Are character and agent equivalent? Does either have agency?

These questions were posed in our class discussion and they require further analysis. When discussing Foucault, Barthes, and Aristotle, we traced character and agent. Therefore we separated them into two different terms. This implies two separate meanings, however we didn't define character (for ourselves or for our authors). This begs the question, why have we separated them? what is the difference?

Logically we could see character as passive, having no choice or direction. In contrast, an agent could be seen as having agency, or choice and direction (and possibly freedom). This would be a simple way to categorize these terms but in actuality it is more complex than this. Within Aristotle we see that choices are how one builds character, and if we are associating choice with agent/cy, then is character not an agent? does character not have agency? We already begin to see how the three words are tangled within each other, practically relying on each other for meaning. Perhaps then, for Aristotle, the three or inter-reliant. Perhaps it is that you use action (choice) to build your character and become an agent. This is just a possible (and simplified) explanation.

Moving away from Aristotle and into Foucault, we see a different possible theory. I traced character within Foucault and came up with three separate characters: the author, the text, and the body of work. However I also thought within these characters there could be further separation. Foucault does distinguish between the author and the writer (though not in a clear cut manner). Who is the agent within these established characters? Again we need to examine our definitions of agent, agency and character and asses Foucault's meaning as well. He alludes to the author's name causing associations for the reader that impact the representation and interpretation of the text. If this is not intended then is it agency? If we think of agency as having a choice and direction then I would argue it is not agency. But does that make the author's name an agent or a character? Honestly I doubt there will ever be a clear answer because our definitions shift with each reading and author's perspective.

My questions to you:
I would like to know what you think as far as these questions I am pondering go, within Foucault's reading? Where do you see the difference between character and agent? If there is one, which has agency?
Do you have a steadfast definition of each term? If so, do you use them while performing a trace in order to discern the author's meaning? Or do you redefine character, agent and agency for every author?

-Samantha Markey