Character: Elizabeth v. Hamlet

-Characters are developed in contrasting ways in both fiction and drama. In fiction, characters can be introduced by either direct or indirect characterization. Although Jane Austen uses both direct and indirect characterization to introduce Elizabeth, the reader learns more about Elizabeth through her words and how she interacts with other characters, thus she is introduced mostly through indirect characterization. In the case of the main characters of fiction, there is a protagonist and an antagonist. In Pride and Pejudice, Elizabeth would be considered the protagonist, and society norms would be considered the antagonist. Throughout the novel, Elizabeth is in constant conflict with societal norms. She believes that marriage should be for love and not economic stability. Elizabeth has trouble accepting that in certain cases her individual thinking is too radical.  Elizabeth would also be considered a round character. A round character is a character who exhibits a range of emotions and changes over the course of the story. Elizabeth is not short on her emotions, and also her emotions towards Mr. Darcy changes over the course of the novel. In the case of drama, characters are introduced through dialogue because plays do not have a narrator. In Hamlet, Hamlet is introduced through his words. The biggest instance where his character is revealed is during his monologue in Act 1: Scene ii. In this monologue, Hamlet reveals that he has thoughts of suicide and is disgusted by his mothers actions. The reader really gets a sense of who Hamlet is as in person through his speech and how he interacts with other characters. In plays, characters attitudes and personality are revealed through the content of what is being said, the way it is being said, and the reaction and response from other characters.