Is your character acting?

Shakespeare opened our eyes to this.  Before him, the Greeks, and before them all scriptures ever written by any culture, and before them, the drawings on cave walls.  This is not "playing to your audience," rather, is there an inner audience in your character, listening to your character? The answer will always be yes.  The beautiful soliloquies directed at the gods, at the characters in the play not present in the scene, and in some cases the "out-loud" thinking which reveal intent and purpose are all beautiful examples found in the classics of how people in everyday life do this. Think in your own life; how many times you've been involved in a conversation or argument and your desire to win is not grounded in the present but some unseen mission being carried within you, or a need to assert a self image projected out into a desire? Many times this "inner" audience is a parent, friend, child, imaginary hero or foe and it is part of your character's humanity.  Is the character aware? Yes, and are they acting, yes to that also. In your studies you will find people in transition aware of how their past and this audience is influencing their decisions and  many themes are written around the concept of individuality, sort of "breaking free" from this.  Even in those circumstances where the character is "free," the inner audience might become a personal goal or even God for those that are spiritually inclined.  It might help to think, who is keeping score for your character?