define flat character understatement definition

His personality is limited to being the strong yet unintelligent servant of the General Zaroff. In the short story “The Most Dangerous Game”, the mute servant, Ivan, is a flat character. By including her in the story, the reader is able to receive additional viewpoints of the community during a controversial time, and it adds depth the town by showing the different residing citizens. She is characterized in the book as the town gossip. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the character Miss Stephanie Crawford is labeled as a flat character. Examples of Flat Characters in Literature In many situations such as the example of Newman from Seinfeld and the servants in Romeo and Juliet, the flat characters often bring comedy to the piece as well as a break from the constant action and drama. In the text, flat characters add balance to the piece. However, the irony is that others accuse him for his hot temperament and wild attitude.The Function of Flat Characters in Literatureįlat characters function in the sense that they support the main characters. Benvolio’s purpose is to support Romeo to get married to Juliet.

He is temperate, solid, and loyal, who always tries to maintain peace and harmony between the two families. Example #4: Benvolio from Romeo and Juliet (By William Shakespeare)īenvolio is another flat character, who remains unchanged throughout the play.

Thus, she does not transform throughout this play, proving her as a flat character from beginning to the end. She does not judge her husband, and assures him that she would support him for any decision he makes. Though she feels dejected due to John’s cheating, she does not turn against him despite his wrongdoing.Įlizabeth Proctor is basically an honest person who, when John asks for her recommendation as to whether he should confess his sin, she leaves the decision to him. Whatever happens in the story, she stays faithful to her husband, John Proctor. Another example of flat character is The Crucible‘s Elizabeth Proctor, who is a self-righteous woman, who always believes in doing something right.

Define flat character understatement definition