Upon  completing  the  story,  we  feel  that  we  have  sounded
the  very  personality  of  the  Reverend  James  Moore:  all
'the  details  of  the  action  have  contributed  to  the  exposi-


172    RHETORICAL  PRINCIPLES  OF  NARRATION

tion;  and  the  various  contributing  elements  have  com-
bined to  produce  a  consistent  and  complete  individu-
ality. Much  of  the  consistency  and  general  unity  of  ef-
fect has  come  from  the  sustained  point  of  view,  —  that
of  the  omniscient  observer  to  whom  all  motives  are  as
clear  as  outward  acts,  but  who  himself  remains  unseen.
Coherence

Unity  of  characterization,  then,  is  found  in  consist-
ency of  portrayal,  in  the  subordination  of  the  various
constituent  elements  to  the  individuality  as  a  whole.  Co-
herence of  characterization  is  secured  by  consistency  of
development.  Unity  has  to  do  with  the  complete  person-
ality; coherence,  with  the  successive  steps  that  contri-
bute to  that  personality.  In  one 'sense,  unity  is  static;
coherence,  progressive.  Coherence  of  characterization,
then,  would  seem  to  be  best  exemplified  in  those  narra-
tives where  personality  grows  with  the  successive  inci-
dents that  constitute  the  action.  It  therefore  finds  its
most  perfect  expression  in  the  novel,  which,  as  will  be
shown  later,  is  becoming  more  and  more  recognized  as  a
record  of  personality.
Personality  is  not  born  in  a  moment;  it  is  developed.
