Notes on the psychology of the characters

Abstract

In this article, the author calls into question the existence of what he terms a “psychology” of the theatrical character—given that the character constitutes a “distinct reality” (that is, a fictional one) and is, therefore, not subject to the kinds of transformations that various circumstances might otherwise bring about in a human being’s thoughts, feelings, decisions, and actions. This places him in direct opposition to those who argue that such a psychological dimension exists for characters in the theater, such as the orthodox followers of the Stanislavskian school.