1. Through the character's actions: What a character *does* is often the most powerful indicator of who they are. Their choices, both big and small, reveal their values, motivations, and personality.
2. Through the character's words: Dialogue reveals a character's personality, intelligence, education, social class, and emotional state. The way a character speaks, their vocabulary, and their tone of voice are all important.
3. Through the character's thoughts and feelings: The author can directly access the character's internal world, revealing their inner thoughts, fears, desires, and motivations. This is often done through narration or internal monologue.
4. Through the character's appearance: Physical descriptions can subtly or explicitly reveal aspects of a character's personality. Clothing choices, posture, and even physical features can be suggestive of inner traits.
5. Through the character's effect on others: How other characters react to a particular character provides insight into their personality and impact on the world. The opinions and perceptions of others can reflect the character's traits, even if those traits are not explicitly stated.
6. Through the author's direct statement: The author can directly tell the reader about a character's traits, but this method is generally less effective than showing through the other five methods. It's often best used sparingly to complement, rather than replace, indirect characterization.