What is meant by 'character' in a dramatic work?

In a dramatic work, 'character' refers to the distinct personality traits portrayed by actors. This encompasses how an actor embodies a fictional person, highlighting their behaviors, motivations, emotions, and relationships with others in the narrative. Characters are vital to storytelling, as they create a connection with the audience and drive the emotional response to the events unfolding on stage. Their development and interactions can illuminate key themes and deepen the audience's understanding of the narrative.

The other choices do not fully capture the definition of 'character.' The events that drive the story forward relate more to the plot rather than character. The thematic elements represented in the play refer to the underlying messages or concepts being explored, which may be conveyed through characters but are not the definition of character itself. Lastly, the dialogue exchanged between characters is a crucial component of a dramatic work, but it specifically refers to the spoken words rather than the mannerisms and attributes that define the characters themselves.