When we think about main characters, we don’t usually think about static characters. In general, we want main characters to grow, change, learn, and mature. We want growth for main characters because we want that for ourselves.
However, some of the most memorable and tragic main characters are also static characters. But it’s static characters that give us cautionary tales. Sometimes their lack of growth can have as much impact as profound development.
Today, I want to share 9 static characters for your ELA classroom.
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Static Characters in Short Works
Sometimes we’re limited with the amount of class time we have. When this happens, a poem or short story can be our best bet. Some of my favorite poems and stories feature stubborn, mind-melting, aggravating, and captivating static characters.
First, poet Edwin Arlington Robinson is an expert at capturing character in a few short stanzas. His character studies are celebrated and continue to appear in English classes for a reason. In this case, Miniver Cheevy and Richard Cory are static characters that provide a clear study of tragedy. Miniver Cheevy captures the pain of nostalgia and longing without action. On the other hand, the title character Richard Cory surely is tragic, but, perhaps, the anonymous narrator is the true static character here for they never recognize pain or practice empathy. Read them both here.
Similarly, the static character Eagus in the short story “Berenice” by Edgar Allan Poe never practices empathy. Of the static characters here, Eagus’ story may be the most disturbing. On the one hand, Eagus is unlikable and creepy. He also blames his vile misdeeds on his monomania (what you and I would call OCD). On the other hand, this is a reflection of Poe’s mind and also opens up a conversation about mental health. There’s also an argument here that Eagus’ privilege shelters him from ever having to confront his OCD, feel the consequences of his actions, or make any attempt to grow. Read it here.
Realism and Static Characters
As I was compiling this list, I was struck by how many pieces of American Realism feature memorable static characters. The historical context of Realism and its steadfast belief in the decidedly unheroic nature of humans makes it a timeframe in which static characters thrive. The use of static characters captures the acceptance of human mediocrity, complacency, and stupidity in the Realistic Era.
First, when I think about Realism, I instantly think of Jack London. The man in “To Build a Fire” is a quintessential static character. He has multiple opportunities to realize his mistakes and misses the mark every time. For students, the man is the kind of character that helps them recognize the importance of humility and owning one’s mistakes (or, you know, you’ll freeze to death). Read it here.
While the man in “To Build a Fire” is obtuse, his stubborn nature is no match for Granny Weatherall. In “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall,” Katherine Anne Porter captures the decline and decay of one woman in her dying days. Through the use of stream of consciousness and flashbacks, Porter shows readers that Granny certainly has inner strength. However, she lacks self-awareness and empathy. Like the man in “To Build a Fire,” Granny has a measure of hubris that she cannot overcome. Read it here.
Static characters can be strangely captivating. Certainly, the title character Editha is fascinating. She’s such a striking character that, at first glance, she seems like a complex character. However, a critical reading “Editha” by William Dean Howells reveals a shallow, almost parable-like “heroine.” Editha is a static character I find so frustrating because you want her to learn, you want her to grow, and then, just when you think she’s there, she gets her portrait done. Read it here.
Longer Works
Long works like novels and dramas capture the frustration of reading static characters. During a longer work, readers have more opportunities to understand, empathize with, and be disappointed in static characters. After all, an author has devoted an entire novel to showing readers all the times a character chooses not to grow. Even worse, most of the time, characters do not recognize the opportunities in front of them, leaving readers to wonder at all the missed chances in their own lives.
Perhaps there is no more delusional character than Jay Gatsby. Convinced that he can repeat the past, Gatsby is one of those captivating static characters. Like Editha, Gatsby seems like a rich, complex character. However, as The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald progresses, readers begin to realize that Nick Carraway’s assessment was correct: you can “read” Gatsby by flipping through a magazine. Grab my abridged and modified version of the novel.
Brutus, like Gatsby, struggles to accept the truth. While Gatsby cannot accept that Daisy will never marry him, Brutus cannot accept that his actions may have harmed democracy rather than protected it. In Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Brutus is so honorable that his vision is clouded to the manipulative, selfish, and dishonorable characters around him. Check out my abridged and modified version of the play today!
At first glance, Brutus doesn’t seem to have much in common with Okonkwo from Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe. However, in both cases, the characters’ refusal to grow and evolve leads to their downfall. For me, Okonkwo is one of the most devastating characters on this list. There’s a great deal that is beyond his control, but his reactions are always within his control. This conflict is central to his novel’s themes. For this reason, Okonkwo is a character who connects to a variety of other poems and short works, which I’ve gathered in this synthesis bundle.
Two Exceptions
Of course, there are exceptions to every rule. Not every static character is a nightmare.
For example, Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a static character, but he is often described as a hero. Atticus’ integrity is stalwart, and his refusal to change in the face of immense social pressure is what makes him heroic. Unlike other characters on this list, Atticus is a character who is never treated with irony. Sure, the novel includes irony, but it never touches Atticus. In fact, Atticus’ statc characterization supports the novel’s themes. My favorite resources for To Kill a Mockingbird are in this bundle.
Similarly, Louisa in “A New England Nun” by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman is not a delivish static character. Over the years, my interpretation of Louisa’s actions has covered a wide range. At times, I’ve thought her free and unfettered, and at other times, I’ve viewed her as someone choosing to stay trapped. Indeed, this is the debate my students have when we read this short story. Either way, Louisa is a remarkable static character. She’s captivating like Editha but not superficial, stubborn like Granny but not mean-spirited, and quietly honorable like Brutus but not tragic. Read her story and let me know what you think!
