Characterization is like watching a child grow up: you get to see who they are in the beginning and you see the changes in them as they develop.. In Truman Capote’s “A Christmas Memory” the author affectionately develops the character of his distant relative and childhood best friend. Through his fond recollection of “Sook” the author demonstrates the character’s resourcefulness, exceptional creativity and generous nature.
Due to the author’s outstanding depiction of Sook, the audience is able to recognize her creativity. When it is time to decorate the house for the holidays, Buddy and Sook are unable to buy any decorations. This, however, does not deter them from accomplishing their goal. As the author recalls “So we do as we’ve always done:…show more content… When it is time to find a Christmas tree for their home, Sook knows a place to get beautiful trees for the holidays. The author recalls her words ‘“I know where we’ll find real pretty trees, Buddy. And holly, too. With berries as big as your eyes. It’s way off in the woods.”’ (p. 150) Undoubtedly, Sook knows their financial situation, but chooses to make the most of what she has available to her. Sook recalls going to the wood with her father to get trees every year as a child. Even though it is not an easy job, she feels it is something that she can and must do. “Weaving and ribboning holly wreaths for all the front windows, our next project is fashioning our family gifts.” Sook uses the holly she and Buddy have brought back from the wood to decorate the windows without having to spend any money. By using the resources available to her, Sooks is able to complete her goal.
Through the author’s fond development of Sook, the audience is able to recognize the connection between them. In “A Christmas Memory” Truman Capote’s skillful characterization allows his readers to appreciate Sook’s benevolence, originality, and capability. Characterization is like baking a cake: without the correct ingredients, it’s just not as good. Without the author's elaborate detailing of Sook, the audience would be left with no sense of who Sook was, but because of his skillful description
