The test of a round character is whether it is capable of surprising in a convincing way. If it never surprises, it is flat. If it does not convince, it is flat pretending to be round.

On fictional characters

Aspects of the Novel (1927) ch. 4


The test of a round character is whether it is capable of surprising in a convincing way. If it never surprises, it is flat. If it does not convince, ...

The test of a round character is whether it is capable of surprising in a convincing way. If it never surprises, it is flat. If it does not convince, ...

The test of a round character is whether it is capable of surprising in a convincing way. If it never surprises, it is flat. If it does not convince, ...

The test of a round character is whether it is capable of surprising in a convincing way. If it never surprises, it is flat. If it does not convince, ...