personatge

Personatge is a Catalan term that designates a character in a narrative, whether in literature, theatre, cinema, radio, television, or digital media. It refers to the fictional or depicted entity that drives action, speaks, or is described within the work, and it is distinct from the real person or the performer who presents it.

Etymology and usage: The word is derived from the Latin persona and has evolved in Romance languages with the addition of the suffix -atge to denote a role or figure. In Catalan, personatge is used for both fictional characters and historical or public figures depicted in a narrative or media work. It is common to talk about “desenvolupar el personatge” (develop the character), “personatges principals” (main characters), or “personatge secundari” (secondary character).

Classification and analysis: In literary and media theory, personatges are categorized by function (protagonista, antagonista, secundari), development (dinàmic vs estàtic), and dimensionality (dona de cap a peus vs potser caricatura). A related concept is arquetip, the recurring character type or pattern that a personatge may embody. The portrayal of a personatge often reflects thematic interests, social context, and narrative perspective, and may include symbolic or allegorical dimensions.

Cultural role: The concept of personatge is central to Catalan criticism and pedagogy, where close reading and critique focus on a character’s motives, relationships, and evolution within the plot. It also appears in discussions of adaptation across media, where a personatge may be reinterpreted while preserving essential traits.

See also: caràcter, arquetip, històries, cinema, teatre.