Review of Character: The History of a Cultural Obsession by Marjorie Garber

In Character: The History of a Cultural Obsession, Marjorie Garber delivers an erudite, wide-ranging excavation of one of the slipperiest concepts in Western thought. Tracing the evolving meaning of “character” from ancient philosophy to contemporary political rhetoric, Garber’s central thesis is both simple and profound: character is not a stable moral essence, but a cultural performance—one we endlessly observe, debate, and invent.

Drawing from literature, philosophy, psychology, theater, and media, Garber shows how the word “character” oscillates between moral judgment and dramatic role. One moment, it denotes integrity or virtue; the next, it describes a fictional persona or public image. The effect is dizzying—and that’s her point. “Character,” Garber argues, is a shape-shifting mirror of society’s obsessions, always revealing more about the observer than the observed.

From Socrates to Shakespeare, Freud to Trump, Garber weaves a tapestry of references that reflect the malleability of moral identity. Particularly compelling is her treatment of literary characters—how they were once seen as types or allegorical figures, then gradually evolved into the psychological “realism” we now prize. She challenges the reader to reconsider whether “depth” is truly what makes a character “real,” or whether that too is a projection of cultural desire.

Garber’s style is dense but rewarding, layered with irony and intellectual play. Readers expecting a straightforward moral argument will find instead a deconstructionist’s delight: a refusal to pin down what “character” really is. Like her previous work, Character refuses reduction. Instead, it asks: why are we so obsessed with this idea, and what does that obsession reveal about us?

The book is particularly timely in an era when character is brand, reputation is currency, and the line between authenticity and performance grows ever thinner. By dissecting our collective fixation on character—whether in public figures, fictional heroes, or ourselves—Garber offers not moral clarity but cultural insight.

Verdict: Character is an intellectually rigorous and culturally astute book that challenges readers to question their assumptions. It’s not a guide to character building—but a brilliant exploration of why we keep insisting one should exist in the first place.