Writerly Introspection: Unraveling the Layers that Weave the Fictional Character

Abstract

What creates the character? And how does a writer mold a character that is tangible and complex? In this essay, I narrow the answer to these questions down to the following: familial relationships, cultural and/or racial identity, and lived experiences. Employing psychological research alongside literary criticism, I examine the various ways in which four authors weave these themes into narrative, and which of the factors, if any, is dominant when formulating a character’s unique personality. The essay also analyzes my own fiction in conjunction with the works being studied in order to conclusively distill what I have gleaned from the authors I admire throughout my writerly journey. I present the claim that these aforementioned factors are interconnected, working in synergy with each other, and delve into how successfully the distinct works of literature, including my own, present them as such. I also detail how the process of amassing research for this essay shifted my perspective.