Caracterizase

Caracterizase is a term occasionally used in literary and linguistic discussions to denote the act of self-characterization. It refers to the process by which a subject, particularly a character in a narrative, presents or defines its own traits, motives, and identity, rather than being described solely by an external narrator.

Etymology and usage context: The form derives from the reflexive verb caracterizarse in Spanish, which means to characterize oneself. In older or philological texts, caracterizase appears as a historical or literary variant, while contemporary usage typically employs the standard infinitive caracterizarse. As a scholarly label, caracterizase is not widely standardized and is mostly found in discussions of self-representation or self-description within a text.

Role in theory: In contrast to external characterization, where traits are attributed by an observer, the concept linked to caracterizase emphasizes self-revelation and self-definition. It is used to analyze passages where a character or narrator reveals identity, values, or personality through introspection, diary entries, or direct address. The distinction helps separate scenes of self-presentation from those of description by others, though in practice many works blend both modes.

Example: A line such as “El protagonista se caracterizase a sí mismo mediante un monólogo interior” illustrates the idea of self-characterization within a narrative frame.

See also: characterization, self-characterization, narrative perspective, interior monologue, self-description.