A character (or role) is the representation of a person in a narrative or dramatic work of art (such as a novel, play, or film). Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr (χαρακτήρ), the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of "a part played by an actor" developed. Character, particularly when enacted by an actor in the theatre or cinema, involves "the illusion of being a human person." In literature, characters guide readers through their stories, helping them to understand plots and ponder themes. Since the end of the 18th century, the phrase "in character" has been used to describe an effective impersonation by an actor.Since the 19th century, the art of creating characters, as practiced by actors or writers, has been called characterization.
A character that stands as a representative of a particular class or group of people is known as a type. Types include both stock characters and those that are more fully individualized. The characters in Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler (1891) and August Strindberg's Miss Julie (1888), for example, are representative of specific positions in the social relations of class and gender, such that the conflicts between the characters reveal ideological conflicts.
The study of a character requires an analysis of its relations with all of the other characters in the work. The individual status of a character is defined through the network of oppositions (proairetic, pragmatic, linguistic, proxemic) that it forms with the other characters. The relation between characters and the action of the story shifts historically, often miming shifts in society and its ideas about human individuality, self-determination, and the social order.
All items (6844)
- A (Alphabet Lore)
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- A.B.A
- Aaron Boone
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- Aaron O'Hara
- Abbigal Robinson
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- Abby Cadabby
- Abe Vigoda
- Abel (Street Fighter)
- Abigail
- Abigail (MySims)
- Abis Mal
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- Abu
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- Ace Fender Bender
- Acer (Cars 2)
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- Adalyne McBride
- Adam
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- Adam (WildNorWester)
- Adam Foxworthy
- Adam Mead
- Adams
- Adeleine
- Admiral Boom
- Admiral Razorbeard
- Adon
- Adonis
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- Adrien Agreste
- Adrien Beaky
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- Aelitha Kaileen
- Aeron
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- Affogato Cookie
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- Agatha
- Agatha Prenderghast
- Ageha Hijiri
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- Agent Kitty
- Agent Purr
- Agent T
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- Agnes Simpson
- Aguri Madoka
- Ahsoka (Star Wars the Clone Wars)
- Ai (DokiDoki! PreCure)
- AiAi (Super Monkey Ball)
- Aidan Russell
- Aiden
- Aiichiro Nitori
- Aikatsu!/Characters/Gallery
- Ail
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- Ainsley Slater
- Airdin McMagester
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- AJ
- Akakabuto
- Akane Hino
- Akane Tsunemori
- Akari (Papa Louie)
- Akari Mitsu
- Akari Shiratori
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- Aki Momoi
- Akiko Yoshida
- Akira Kenjou
- Akito Sohma
- Akito Tenkawa
- Akiva
- Ako Shirabe
- Aku
- Al McWhiggin
- Al Messere
- Alabama (State Man)
- Alabama (U.S. States character)
- Aladdin (Character)
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- Alaina Gleen
- Alameda Slim
- Alan "The Brain" Powers
- Alan (OC)
- Alan (Rummel & Rabalder)
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- Alan Trotter
- Alan-A-Dale
- Alaska (State Man)
- Alaska (WW3ITWBTHATV)
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- Albert (narrow gauge)
- Albert (Phineas and Ferb)
- Albert (The Railway Series)
- Alberto (Papa Louie)
- Alberto Arata
- Alberto E. Marchelli
- Alberto M. Marchelli (character)
- Alberto M. Marchelli (Final Timeline)
- Alberto Merchan
- Alberto Scorfano
- Albeth (Entity)
- Alchemist Cookie
- Aldrinetchi
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- Alena McBride
- Alessio Priano
- Alex
- Alex (kylgrv)
- Alex (OC)
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- Alex Taylor
- Alexa Lexington
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- Alexander Stuart
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- Alexis
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- Alexis Radcliffe
- ALF (character)
- Alfie
- Alfie Brunell
- Alfonso Dente
- Alfred (The Railway Series)
- Alfred the Loaned B12 (Thomas and Friends character)
- Ali
- Alice (Disney)
- Alice (Sesame Street)
- Alice and Mirabel
- Alice Cullen
- Alice in Lalaloopsyland
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- Alice Summers
- Alice Tipton
- Alice Yotsuba
- Alicia (OC)
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- Alicia Kitten Girl (Lalaloopsy O.C.)
- Alida Dunbroch
- Aline Barta
- Alisa Besher
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- Allan
- Allegiant Air (Airlines character)
- Allegra Leaps 'N' Bounds
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- Allie
- Allie Griffin
- Allison Taylor
- Aloalo
- Aloisia Dente
- Aloy
- Aloysius Pig
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- Alvey Finkle
- Alvin (Mergest Kingdom)
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- Alvin Seville