The silent character

People think that a character that does not speak has no expression, and needs none. This is not the case. A character may not speak much, but they still have the same depth, if not more, than other characters.

While they may say nothing about the events around them, the effects are there, inside them. Where other characters would cry, get comforted by a friend, and then move on, the silent character type says nothing, being torn apart inside until they can learn to live with the effects that may never be healed, because they will let nobody know they are wounded.

The good silent character (Good as in, done right) do react, just non vocally. Crono will nod, shake his head, laugh, and react in fright, yet he has no dialog. Dr. Gordan Freeman has no dialog either, yet his actions and reactions change the way people react. This is true in many cases.

A silent character is NOT where a character has no emotions, no attachment to the universe they are in, doing their own thing without explanation. A proper silent character is where a person has deep emotions, so deep that showing them is difficult. They are attached to the events around them, and usually more deeply so than the tie that other characters have. They have reasons for what they do, complex and difficult to explain, but strong.