Dramatic Characters

Characters not Actors Types of Characters How characters relate to one another

Extraordinary Characters Prestigious roles in society/Nobility Represent men and women at their best or worst At the outer limits of human capability and

endurance Comic characters can also be extraordinary. Can be characters of exceptional personalities or

achievements Can be a mixture of extreme virtue and extreme

vice Not only station but personality traits

Representative or Quintessential Characters “represent” a group of people Generally not nobility more “real” person Willy Loman – Death of a Salesman – Represents

the life of a salesman Who’s Afraid of Virginia Wolf – George and Martha

represent all unhappily married couples

Stock characters Often known by station in life, sex and

occupation Some tendency for personality – clever servant,

absentminded professor Derived from Comedia dell’arte 16th and 17th century comedic form No script just a story line Had stock characters that had one particular feature

or trait stressed. Capitano – the bragging soldier Dottore – Pompous lawyer who spoke w/ many Latin

phrases

Pantalone – Elderly man who chased young girls Harlequin – Cunning and clever servant and stupid at

times

Characters with a Dominant Trait Closely related to stock character Tend to be an example of one dominant

psychological trait Often named for that trait. The Alchemist – Subtle, Face, Dapper etc. Moliere – Named his plays for the main

character’s dominant trait. The Miser, Imaginary Invalid, Ridiculous Precious

Minor Characters - play a small part in the overall action Usually only show one facet of personality

Major Characters – the ones about whom the play revolve.

Narrator – generally speaks directly to the audience Can but does not necessarily become a part of the

play. Chorus – In song and dance comment on the

action of the main plot and react to events in the story.

Chorus and Narrators can create a counterpoint between a party outside the play and characters in the center of the action

Nonhuman Characters Began in Ancient Greece and has continued

through today. It is the human quality of the animal or robot

that is being emphasized.

Interaction of characters and how they relate Juxtapose characters Good vs. Bad etc. Protagonist – Main character Antagonist – Main character’s chief opponent

Contrasting Characters Not opposed by on same side but different trait or

point of view Can serve as foil or counterpart to the main characters Helps show main character’s personality more clearly

Orchestration of Characters Create characters each with a distinctive voice Blending all those voices Like music Chekhov – all characters express theme of the

play in own way.

Summary Several categories of dramatic characters Combination of characters compare contrast and

blend for emphasis Dramatic characters are symbols of people;

therefore, the basic confrontation in theatre is with ourselves.