Dialogue

=**__DIALOGUE__**= Most of us realize that dialogue simply means the conversation that occurs between two or more people in a novel. The official definition of 'dialogue' according the literary terms dictionary is:

"The conversation of two or more people as represented in writing, especially in __plays__, __novels__, __short stories__ and __narrative poems__. Dialogue is important in forwarding the action, developing __characters__, and intesifying a sense of reality and immediacy. Characters often reveal themselves more by what they say than by what they do or by what is said about them. To be effective, dialogue must be true to the personalities, social positions, and outlooks of the speakers. It must present the exchange of ideas in a conversational give-and-take, not merely to life without being a verbatim account of what was said."

Dialogue appears in many novels and short stories because of their ability to convey a character's thoughts and feelings at a more personal level. Literal dialogue between characters creates a more real-life feel to characters which otherwise would be flat.

__**EXAMPLES** The Stranger__: Albert Camus "'Next time you'll know better than to clown around with a policeman.' Meanwhile the girl was crying and she repeated, 'He beat me up! He's a pimp!' 'Officer,' Ramyond asked, 'is that legal, calling a man a pimp like that?' But the cop ordered him to shut his trap. Then Raymond turned to the girl and said, 'You just wait, sweeteart---we're not through yet.'...'I'm not drunk, officer. It'l just that I'm here, and you're there, and I'm shaking, I can't help it.'" (36-37)

The excerpt above from __The Stranger__ is a typical model of dialogue between two characters; Raymond, his girlfriend, and the cop. The fact that Camus decided to write in past tense makes it a little harder to distinguish the dialogue however, this minute passage is able to enhance the characterization of Raymond and develop his character's personality and type. We learn that he is rather cunning and sly around officials such as the police; telling the cop that he is only shaking because of his presence, whereas on the other hand, Raymond is rather barbaric towards his girlfriend who is threatens by saying "we're not through yet." The dialogue helps the reader understand the relationship that is being represented between Raymond and his girlfriend.

__Chronicle of a Death Foretold__: Gabriel Garcia Marquez "'The time has come for you to be tamed,' he told her. Victoria Guzman showed him the bloddy knife. 'Let go of her, white man,' she ordered him seriously. 'You won't have a drink of that water as long as I'm alive.'...Another man like that hasn't ever been born again,' she told me, fat and faded and surrounded by the children of other loves. 'He was just like his father,' VIctoria Guzman answered her. 'A shit.'" (10)

This second excerpt from __Chronicle of a Death Foretold__ is a great example of how dialogue used to reveal a character's persona. Victoria Guzman's characters' personality and her relationship with Santiago Nasar are apparent through the dialogue presented in a few short lines. The specific word choice selected by Marquez aids in emphasizing the way Victoria feels on a deeper level without having to display her emotions through physical actions. For example by using derrogative terms such as "white man" and "shit" with blunt descriptions of "fat and faded" while simultaneously condemning Santiago and his father, Victoria is able to clearly take her stance, illustrating her antagonistic opinions towards the Nasar men.

Felicia Liu