Flat character
A simple character defined by few, consistent traits, unchanging throughout narrative.
Real World
Miss Havisham's jilted-bride servant Estella in Great Expectations functions as a flat character for much of the novel — defined almost entirely by cold beauty and the capacity to cause heartbreak — which amplifies Dickens's critique of emotional manipulation.
Exam Focus
Avoid dismissing flat characters as weaknesses; argue why the writer chose simplicity and what structural or thematic purpose it serves.
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