Character reveiled by the effects of the character upon the other persons of the story

Another means of characterization is to show the effect that one character has upon another. One person may inspire fear, or admiration, or confidence, or suspicion, or disgust, in another person. It is comparatively easy to state that one person im¬pressed another in a certain definite way. "Even the phlegmatic driver of their Einsplinner looked back out of the corner of his eye at the schOne
Engltinderin and compared her mentally with the far-famed beauty of the KOnigsee." It is said, too, that Mrs. Knollys felt "almost like confiding" in the German scientist, for he was "the oldest gentleman she had seen." These, however, are at best merely direct statements. It is a far more difficult task to show an effect as produced, and yet not seem to drag into the story unnecessary incident. Notice how skilfully Stevenson has shown the suspicion that the curio dealer feels of Mark¬heim. When Markheim winks and turns aside from the candle, thrust suddenly before his eyes, the dealer's suspicions are evidently increased. He remarks "a certain manner" in his customer. He jumps back when he is suddenly confronted by the hand-mirror. The reader, too, is made sus¬picious, and is prepared for what is to follow. The device is here obviously effective.
Category:Character