How does indirect characterization take place in this excerpt from Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera? He found them both looking extremely worried. Their own friends did not recognize them: they had lost all their gaiety and spirits. They were seen crossing the stage with hanging heads, care-worn brows, pale cheeks, as though pursued by some abominable thought or a prey to some persistent sport of fate.
A. through the characters’ speech
B. through the characters’ thoughts
C. through the characters’ appearance
D. through the characters’ action
From the provided excerpt, indirect characterization takes place primarily through the characters' appearance. In this case, the text describes that the characters are looking "extremely worried," have "lost all their gaiety and spirits," and are seen with "hanging heads," "care-worn brows," and "pale cheeks." These physical descriptions convey the characters' emotional state and suggest that they are tormented by distressing thoughts or circumstances. Therefore, the answer would be C. through the characters' appearance.
