We all know that it’s better to show your protagonist’s (or any other personage’s) character than to tell the reader about it. That way, we’re “watching the movie,” not having someone review it for us. The main way to do this, of course, is to build the character’s personality into his or her actions. If they’re shy, show them hesitating to speak out. If they’re super-emotional, show them weeping at something touching. But because any one character is imbedded in a world full of other people, their personality is also reflected in the way other people act toward them and speak of them. Showing this in fiction might be easier if there are multiple points of view rather than just the protagonist’s, but in fact a single POV isn’t a deal-breaker either.
He Says, She Says
Including references to a character in dialogue is especially straightforward when that character is absent. Just think about how we talk about our absent friends (not to mention adversaries) in real life! It can be gentle—“I don’t think Peg’ll ever quite get over his betrayal”—or snarky—“Keep the bottles away from Jane!” People’s words not only say something about the topic (Peg is devastated; Jane is a lush.) but also about themselves, so you’ve given your reader some clues about two folks at once.
Although sometimes what is said behind a person’s back isn’t true at all. And this offers a chance to build in some mystery: is Jane really a drinker, or is the speaker exercising a little character assassination? The readers will have to make up their minds. But unless the speaker has already been shown to be a liar, that comment will float out there and inflect what readers think about Jane unless or until you prove it slanderous. Just, alas, the way such remarks do in real life. Especially if everyone sees Jane in the same way.
In fiction, this has possibilities. Maybe the person everybody dismisses as a coward isn’t one…
Treat Them Right
In addition to speaking about other personages, your characters address them directly and act upon them. Have you ever noticed how the same speaker may take two very different tones toward two different people? Part of this is conditioned by the social hierarchy (better not treat your boss patronizingly!). But in part, the personality of the addressee colors how we behave toward them. Some people invite familiarity; others are intimidating, and even their friends may feel obliged to maintain a little formality. To some, we are free to speak the hurtful truth; to others, we feel we must offer a candy-coated version. No one would dare speak down to a proud, self-confident person—at least, not more than once. This, again, says something about us and about our interlocutor.
May I Have a Reference?
In short, don’t neglect the reflected opinion—yet another way to establish the personality of your characters. Just as you’d check what previous employers have to say about a prospective hire, interrogate your characters about your protagonist or others.
