Hi Jed I am going to try again with that question, please indulge.
I didn't understand what you mean by the 'character engaging in the character', and have contemplated the idea of two characters it a bit.
Here goes:
Consciousness is all we know, common denominator, so the movie of the senses superimposed on consciousness is the first 'character'- I see what appears to be 'myself' doing stuff as the center of things, prior to thought labels. Ie. Even though I don't have any control over what is happening and know that, it still appears to be my arms poking out and typing, etc. hence a character to be identified with.
Then from that simple state of awareness, thought/conditioned mind is engaged in, and the personality character is born, the obvious character. Thus two characters, and one trying to give up the other is like a dog chasing it's tail.
If so then I should keep heading on through both characters. Or perhaps, be that which is aware of consciousness?
Any clarification you can offer is appreciated.