Writing about Character

Welcome! In this chapter, we are going to explore how to write brilliant essays about the characters in your set texts. Whether you are studying a Shakespeare play, a 19th-century novel, or a Modern text, understanding how to analyze characters is a vital skill for your AQA GCSE English Literature exam.

Don't worry if you find analyzing characters a bit "deep" at first. By the end of these notes, you will have a clear toolkit to help you explain not just who a character is, but why the writer created them that way.

Characters are "Constructs"

The most important thing to remember is that characters are not real people. They are constructs. This means the writer (like Charles Dickens or JB Priestley) has carefully built them to perform a specific job in the story.

Think of a character like a puppet. The writer is the puppet master, pulling the strings to make the character act, speak, or change to show the audience an important idea or theme. When you write your essay, always try to talk about what the writer is doing. Instead of saying "Macbeth is ambitious," try saying "Shakespeare presents Macbeth as a character driven by ambition."

Quick Tip: The "What, How, Why" Method

To get the best marks (AO1 and AO2), try to answer these three questions in your paragraphs:

1. What is the character like at this point in the text?
2. How does the writer show this? (Using language, structure, or stage directions).
3. Why did the writer create them this way? (What is the message?).

Note: For more on "How", see the chapter on "Analysing the writer's methods". For more on "Why", see "Writing about theme" and "Writing about context".

Understanding Character Motivation

The AQA syllabus asks you to show inferential comprehension. This is a fancy way of saying you need to "read between the lines." You shouldn't just say what a character does; you should explain why they do it. This is called motivation.

To find a character's motivation, ask yourself:

  • What does this character want more than anything?
  • What are they afraid of?
  • How do their relationships with other characters influence their choices?

Did you know? In Paper 1 (Shakespeare and the 19th-century novel), you have to write about an extract AND the whole text. This means you need to know how a character’s motivations might change from the beginning to the end of the story!

Character Development (The "Arc")

In most of your set texts, characters don't stay the same. They go on a journey. In your essays, you should look for:

  • Introduction: How are they first presented to the audience or reader?
  • Turning Points: What events cause them to change their mind or behavior?
  • Resolution: How have they changed by the end? Are they a hero, a villain, or a victim?

Key Takeaway: Examiners love it when you can track a character's "arc." It shows you have a "whole text" understanding, which is a requirement for both Paper 1 and Paper 2.

Analyzing Character Relationships

Characters don't exist in a vacuum; they interact with others. Sometimes, a writer uses one character to highlight the qualities of another. This is often called a foil.

When writing about relationships, consider:

  • Power: Who has the power in the relationship? Does it shift?
  • Conflict: Why do these characters disagree? What does this reveal about their different values?
  • Contrast: How is the protagonist (main character) different from the antagonist (the character who opposes them)?

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Treating characters like real people: Don't spend too much time wondering what they would do "in real life." Focus on what they do in the book and why the writer chose that.

2. Feature spotting: Don't just list adjectives like "kind" or "mean." Use evidence (quotations or references) to prove your point.

3. Forgetting the "Why": Many students describe what a character is like but forget to explain the writer's purpose. Always link the character back to a theme or context.

Quick Review: Character Analysis Checklist

- Have I identified the character's main traits?
- Have I explained their motivation (the "why" behind their actions)?
- Have I used textual references or quotations to support my ideas?
- Have I mentioned how the character changes over the course of the text?
- Have I used the writer's name to show I know the character is a construct?

Step-by-Step: Writing a Character Paragraph

If you're feeling stuck, follow these steps to build a solid paragraph:

Step 1: Point. Start with a clear statement about the character. "In the opening of the text, the writer presents [Character Name] as someone who is..."

Step 2: Evidence. Use a short, relevant quotation or describe a specific moment. "This is evident when the character says..."

Step 3: Analysis. Explain how the writer's choice of words or actions creates this impression. "The use of the word [X] suggests that the character feels..."

Step 4: Purpose. Link it back to the writer's message. "By presenting the character in this way, the writer may be criticizing the social attitudes of the time regarding..."

Remember to keep your writing clear and coherent (AO4). Accurate spelling and punctuation help your argument stand out! For more tips on this, check out the "Using quotations and SPaG" chapter.