Perhaps the best way to understand direct characterization is to look at it from the side of "indirect characterization." When the author of a work does not directly speak of a person's character, then characterization is done indirectly. I can be done indirectly through hints, the thoughts and opinions of others, a sequence of actions, etc. Direct characterization takes place when the author makes direct statements about the character. However, you must be careful here. If the narrator is an all-knowing one, then the characterization may be direct. But if the narrator has proved to be wrong, then the narrator may not be giving a direct characterization.
The best thing to do is to look at characterization from as many possibilities as you can.
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