Character Clues

Character Analysis

Actions

The characters in Princess Academy may appear one way, but their actions are what ultimately discern their character. For example, Miri may look like a weak little girl to most outsiders, but she acts with courage and strength when it comes to her foes. Whether that means standing up against unfair treatment by Tutor Olana or tackling the much scarier bandits, Miri rises to the challenge:

"Let's go back and show her that we're smarter than she thinks." Miri paced with excitement. (12.37)

Similarly, the other characters reveal their personalities through their actions. The other girls thought that Britta was just a stuck-up lowlander, but she reveals herself to be modest and sweet when Tutor Olana asks her to lead the class and she pretends that she doesn't know how to read so that the other girls will have a chance. And once she and Miri become friends, Britta is always there to champion her cause.

Thoughts and Opinions

Much is revealed about the characters through their deepest thoughts. Tutor Olana thinks that all the girls from Mount Eskel are basically stupid goat herders, but when we delve into Miri's thoughts, we see that she's actually quite bright and spends a lot of time thinking about what she's learned about the world.

And Miri's father may seem hard-to-read on the outside, but it becomes clear through the book that he just is thinking about his girls and how he can protect them. Later on in the book, Miri learns that her father just can't shake the memory of her mother's death, and that this is the reason he won't let her work in the quarries.