Text 1.4: Appearance

It is useful to be able to estimate and describe characters. There are however, two aspects of the subject. Personal appearance, physical features, stature and build, clothes or individual details which make one person different from another. Such description is often given of missing persons. There will be little indication of character in these cases.

Yet clothes and appearance are often an index to character, not only the kind of clothes people wear, but how they wear them. A person who takes little interest in his or her appearance, is not likely to be a meth­odical or tidy person.

Characters may be described in several ways: by description, by suggestion, by conversation, or by action.

Simple description is perhaps the easiest, but also the least satisfactory method, e.g. you may say John Brown is a very methodical and tidy person, which is a plain statement of fact. If, however, you describe some of his habits which help to build character, such as his neatly- parted hair and clean shoes, his careful and accurate work, tidy desk, and so on, all this will suggest his character far better. If you wish to add that John is also cheerful and good-tempered, you can do so by des­cribing what he says and what he does. If you listen to a person's talk, you soon have some idea of his character. You should remember, also, that "Actions speak louder than words" and by telling how people act, you will be indicating their character.

If you wish to describe people well, you should notice such things as habits, mannerisms, amusements or hobbies, clothes, particularly hats and shoes. Habits and amusements can also tell us much. Character shows itself through such details as one's voice, walk, features, eyes, mouth, hands, rouge, or other make-up.

Yet we cannot say that a person is wholly good or bad, any more than we can say that a high forehead always denotes intelligence or a big chin indicates a strong will.

(After "English Every Day" by R. E. Houseman)

EXERCISES

Exercise 1. Explain why it is useful to be able to estimate and describe character.

Exercise 2. Briefly state the four ways of describing character. Say which method the au­thor finds the more satisfactory, and why. Express your agreement or disagree­ment.

Exercise 3. Name the traits of character suggested by the following. Say which, in your opinion, are good, and which are bad, and why.

A person: 1. takes little interest in his or her appearance; 2. shows great interest in one's appearance; 3. is always well-dressed; 4. wears loud clothes; 5. has neatly-parted hair and clean shoes; 6. works carefully and accurately; 7. never leaves a job half-done; 8. works hard; 9. never lies; 10. hardly ever lies but never tells the truth; 11. never speaks the truth; 12. thinks of nobody but himself; 13. secretly believes that he is better than others; 14. is always glad to help others; 15. knows all the answers and therefore never asks for advice; 16. gladly takes advice 17. thinks carefully before taking a decision; 18. is cold and unfeeling; 19. does the most unexpected things; 20. is bright and pleasant; 21. enjoys discussing other people's personal matters.

Exercise 4. Translate the statements

1. First appearance deceives many. Phaedrus,c1 Macedonian Inventor and Writer

2. Think not I am what I appear. Byron, Lord,1788-1824 British Poet

3. Beware, so long as you live, of judging men by their outward appearance. La Fontaine, Jean De,1621-1695 French Poet

4. Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory. Ashe, Arthur,1943-1993 African-American Tennis Player

5. Clothes and manners do not make the man; but when he is made, they greatly improve him. Beecher, Henry Ward,1813-1887 American Orator, Writer

6. Things are seldom what they seem. Gilbert, W. S.,1836-1911 British Librettist

7. The most beautiful woman I ever knew was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance-money, and the most repellent man of my acquaintance is a philanthropist who has spent nearly a quarter of a million upon the London poor. Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan,1859-1930 British Author

8. You are only what you are when no one is looking. Edwards, Robert C.

9. The one, who has a great nose, thinks everybody is speaking of it. Fuller, Thomas,1608-1661 British Clergyman Author

10. Nothing so much prevents our being natural as the desire to seem so. La Rochefoucauld, Francois De,1613-1680 French Classical Writer

11. The best mirror is an old friend. Proverb

12. A little man often cast a long shadow. Proverb, Italian

13. We see things as we are, not as they are. Rosten, Leo,1908-1997 Polish Born American Political Scientist

14. The world is governed more by appearances than by realities, so that it is fully as necessary to seem to know something as to know it. Webster, Daniel,1782-1852 American Lawyer Statesman

15. Only shallow people do not judge by appearances. The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible. Wilde, Oscar,1856-1900 British Author