CHARACTER
Merriam-Webster's information on 'Character' (that is relevant to my post):
Adjective definitions
2 a: one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual
b: (1) a feature used to separate distinguishable things into categories; also : a group or kind so separated (2) the detectable expression of the action of a gene or group of genes (3) the aggregate of distinctive qualities characteristic of a breed, strain, or type;
c: the complex of mental and ethical traits marking and often individualizing a person, group, or nation
d: main or essential nature especially as strongly marked and serving to distinguish
Noun definitions
7 a: a person marked by notable or conspicuous traits
b: one of the persons of a drama or novel
c: the personality or part which an actor recreates
d: characterization especially in drama or fiction
e: person, individual
Origin of the word
Middle English caracter, from Latin character mark, distinctive quality, from Greek charaktēr, from charassein to scratch, engrave; perhaps akin to Lithuanian žerti to scratch
Dictionary.reference.com's information on 'Character' (that is relevant to my post)
Noun definitions
1. the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.
2. one such feature or trait; characteristic.
3. moral or ethical quality: "a man of fine, honorable character."
4. qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity: "It takes character to face up to a bully."
5. reputation: "a stain on one's character."
Adjective definitions *Used in Art*
a. (of a part or role) representing a personality type, especially by emphasizing distinctive traits, as language, mannerisms, physical makeup, etc.
b. (of an actor or actress) acting or specializing in such roles.
Verb definitions (used with object) *archaic usage*
24. to portray; describe.
25. to engrave; inscribe.
Idioms
26. in character,
a. in harmony with one's personal character or disposition: "Such behavior is not in character for him."
b. in accordance with the role or personality assumed in a performance: "an actor in character."
27. out of character,
a. out of harmony with one's personal character or disposition: "Her remarks were out of character."
b. away from the role or personality assumed in a performance: "The actor stepped out of character."
Thesaurus.com's information on 'Character'
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: individuality
Synonyms: appearance, aspect, attribute, badge, bent, caliber, cast, complex, complexion, constitution, crasis, disposition, emotions, estimation, ethos, frame, frame of mind, genius, grain, habit, humor, kind, makeup, mettle, mood, morale, mystique, nature, personality, quality, record, reputation, repute, sense, set, shape, singularity, sort, specialty, spirit, standing, streak, style, temper, temperament, tone, trait, turn, type, vein
Notes: Character is what one represents; Reputation is what one is thought to be by others
PERSONIFICATION
Dictionary.com's information on 'Personification' (that is relevant to my post)
Noun definitions
2. the representation of a thing or abstraction in the form of a person, as in art.
3. the person or thing embodying a quality or the like; an embodiment or incarnation: He is the personification of tact.
4. an imaginary person or creature conceived or figured to represent a thing or abstraction.
Collins Dictionary's definitions of 'Personification'
Noun
1. the attribution of human characteristics to things, abstract ideas, etc, as for literary or artistic effect
2. the representation of an abstract quality or idea in the form of a person, creature, etc, as in art and literature
3. a person or thing that personifies
4. a person or thing regarded as an embodiment of a quality: "he is the personification of optimism."
Excerpt from Encyclopedia Britannica's information on 'Personification'
figure of speech in which human characteristics are attributed to an abstract quality, animal, or inanimate object. An example is
"The Moon doth with delight
Look round her when the heavens are bare" ('William Wordsworth, 'Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood' 1807). Another is
"Death lays his icy hand on kings"
(James Shirley, 'The Glories of Our Blood and State' 1659).
Personification has been used in European poetry since Homer and is particularly common in allegory; for example, the medieval morality play Everyman (c.1500) and the Christian prose allegory Pilgrim's Progress (1678) by John Bunyan contain characters such as Death, Fellowship, Knowledge, Giant Despair, Sloth, Hypocrisy, and Piety.
Personification became almost an automatic mannerism in 18th-century Neoclassical poetry, as exemplified by these lines from Thomas Gray's 'An Elegy Written in a Country Church Yard':
"Here rests his head upon the lap of earth
A Youth to Fortune and to Fame unknown:
Fair Science frowned not on his humble birth,
And Melancholy marked him for her own."
Thesaurus.com's information on 'Personification'
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: representation, manifestation Synonyms: apotheosis, archetype, avatar, cast, collection, comprehension, conformation, embracement, encompassment, epitome, example, exemplar, exemplification, expression, form, formation, incarnation, inclusion, incorporation, integration, matter, organization, personification, prosopopoeia, quintessence, realization, reification, structure, symbol, systematization, type
PROSOPOPEIA
1560s, from Greek prosopopoiia "the putting of speeches into the mouths of others," from prosopon "person, face" (literally "that which is toward the eyes," from pros "to" + ops "eye, face") + poiein "make" (see poet).
Is Enlightenment when you become the prospopeia of the best part of yourself?
