Let us remember that a round character is the opposite of
a flat character, in that the character is presented in his or her full psychological
complexity, with a number of different characteristics. By contrast, a flat character is
not fully developed and only has one or two notable characteristics. A dynamic character
is the opposite of a static character, and is a character that changes during the course
of the tale.
If we examine the character of Elisa in this
brilliant story, it is evidently clear that she is a round character, as we are
presented with her character in all of its complexity. Note how the following speech by
Elisa reveals her curious longing and also her
loneliness:
Elisa's voice grew husky. She broke in on him:
"I've never lived as you do, but I know what you mean. When the night is dark--why, the
stars are sharp-pointed, and there's quiet. Why, you rise up and up! Every pointed star
gets driven into your body. It's like that. Hot and sharp
and--lovely."
This definitely
reveals a complex character. However, when we consider if Elisa changes through the
course of the story, it becomes more complicated. It is clear that she is left in her
hopeless and lonely position at the end of the story, feeling trapped in her life and
married to a husband who, while good, fails to understand her. The visit of the tinker
only serves to highlight Elisa's own sense of loneliness and despair. Even the
connection she feels she has established with him is shown to be false, as the
chrysanthemums he has discarded shows. Elisa is therefore a static character, that does
not experience any massive changes in herself through the course of the
story.
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