Characterization Practice – Part 2, Chapter 8 from “1984”
In the novel “1984” by George Orwell, you can see the usage of characterization throughout the whole book. Characterization is the development or representation of who a character is or how a character may act. There is also direct characterization which falls under characterization. Direct characterization is when the author tells you about the character. For example, in chapter 8 when it says, “At the far end of the room O’Brien was sitting at a table under a green-shaded lamp, with a mass of papers on either side of him” (Orwell 180), it demonstrates direct characterization. As you can see in the example, it is telling the readers what O’Brien is doing rather than showing. There is also indirect characterization is when the character is being shown by their speech, thoughts, effects on others, actions, and looks. A good example of this from the novel would be, “‘Martin is one of us,’ said O’Brien impassively” (Orwell 183). In this example, you can recognize who O’Brien is as a character by just showing what his speech sounds like. Therefore, we can conclude that in the novel “1984” by George Orwell, plenty of indirect and direct characterization is shown within the novel.