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At first glance, one might perceive fictional characters as straightforward beings. Upon closer examination, however, one discovers what multi-faceted entities they really are. This essay deals with the complexity of the nature of characters by focusing on several theoretical and practical aspects thereof. With the help of several theorists (such as Todorov, Greimas, and Hamon) this paper uses theoretical concepts as a springboard for a discussion of strategies and pitfalls in the creation of fictional characters. Virginia Woolf, Julien Green, Milan Kundera and Gabrielle Roy are some of the writers whose knowledge was tapped for the portion of the essay dealing with the creation of characters. / La vie a travers un kaleidoscope (Life as seen through a kaleidoscope) is a collection of seven short stories in which some of the characters were inspired by people encountered by the author. The focus on character in the essay is therefore a natural extension of the creation of these short stories.

The situation of the male characters in Anne Hebert's novels evolves, from Les Chambres de bois to L'Enfant charge de songes. The position of the male characters in relation to the female characters changes, as does their position in relation to physical and psychological space. The male characters gradually acquire greater liberty in the course of this evolution. Concretely, this means that the male characters free themselves, step by step, from the conflictual situation that determines their relations to the female characters and that they free themselves, at the same time, from a restrictive physical and psychological space. / We will demonstrate that the evolution in the male characters' position in relation to the female characters and to space is realized simultaneously. When a significant change occurs in the male-female relation, it is accompanied by a similar change in the relation of the male characters to physical and psychological space. Starting from a doubly conflictual position (with relation to the female characters and to physical and psychological space), the male characters evolve, on both counts, towards what we call a harmonious state. This evolution is not, of course, linear; the male characters sometimes seem to hesitate. But still, we cannot deny that they progress, from one novel to the other, towards freedom.

This thesis considers the significance of the neurotic figure in six novels by Iris Murdoch. The novels used in this study are: An Accidental Man, The Bell, Bruno's Dream, The Nice and the Good, The Time of the Angels, and The Unicorn. This study identifies the recurring character type and establishes traits common to all Murdoch neurotic figures. These characters are discussed in terms of neurotic qualities, spiritual and physical isolation, and their ability to control their fellow characters' actions.This work also discusses the neurotic figure, who is unable to recognize others as separate from himself, as illustrative of the self-centered society which Iris Murdoch believes to exist today.

This investigation is about characterization in the Fourth Gospel as it relates to the "disciple"---the mysterious, anonymous figure that pervades the structure of allusions in this narrative. The question as to who this character is and what s/he does in this gospel text has both attracted and intrigued generations of biblical scholars. / The first part of the investigation examines divergent views of premodern, modern and reader-oriented criticism with regard to the "disciple's" identity and function, highlighting the respectively allegorical, historical and reader-oriented understanding of his/her character as proposed by these three critical approaches. / The second part of the investigation re-examines the question with a novel approach. The approach involves a detailed analysis of the structure of allusions. This analysis concludes that the allusions constitute a set of interactive linguistic phenomena which are meant to shed light on the anonymous figure within them. On the basis of this finding, the investigation proposes a new understanding of the structure of allusions and of the question of identity and function that it raises.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 153-161). / Microfiche. / xiii, 161 leaves, bound ill. 29 cm

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Baylor University, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 261-280).

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Also available in print.