What is the difference between a one-dimensional character and a three-dimensional character?

Answer 1

When talking about dimensions in characters you first have to define those dimensions as they do not come by assumption. There are many dimensions to characters and you first have to set what it is you are talking about before you proceed.

If you have ever seen the TV show 'Ancients Behaving Badly' this is exactly what they do.

So let us consider a character such as Ebenezer Scrooge.

What two dimensions shall we discuss? How about thriftiness and friendliness.

Thriftiness: Scrooge is very thrifty. In fact he is so thrifty you could say he was miserly. In fact he is so miserly you might be tempt to say that it is a consuming obsession with him.

Friendliness: Scrooge is not friendly. In fact you would be tempted to say that Scrooge is hostile. In fact you could say that Scrooge is anxiously hostile, seems to take pleasure in his hostility.