Contextual Studies: Character

There are many different aspects that make up a character within any media:
The signifier, which signifies how the character can be recognized. An example of this is Whinnie the Poohs red shirt he always wears. No matter what style this character is drawn in, his red shirt signifies to the viewer that this is "that" specific character, Whinnie the Pooh.
A characters name is also important, the main character in Fable is named "Hero" which gives connotations of heroism and being good, yet this is also an empty name, with the player being able to decide on what kind of hero "Hero" will be. Pip, the main character from Great Expectations, also has a name that gives ideas of something else. The name "Pip" leads to the idea of "Seed" which gives connotations of something being ready to grow and evolve.

Robert McKee argues that characters have characterisations, a false personality of someone they would like to be, and that their "True Character" is only shown when they react under pressure. An example would be Spider-man is Peter Parker's characterisation, a mask under which he hides, yet his true character is the awkward teenager.

Ezio Auditore Da Firenze:
The characterisation of this character is one of a suave, charming expert assassin, donned in a white hooded robe. A "hero" who roams the streets of Italy, fighting a revolution against those who are corrupting his country. However, his true character is one of a young, grieving adolescent, forced to take on this role in vengeance after his father and brothers are murdered. This "true" character is rarely seen, except in times of desperation and pressure. His physical character changes too, he is often shown wearing regular clothes, unhooded or semi-nude, as if to represent a sign of true self and/or the weakness he feels like this. A complete opposite to his "armoured" robed self.