Which term refers to the process of fully developing a character in drama?

The term that refers to the process of fully developing a character in drama is characterization. This process involves creating a multi-dimensional character by detailing their emotions, motivations, background, and relationships with other characters. Through characterization, actors and playwrights can make a character believable and relatable, allowing the audience to engage with the narrative on a deeper level.

Characterization encompasses various techniques, such as dialogue, actions, and physical appearance, that contribute to the audience's understanding of who the character is. It is essential for both the portrayal of a character by an actor and the writing of engaging and complex characters in a script. This process is fundamental in drama, as it transforms a simple character outline into a fully realized person with depth and complexity.

Other terms like representation, depiction, and embodiment may relate to aspects of how characters are shown or interpreted, but they do not specifically capture the comprehensive development integral to characterization. Representation often concerns how groups or ideas are portrayed, depiction is more about visual presentation, and embodiment refers to physically embodying a character's traits during performance. While these may be significant in various contexts, none align as directly with the process of fully developing a character as characterization does.