Definition
Indirect characterization reveals character through speech, action, thought, appearance, and effect on others. Readers infer personality from evidence rather than from authorial announcement.
Example
A character who never looks up from his phone while his friend cries shows coldness without the narrator naming it.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Relying on a single telling detail instead of a pattern of choices.
- Assuming indirect means subtle; a bold action can characterize directly through behavior.