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In Oxford Concise Dictionary Literary Terms by Chris Baldick, characterization is defined as the representation of persons in narrative and dramatic works which take on direct and indirect methods in inviting the readers to infer qualities from characters actions, speech, or appearance. However, modal verb(prenominal)s in publications context serve as an eye opener to the personality and traits of the characters in short stories. It en equals the readers to learn of the characters abilities, capabilities, prohibitions, obligations and so forth. The appearance of modals in literary texts serves its proclaim specific purposes in accordance to the authors wish. In David Leavitts Territory which describes the relationship between a mother (Mrs. Campbell) and her son (Neil) who is a homosexual, gives me an interest to explore and find out more about the characters. by dint of the use of modals found in the extract, it enables me to go in depth and strain the characterization in t he story.Firstly, in paragraph 2, line 1 of the extract, the modal must is utilize by David Leavitt to show one of Neils traits indirectly The last item puzzles him Pedro. Pedro must be the gardener. Here, as Neil read through with(predicate) his mothers daily list found on the kitchen table, he came across the name Pedro which he was unfamiliar with. Eventually, he expressed an assurance which he believed was true. However, instead of using could to indicate possibility, the writer chose to use the modal must to reveal Neils inner egotism which was lacking in confidence and even probably having a strong need of self assurance despite the fact that the modal is meant to express certainty. Thus, the readers are able to know more of Neils character as the modal is used to create a reverse effect on the readers as an irony. Secondly, in this extract, Neil the protagonist is presented by the writer as a son who was bust between his own desire to follow his heart or to go away up to the society and his mothers expectations of him. He tried to fantasy himself as the son that his mother expects of him through the use of modal could He could make a list of his own selves the child, the adolescent, the promiscuous faggot son, and at last the good son, settled, relatively successful. (Paragraph 2, line 3)By using the modal could, it gives the readers a tactile property that he is capable of doing what he was expected to and it only depends on whether he is willing or not.