B13. Agency: how often does the lead act rather than react? AI
Character. One line per book. Open a book for the full answer, charts and cited lines.
| Book | Genre | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Treasure Island | Thriller and adventure | Jim acts frequently: he opens the sea-chest (Ch 4), reports the mutiny (Ch 12), escapes the blockhouse (Ch 22), cuts the Hispaniola adrift (Ch 23), fights Hands (Ch 26), and negotiates with Silver (Ch 28). He reacts … |
| The Thirty-Nine Steps | Thriller and adventure | Hannay acts rather than reacts in most chapters. He chooses to flee (Chapter 2), decode the notebook (Chapter 3), disguise himself (Chapters 5 to 6), seek out Sir Walter (Chapter 7), and arrest the spies (Chapter 10). … |
| The Prisoner of Zenda | Thriller and adventure | Rudolf acts rather than reacts in roughly 60 percent of scenes. He initiates the forest walk (Ch 3), agrees to impersonate (Ch 4), pursues reconnaissance (Ch 14), plans the rescue (Ch 16), and makes the final choice … |
| Around the World in Eighty Days | Thriller and adventure | Fogg acts rather than reacts in most chapters. He initiates the wager (Ch 3), purchases the elephant (Ch 11), rescues Aouda (Ch 12 to 13), charters the Tankadere (Ch 20), bribes the Henrietta's crew (Ch 33), and marries … |
| King Solomon's Mines | Thriller and adventure | Quatermain acts frequently: agrees to the expedition (3), hunts elephants (4), crosses the desert (5 to 6), uses Good's teeth to convince Kukuanas (7), pledges to fight Twala (10), devises battle strategy (13), escapes … |
| The Hound of the Baskervilles | Crime and mystery | Holmes acts decisively: sends Watson to Devon (Ch5), hides on moor (Ch11), sets trap (Ch13), kills hound (Ch14). Watson acts: investigates Barrymore (Ch7), pursues convict (Ch9), interrogates Laura Lyons (Ch11). Both … |
| A Study in Scarlet | Crime and mystery | Holmes acts in roughly 60% of scenes: he places the ring advertisement (Ch 5), tests the pills (Ch 7), arrests Hope (Ch 7), explains his method (Ch 14). Watson reacts in most scenes, observing and recording. Hope … |
| The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | Crime and mystery | Holmes acts in nearly every chapter. He initiates investigations, sets traps, disguises himself, and confronts criminals. He reacts only when clients arrive with cases. His agency is very high; he drives each plot. … |
| The Moonstone | Crime and mystery | Franklin acts rather than reacts in key moments: Chapter 9, he chooses to warn Betteredge about the Indians; Chapter 13, he retrieves and gives the Diamond to Rachel; Chapter 40, he returns to investigate; Chapter … |
| The Woman in White | Crime and mystery | Walter acts frequently: he helps the woman in white (c3), investigates the anonymous letter (c10 to 13), leaves Limmeridge (c14), rescues Laura from the asylum (c33), gathers evidence (c36 to 42), confronts Fosco (c49). He … |
| Pride and Prejudice | Romance | Elizabeth acts rather than reacts in roughly 60 percent of scenes. She initiates walks (Chapter 7), refuses Mr. Collins (Chapter 19), questions Wickham (Chapter 16), and seeks truth (Chapter 35). She reacts passively … |
| Persuasion | Romance | Anne acts rather than reacts in approximately 40% of scenes. She chooses to stay at Uppercross (Ch 5), initiates visits to Mrs Smith (Ch 17), warns her family about Mrs Clay (Ch 5), and accepts Wentworth's letter (Ch … |
| Emma | Romance | Emma acts frequently: she initiates the Elton match (Chapter 1), persuades Harriet to refuse Martin (Chapter 7), paints Harriet's portrait (Chapter 6), and visits Miss Bates to apologise (Chapter 44). However, she … |
| Jane Eyre | Romance | Jane acts rather than reacts in roughly 60% of scenes. She initiates confrontation with John Reed (Ch 1), stands up to Mrs. Reed (Ch 4), befriends Helen (Ch 6), advertises for employment (Ch 10), takes walks and … |
| Dracula | Gothic and horror | Jonathan acts decisively in Chapters 1 to 4 (escaping the castle) and 19 to 27 (tracing boxes, pursuing Dracula). He reacts passively in Chapters 5 to 18 (recovering, listening to others). Overall, Jonathan acts in roughly … |
| Frankenstein | Gothic and horror | Victor acts in roughly 40% of chapters: he chooses to study (Ch 6 to 8), creates the creature (Ch 8), agrees to hear the creature's tale (Ch 14), agrees to create a female (Ch 21), destroys the female (Ch 24), pursues … |
| Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde | Gothic and horror | Utterson acts moderately: he investigates (Ch 2, 5), confronts Jekyll (Ch 3), breaks down the door (Ch 8). He reacts to events more often than he initiates them, remaining passive until forced to act. |
| The Picture of Dorian Gray | Gothic and horror | Dorian acts decisively in key moments: Ch 2 (wishes on portrait), Ch 4 (pursues Sibyl), Ch 7 (rejects Sibyl), Ch 13 (murders Basil), Ch 14 (blackmails Alan), Ch 20 (destroys portrait). He reacts passively in Ch 8 to 9 … |
| Wuthering Heights | Gothic and horror | Catherine Earnshaw acts in Chs 6 to 9 (choosing Edgar, confessing to Nelly) but is largely passive after (illness, death). Young Catherine acts in Chs 21 to 24 (visiting Linton, writing letters) but is trapped and reactive … |
| The Turn of the Screw | Gothic and horror | The governess acts frequently: she keeps the letter secret (Chapter 2), bonds with the children (Chapter 3), confronts Quint (Chapter 9), presses Mrs. Grose (Chapters 5 to 8), confronts Flora (Chapter 19), and forces … |
| The Time Machine | Science fiction | High agency. The Time Traveller acts throughout: he builds the machine, travels, rescues Weena, gathers weapons, sets fire, retrieves the machine, and chooses to vanish again. He reacts only to immediate threats; his … |
| The War of the Worlds | Science fiction | The narrator acts in approximately 40% of scenes, mostly reacting to Martian actions. Key active moments: Chapter 7 (decides to return home), Chapter 12 (chooses to hide in river), Chapter 21 (strikes the curate), … |
| The Invisible Man | Science fiction | Griffin acts frequently but often reactively: removes bandages in anger (Ch 7), coerces Marvel (Ch 9), attacks villagers (Ch 12), confides in Kemp (Ch 17), plans terror (Ch 24), sieges Kemp's house (Ch 27). He … |
| Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Fantasy and children's | Alice acts in roughly 60% of scenes: she follows the Rabbit, drinks potions, eats the mushroom, enters houses, plays croquet, and testifies. She reacts in 40%: being chased, questioned, and judged. Her agency … |
| The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Fantasy and children's | Dorothy acts in ~60% of scenes: she decides to seek Oz (Ch 2), recruits companions (Ch 3 to 6), melts the Witch (Ch 13), summons Winged Monkeys (Ch 14), demands Oz keep promises (Ch 15), seeks Glinda (Ch 18), uses shoes … |
| The Secret Garden | Fantasy and children's | Mary acts frequently: she explores (ch 5 to 6), searches for the garden (ch 7 to 8), enters it (ch 8), works in it (ch 9 to 11), meets her uncle (ch 12), discovers Colin (ch 13), visits him (ch 14), tells him about the garden … |
| The Wind in the Willows | Fantasy and children's | Toad acts frequently but often recklessly: he steals cars (chapters 6, 10), escapes prison (chapter 8), and leads the attack on Toad Hall (chapter 12). He also reacts to circumstances: imprisonment, pursuit, rescue. … |
| Great Expectations | Literary | Pip acts rather than reacts in key moments: Chapter 1, he steals for the convict. Chapter 18, he accepts Jaggers's offer. Chapter 39, he chooses to protect Magwitch. Chapter 41, he decides to help Magwitch escape. … |
| A Christmas Carol | Literary | Scrooge is mostly passive, reacting to the spirits' visions. He acts only once in Staves I-IV: covering the Ghost of Christmas Past's light. In Stave V, he becomes fully active, sending the turkey, raising Bob's … |
| The Great Gatsby | Literary | Nick acts moderately: he arranges the tea (Ch 5), warns Gatsby to flee (Ch 8), arranges the funeral (Ch 9). He mostly reacts and observes. Gatsby acts constantly but ineffectually. Agency is low for both. |
| Heart of Darkness | Literary | Marlow acts frequently: he accepts the job, navigates the river, orders the attack repelled, retrieves Kurtz, and chooses to lie to the Intended. He also reacts to events: the helmsman's death, Kurtz's illness, the … |
| Kidnapped | Thriller and adventure | David acts in roughly 60% of scenes: he chooses to flee uncle (Ch 4), helps Alan (Ch 9), witnesses murder (Ch 17), reconciles with Alan (Ch 24), seeks Rankeillor (Ch 27), confronts Ebenezer (Ch 29). He reacts in … |
| The Count of Monte Cristo | Thriller and adventure | Dantès acts rather than reacts in roughly 60% of chapters. He acts: escaping prison (Ch 20), finding treasure (Ch 24), infiltrating Paris (Ch 40 to 50), orchestrating revenge (Ch 52 to 96). He reacts: to Faria's death (Ch … |
| The Three Musketeers | Thriller and adventure | D'Artagnan acts rather than reacts in roughly 60 percent of chapters. He initiates the London mission (Chapter 18), seduces Milady (Chapter 33), and pursues her (Chapters 64 to 66). He reacts to the Cardinal's summons … |
| The Riddle of the Sands | Thriller and adventure | Carruthers acts frequently: he agrees to the cruise (Ch 2), accepts the investigation (Ch 8), navigates the sands (Ch 12), chases the prowler (Ch 14), infiltrates Memmert (Ch 21), travels to Amsterdam (Ch 25), … |
| The Scarlet Pimpernel | Thriller and adventure | Marguerite acts rather than reacts in key moments: she steals the note at the ball (Chapter 12); she discovers the ring (Chapter 18); she persuades Sir Andrew to help (Chapter 20); she travels to France (Chapter 22); … |
| The Lost World | Thriller and adventure | Malone acts frequently: devises letter to Challenger (ch 2), volunteers for expedition (ch 5), climbs tree to map plateau (ch 11), ventures to lake alone (ch 12), rescues Roxton (ch 13), fights in battle (ch 14). He … |
| Captain Blood | Thriller and adventure | Blood acts decisively in most chapters: treats the rebel (Chapter 1), plans escape (Chapter 6), seizes the ship (Chapter 9), defeats Levasseur (Chapter 15), takes Bishop hostage (Chapter 23), accepts the commission … |
| Lady Audley's Secret | Crime and mystery | Robert acts rather than reacts in roughly 60 percent of his scenes. He initiates investigation (Chapters 12 to 13), travels to gather evidence (Chapters 25 to 27), confronts Lady Audley (Chapter 29), and forces confession … |
| The Murders in the Rue Morgue | Crime and mystery | Dupin acts throughout: he chooses to investigate in Section 3, deduces the killer in Section 4, places the advertisement, and orchestrates the sailor's confession in Section 5. He is highly agentic. |
| The Innocence of Father Brown | Crime and mystery | Father Brown acts in most chapters: he observes, deduces, confronts criminals, and guides them toward redemption. He initiates investigation in Chapters 1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 19, 20, 25, 26. He rarely reacts; he leads. |
| The Big Bow Mystery | Crime and mystery | Mortlake acts rarely and mostly reacts. He cooperates with police (Ch 2), escapes when arrested (Ch 9), surrenders (Ch 10), and accepts conviction (Ch 10). Only in Ch 9 does he act decisively. Grodman acts … |
| The Leavenworth Case | Crime and mystery | Raymond acts in roughly 60% of chapters: he attends the inquest (Chapter 2), confronts Gryce (Chapter 10), meets Eleanore (Chapter 13), investigates Clavering (Chapters 18 to 25), searches for Hannah (Chapters 26 to 29), … |
| The Red Thumb Mark | Crime and mystery | Jervis acts frequently: visits Juliet (Ch4), forms theories (Ch7), visits Reuben (Ch9), escorts Juliet to trial (Ch14). He also reacts passively: accepts Thorndyke's leadership, withdraws from Juliet in Ch12. Ratio … |
| The Amateur Cracksman | Crime and mystery | Raffles acts in most chapters: he initiates crimes, plans escapes, helps Rutter flee, steals the pearl. Bunny reacts more often: he follows Raffles's lead, is arrested, is jealous of Miss Werner. Raffles drives the … |
| The Secret Agent | Crime and mystery | Verloc acts rarely; he is mostly reactive. He accepts Vladimir's demand (Chapter 2), arranges the bombing (off-page), and returns home (Chapter 9). Winnie acts decisively only in Chapter 11 when she murders him. Most … |
| Sense and Sensibility | Romance | Elinor acts rather than reacts in key moments: she chooses to conceal her feelings (Ch 4), agrees to go to London to protect Marianne (Ch 25), tells Marianne of Willoughby's confession (Ch 46), and accepts Edward's … |
| North and South | Romance | Margaret acts decisively in key moments: proposing to visit Higgins (8), writing to Frederick (25), shielding Thornton (22), lying to police (34), offering Thornton a loan (52). She reacts passively in Chapters 5 to 6, … |
| Far from the Madding Crowd | Romance | Gabriel acts frequently: proposes (4), loses flock (5), finds work (6), saves ricks (36 to 37), becomes bailiff (49), confesses love (62). Bathsheba reacts more often: receives valentine (13), meets Troy (24), marries … |
| The Enchanted April | Romance | Mrs. Wilkins acts frequently: she initiates the plan (Chapter 1), invites Mellersh (Chapter 11), confesses to him (Chapter 15), and protects Lady Caroline (Chapter 22). She reacts to the place's beauty but drives … |
| The Sheik | Romance | Diana acts in Chapter 2 by defying Aubrey and continuing her journey, and in Chapter 5 by attempting escape. She mostly reacts to Ahmed's actions in Chapters 3 to 4, 6 to 8. She acts decisively in Chapter 10 by attempting … |
| Daddy Long Legs | Romance | Jerusha acts frequently: she writes letters, chooses her college path, spends summers at Lock Willow, wins a short-story contest, refuses Master Jervie's Europe offer, publishes a novel, and visits Daddy-Long-Legs. … |
| Carmilla | Gothic and horror | Laura acts infrequently. She befriends Carmilla (ch 3), locks her door (ch 6), confides in her father (ch 7), and accepts the General's help (ch 9). Most action is driven by others: the General investigates, the … |
| The Castle of Otranto | Gothic and horror | Manfred acts frequently but reactively. He pursues Isabella (Ch 1 to 4) but is blocked by supernatural forces. He coerces Jerome (Ch 2) but Jerome defies him. He negotiates with Frederic (Ch 3) but is challenged. He … |
| The Phantom of the Opera | Gothic and horror | Christine acts decisively in Chapters 12, 25, and 26 when she reveals Erik's face, chooses the scorpion, and takes Erik's hand. Raoul acts in Chapters 2, 5, 9, 13, 15, 19, and 20 through pursuit and rescue attempts. … |
| The Great God Pan | Gothic and horror | Villiers acts frequently: he seeks Herbert (Ch3), shows Clarke the sketch (Ch4), investigates with Austin (Ch5), witnesses Crashaw (Ch6), and plans confrontation (Ch7). He reacts to discoveries but drives the … |
| The Yellow Wallpaper | Gothic and horror | The narrator acts frequently: she writes secretly, observes the wallpaper, peels it off, and locks the door. However, her actions are driven by obsession rather than rational agency, and she cannot escape her … |
| The Call of Cthulhu | Gothic and horror | The narrator acts throughout: he investigates papers, visits Wilcox, seeks Legrasse's account, travels to find Johansen, obtains the manuscript. He rarely reacts passively. His agency drives the plot but leads only … |
| The Island of Doctor Moreau | Science fiction | Prendick acts in chapters 1 (survives), 9 (flees), 13 (negotiates), 16 (shoots Leopard-man), 20 to 21 (manipulates and escapes). He reacts in chapters 2 to 8 (passive observation), 10 to 12 (hunted), 14 to 15 (learning). Agency … |
| Journey to the Centre of the Earth | Science fiction | Harry acts in roughly 60% of scenes: decodes parchment (Ch 2), reveals secret (Ch 3), climbs tower (Ch 5), searches for water (Ch 19), becomes separated (Ch 23), communicates through rock (Ch 25), explores sea (Ch … |
| A Princess of Mars | Science fiction | Carter acts rather than reacts in roughly 60 percent of scenes. He initiates escape (Ch 16 to 17), infiltration (Ch 21), and palace assault (Ch 25). He reacts to capture (Ch 3, 18) and transportation (Ch 27). His agency … |
| Herland | Science fiction | Van acts moderately. He plans the expedition (Ch 1), attempts escape (Chs 3 to 4), asks questions (Chs 5 to 7), courts Ellador (Chs 8 to 10), and chooses to leave (Ch 12). But he is often reactive to the women's decisions and … |
| Flatland | Science fiction | The Square acts frequently in chapters 13 to 15 (attempting to teach the King), chapters 18 to 23 (engaging with the Sphere), and chapters 24 to 25 (attempting to teach and writing). He reacts passively in chapters 1 to 12 … |
| Erewhon | Science fiction | The narrator acts frequently: he resolves to cross the mountains (Ch 1), crosses alone (Ch 4), accepts hospitality (Ch 9), falls in love (Ch 16), plans escape (Ch 21), launches balloon (Ch 28), and devises … |
| The Last Man | Science fiction | Lionel acts in Chapters 2 (accepts Adrian's friendship), 5 (helps Idris escape), 11 (rescues Raymond), 16 (accepts Lord Deputy role), 24 (attempts to rescue Juliet), and 29 (writes history and resolves to search). He … |
| Through the Looking Glass | Fantasy and children's | Alice acts frequently: she enters the mirror (Chapter 1), accepts the pawn role (Chapter 2), travels through squares (Chapters 3 to 8), becomes queen (Chapter 9), and seizes the Red Queen (Chapter 9). She also reacts to … |
| A Little Princess | Fantasy and children's | Sara acts frequently: she befriends Ermengarde (Ch 3), comforts Lottie (Ch 4), befriends Becky (Ch 5), asserts her dignity to Miss Minchin (Ch 13), gives away her food (Ch 15), writes a thank-you note (Ch 19), and … |
| The Jungle Book | Fantasy and children's | Mowgli acts frequently: he fetches fire (chapter 2), uses it at the Council (chapter 3), herds buffalo to kill Shere Khan (chapter 7), and skins the tiger (chapter 8). He reacts to kidnapping (chapter 4) and village … |
| Five Children and It | Fantasy and children's | Robert acts frequently: he makes wishes, leads the group, defends the castle, and becomes a giant. Anthea acts by seeking the Psammead's advice early. Most chapters show the children reacting to wish consequences … |
| The Railway Children | Fantasy and children's | Bobbie acts frequently: she befriends the old gentleman (Ch 3), rescues the train (Ch 6), helps the Russian (Ch 7), rescues the baby (Ch 8), writes to the old gentleman (Ch 11), and rescues Jim (Ch 11). She reacts … |
| The Princess and the Goblin | Fantasy and children's | Irene acts often: explores stairs (Chapter 2), seeks grandmother (Chapters 3 to 5), uses thread (Chapter 20), rescues Curdie (Chapter 21), dismisses nurse (Chapter 24). Curdie acts often: investigates goblins (Chapters … |
| Peter and Wendy | Fantasy and children's | Peter acts frequently: he seeks his shadow (Ch 1), teaches children to fly (Ch 3), rescues Tiger Lily (Ch 8), saves Tinker Bell (Ch 13), infiltrates the ship (Ch 14), defeats Hook (Ch 15). He reacts mainly in Chapter … |
| The Worm Ouroboros | Fantasy and children's | Juss acts decisively in most scenes: he challenges Gorice (3), accepts the quest (9), leads the assault (10), breaks the siege (21), climbs the mountain (23 to 24), rides to Zora Rach (46), and breaks the Witch centre … |
| Anne of Green Gables | Fantasy and children's | Anne acts rather than reacts in most scenes: she chooses to apologize (Chapter 10), saves Minnie May (Chapter 18), confesses to Miss Barry (Chapter 19), decides to study hard (Chapter 30), wins the scholarship … |
| Black Beauty | Fantasy and children's | Beauty acts rather than reacts in key moments: ch 12 (refuses to cross damaged bridge, saving lives), ch 18 (gallops urgently for doctor), ch 24 (leaps dike to rescue Lady Anne). He reacts passively in most other … |
| Middlemarch | Literary | Dorothea acts decisively in key moments: accepting Casaubon (ch 5), pledging money to the Hospital (ch 45), resolving to alter the will (ch 38), helping Lydgate (ch 77), visiting Rosamond twice (ch 82), and choosing … |
| Tess of the d'Urbervilles | Literary | Tess acts rather than reacts in roughly 40 percent of scenes. She chooses to work for the d'Urbervilles (Chapter 6), accepts Angel's proposal (Chapter 30), confesses to Angel (Chapter 34), kills Alec (Chapter 56). … |
| Mrs Dalloway | Literary | Clarissa acts frequently: she buys flowers (Section 1), hosts her party (Sections 18 to 21), and chooses to meditate on Septimus's death (Section 20). She also reacts to Peter's arrival (Section 5) and Richard's gift … |
| To the Lighthouse | Literary | Lily acts rarely; she mostly reacts to others' demands and her own internal states. She acts decisively in chapter 30 (sets up easel), chapter 32 (begins painting), and chapter 38 (draws the final line). She is … |
| Anna Karenina | Literary | Levin acts frequently: he proposes (Chapter 13), pursues farming reforms (Chapters 26 to 101), attends elections (Chapters 183 to 188), visits Anna (Chapter 199), and chooses faith (Chapter 231). He reacts to Kitty's … |
| Crime and Punishment | Literary | Raskolnikov acts in Chapters 1, 6, 7 (planning and committing murder), Chapter 24 (visiting Sonia), Chapter 30 (confessing to Sonia), Chapter 38 (confessing to police). He reacts in Chapters 8 to 23 (hiding, fleeing, … |
| Madame Bovary | Literary | Emma acts decisively in seduction scenes (Ch 17 to 18, 25 to 27) and in seeking money (Ch 31), but mostly reacts to events: the ball invitation, Rodolphe's pursuit, Léon's return, Lheureux's demands. Her agency peaks in … |
| The Age of Innocence | Literary | Newland acts in early chapters (announces engagement, visits Ellen, advises her on divorce) but increasingly reacts to events beyond his control. By Chapter 29, he is entirely reactive, asking Ellen to run away only … |
| Silas Marner | Literary | Silas acts in key moments: reporting the theft (Ch 5 to 7), keeping Eppie (Ch 13 to 14), refusing to give her up (Ch 19), visiting Lantern Yard (Ch 21). He reacts passively in Chapters 1 to 2 and 10, grieving. Overall, Silas … |
| Adventures of Huckleberry Finn | Literary | Huck acts frequently: he stages his death (Chapter 8), warns Jim (Chapter 12), steals the murderers' boat (Chapter 14), hides money in the coffin (Chapter 27), confesses to Mary Jane (Chapter 29), commits to rescue … |
| Hamlet | Plays | Hamlet acts in roughly 60% of scenes: he follows the ghost (Scene 4), stages the play (Scene 9), kills Polonius (Scene 11), escapes to England (Scene 17), and accepts the duel (Scene 20). He reacts in Scenes 2, 3, 6, … |
| Macbeth | Plays | Macbeth acts in roughly 60% of scenes: he chooses to murder Duncan (scene 7), kills the chamberlains (scene 10), hires murderers (scene 12), consults the witches (scene 18), orders Macduff's family killed (scene 18), … |
| Romeo and Juliet | Plays | Romeo acts frequently: he attends the feast (chapter 5), pursues Juliet (chapters 6 to 8), agrees to marry (chapter 12), kills Tybalt (chapter 13), and buys poison (chapter 23). Juliet also acts: she pledges love … |
| Othello | Plays | Othello acts decisively in scenes 1 to 3 (marrying, facing Brabantio, defending himself). From scene 7 onward, he reacts to Iago's suggestions rather than acting on his own judgment. By scene 9, he is entirely reactive, … |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | Plays | Puck acts in scenes 3, 4, 5, 6 by anointing eyes and transforming Bottom. He reacts in scene 6 when Oberon corrects him. He acts again in scene 7 by undoing spells. Overall, Puck acts more than reacts, driving the plot. |
| Twelfth Night | Plays | Viola acts decisively in Scene 2 (chooses disguise), Scene 4 (agrees to woo Olivia), and Scene 11 (refuses Olivia's love). She reacts in Scene 5 (learns Olivia loves her), Scene 7 (receives the ring), and Scene 15 … |
| Doctor Faustus | Plays | Faustus acts frequently: he summons spirits, performs magic for emperors, takes Helen as his lover. He reacts only to the Old Man's urging and the clock striking. Agency is high until the final moment. |
| The Importance of Being Earnest | Plays | Jack acts frequently: he proposes to Gwendolen, confronts Algernon, arranges to kill off Ernest, seeks forgiveness from the girls. He also reacts to Lady Bracknell's interrogation and to the girls' rejection. Agency … |
| A Doll's House | Plays | Nora acts frequently but often reactively: she tries to influence Helmer, dances to distract him, and attempts to prevent exposure. Her most significant act is choosing to leave in Act III, which is fully her own … |
| Hedda Gabler | Plays | Hedda acts frequently and deliberately: she manipulates Lovborg in Act Two, burns the manuscript in Act Three, and shoots herself in Act Four. She initiates most major plot movements, though her agency is ultimately … |
| Pygmalion | Plays | Eliza acts more as the play progresses. In Acts I and II she reacts to Higgins's offer and training. In Act III she acts by speaking her truth at the gathering. In Act IV she acts by confronting Higgins and throwing … |
| The School for Scandal | Plays | Charles acts frequently: he admits his extravagance (chapter 8), refuses to sell his uncle's portrait (chapter 9), gives money to help Stanley (chapter 10), and pulls down the screen (chapter 11). He reacts less … |
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