characterization contained to character introductions or only when to avoid misinterpretation.
What Is Indirect Characterization
Indirect characterization is when you “show, don’t tell.” This basically means that you, the author, purposefully allow readers to make inferences about a character based on their actions, dialogue, thoughts, and responses to problems in the story.
In short, with indirect characterization, you are not spoon-feeding your readers with information but giving them clues. This approach, in return, makes the readers more engaged and deeply connected with the characters.
Indirect characterization examples
- Ed Johnson remembered the good old days when a carburetor needing repair only required a good set of tools and a manual.
- Anderson, the old mechanic down the road, snapped when the sales rep kept pushing him to buy Dralco’s newest engine performance diagnostic computer.
When and How to Use Indirect Characterization
You can use indirect characterization whenever you want to reveal information about the characters while keeping the story moving.
Here are some ways you can use indirect characterization in your essay or novel:
- Introduce secondary or minor characters.
- Build complexity and layers in your story’s theme.
- Make your characters more relatable by showing their thought processes and reactions.
- Create a full picture of your character by describing the world around them.
- Show details about your character that not everyone would notice.
Methods of Indirect Characterization
There are many ways you can reveal character traits subtly and naturally. Keep in mind that you don’t need to use each method every time, as variation adds interest.
Tip: To help you remember the different indirect characterization methods, remember the acronym STEAL, which stands for speech, thoughts, effect, action, and looks.
Physical Appearance / Looks
There are ways to slip indirect characterization into a seemingly direct characterization approach. For instance, a character wearing a white sweater, blue skirt, diamond earrings, and perfectly manicured nails can hint at a person’s economic status or vanity.
Action
Actions are one of the best indirect characterization methods that you can use in your story. For instance, if you have a studious male student, you can set a situation wherein he turns down his friend’s invitation to a party and spends most of his evening studying.
Thoughts
A character’s thoughts reveal even more of their motive and reasoning. This inner monologue also offers a chance for the writer to build suspense as the reader may learn something that even other characters aren’t privy to.
Words / Speech
How you talk reveals a lot about you, from where you live to even your education level. For instance, a business socialite might use grandiloquent words, while someone from a small, secluded town might prefer colloquial terms.
Effect
You can also hint at who a character is by how they make others feel. Do they make the room quiet instantly? Do they leave people feeling uneasy, saying all the right things but without the warmth associated with someone who genuinely cares? This method allows you to define your characters without continually using them as reference. It also allows you to create meaningful interactions between characters.
What Is the Difference Between Direct vs. Indirect Characterization?
The main distinction lies in the presentation: direct characterization explicitly reveals character traits, while indirect characterization gives various clues about the character’s personalities and motivations.
Tip: If you are having trouble differentiating the two, remember that direct characterization is about ‘telling,’ and indirect characterization is ‘showing.’
Final Thoughts
Learning direct and indirect characterization enhances both your reading and writing experience. Again, direct characterization works like a character fact sheet, giving you immediate, clear information. On the other hand, indirect characterization creates a more immersive experience, letting you piece together character traits and come to your conclusions.
Both can be used in tandem to make a narrative, essay, and even a short story more engaging. So, the next time you read a story, try identifying both methods and see how they work together to create your favorite characters.
