Final answer:
In Saki's The Open Window, Mr. Nuttel is developed as a gullible and anxious character, while Vera is shown as cunning and imaginative through her mischievous storytelling, highlighting themes of deception and constructed realities.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the short story The Open Window by Saki, the characters of Mr. Nuttel and Vera are developed through their interactions and dialogue. Mr. Nuttel is portrayed as a nervous man, easily swayed by Vera's storytelling. He is characterized by his gullibility and anxiety, which Saki reveals when he quickly believes Vera's fabricated tale about her uncle, her aunt, and the hunting incident that supposedly occurred three years prior.
Vera, on the other hand, is depicted as a cunning and imaginative young girl who amuses herself by inventing stories. Through her confident delivery of the tale and the detail she includes, readers can infer that Vera is an adept storyteller with a mischievous side. This contrast in characters is essential to the plot and contributes to the surprise ending that is a trademark of Saki's storytelling.
The development of these characters underlines the themes of deception and the human tendency to believe in constructed realities. These themes are enhanced by Vera's ability to manipulate Mr. Nuttel's perceptions, ultimately leading to his hasty departure.