Tools of Characterization

Characterization in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Speech and Dialogue

Ah, it's so convenient when characters show us who they really are, isn't it? Exhibit A: Lucius and Draco Malfoy. No one needs to tell us they are snotty or bad news; we can tell just by the way they talk to/about other people.

When they attend the Quidditch World Cup and run into the Weasleys, for example, their snobbery and show-offy tendencies make them look like real jerks:

DRACO: Father and l are in the minister's box, by personal invitation of Cornelius Fudge himself.

LUCIUS: Don't boast, Draco. There's no need with these people.

Yup—just when we think Lucius is actually reining in Draco's braggy tendencies, he actually ups the nastiness of the exchange. This brief dialogue tells us pretty much everything we need to know about these two and their priorities at this point.

Actions

Words are nothing without deeds, right? The kids in Harry Potter's world would seem to agree, and that's part of how we know whether they're naughty or nice.

Cedric's actions, for example, show up that he's totally a standup guy. When he gets inside intel about how to attack the second Triwizard Tournament task, he doesn't keep that info to himself—that wouldn't be fair. Instead, he seeks Harry out. After all, Harry had done him a similar favor before the first task:

CEDRIC: Look, I realize I never really thanked you properly for tipping me off about those dragons.

HARRY: Forget about it. I'm sure you would've done the same for me.

CEDRIC: Exactly. You know the prefects' bathroom on the fifth floor? It's not a bad place for a bath. Just take your egg and mull things over in the hot water.

We already thought Cedric seemed like a good guy, but the fact that he's so giving and helpful to his fellow competitors really shows us just how great he is.

Direct Characterization

Of course, if you don't know a lot about a character from what they say or how they act, sometimes another character can help you out and give you the down low. This kind of characterization is particularly helpful in the case of Mad-Eye Moody, who remains kind of a mysterious figure for most of the film:

RON: Dark-wizard catcher. Half the cells in Azkaban are filled thanks to him. He's supposed to be mad as a hatter, though, these days.

It turns out that the man we think is Moody is actually Barty Crouch drinking Polyjuice Potion, but still—it's good to know a little bit about the man he's impersonating. It explains why people don't react as strongly to his odd behavior.