The Author's Attitude Toward His Characters

Doubtless many a writer does not suppose that his readers are more or less consciously alert to discover his attitude toward his fictive creatures, yet such is the fact. Is he content with the present social order, or is he a social reformer? or a social malcontent? or a cynical indifferentist? His outlook on life, it goes with¬out saying, is likely to transpire in his stories. In the same manner it will appear whether he views his char¬acters with a cold indifference, as does Maupassant ; actual contempt, as disclosed in Flaubert; frank worship, like Scott ; or a discriminating sympathy, in the manner. of Stevenson.10 Perhaps you will agree with me that the last is the only warm-hearted, spirit-kindling attitude to maintain. It was Sidney Lanier who said that the fic¬tion-writer partakes of the Divine power because it is given to him to look into and mould the inner lives of his characters.