Character reveiled in diolog

A man is judged by what he says and by his manner of saying it. Some men are fluent, and their words hurry forth in a torrent; others are reserved, and find difficulty in speaking. Some speak in affected language; others use simple and natural words. Some speak with every semblance of frankness; others as if they were disguising themselves or their thoughts. Some are calm and deliberate, others are excitable. All these differences in manner show differences in character. Notice the German scien¬tist's slow and formal discourse. His mind is bent on science. Notice Mr. Theobald's enthusiastic discourses on the beautiful and the true. In all speedh, however, manner and content are so inter¬mingled that one need not distinguish them in their effect upon characterization. The contrast between Carnehan and Dravot expresses character, alike by its manner ' of expression and by its content. Each of the men displays himself frequently in characteristic speech. Carnehan when advised "not to run the Central India States as the corre¬spondent of the Backwoodsman," because "there is a real one knocking about," answers:
"Thank you, and when will the swine be gone? I can't starve because he's ruining my work. I wanted to get hold of the Degumber Rajah down here about his father's widow, and give him a jump."
Notice, too, the following speech of Mr. Theobald when asked whether he had been very productive:
'Not in the vulgar sense!' he said, at last. 'I have chosen never to manifest myself by imperfec¬tion. The good in every performance I have reab¬sorbed into the generative force of new creations; the bad — there's always plenty of that — I have religiously destroyed. I may say, with some satis¬faction, that I have not added a mite to the rubbish of the world. As a proof of my conscien¬tiousness,' — and he stopped short, and eyed me with extraordinary candor, as if the proof were to be overwhelming — 'I've never sold a picture! "At least no merchant traffics in my heart!" Do you remember the line in Browning? My little studio has never been profaned by superficial, feverish, mercenary work. It's a temple of labor, but of leisure! Art is long. If we work for ourselves, of course, we must hurry. If we work for her, we must often pause. She can wait.'
He is a dreamer, pure and simple.
Category:Character