Character influencing circumstances

In the introduction to this novel, Wilkie Collins stated that he wished to write a novel in which character influenced circumstances rather than circumstances influencing character, as he had done in his previous novels. In 'The Moonstone' I felt that this had a really interesting effect and that you could really see the imprint of a character on certain happenings. However, I felt that this had not such a strong or realistic effect as circumstances affecting character. Perhaps this is why 'The Moonstone' lacks the intensity and memorability of 'The Woman in White' and 'Armadale'.