Psychological depth in Tolkien's characters

[the phantom]

Way to read, Lush. You managed to skip over the first part of the statement that you quoted (skipped over it to the point that you didn't even include it in the quote) and you also managed to skip my last paragraph.

Here's the entire statement-

"Detailed exploration" is necessary to give a character depth only when- 1) the author is not talented enough to subtly show the depth through the character's words and actions or 2) the reader is not talented enough to pick up on textual clues or come to any sort of conclusion without the author specifically telling them to.

Read it again. Notice the part at the beginning, particularly the word necessary. I said the detailed exploration method wasn't NECESSARY to give a character depth unless....

In other words, a good author can show depth through a character's actions and words. I did not say that an author couldn't use other ways.

Here's that last paragraph again-

Now, before you think I have offended other authors (or readers) with my statement note that I did not say detailed exploration did not have its uses. I am merely saying that it is not at all necessary to give a character depth.

As you can see, there's no reason for the hives breakout.

I would apologize for being unclear- but I don't think that I was.