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| Photo credit: anna_t on Flickr |
I like characters who are quirky, emotional, funny and real.
I like characters who are multi-dimensional, who have scars (emotional, mental and physical) and struggle with inner demons.
I like characters who are misunderstood, who make mistakes, who love others more than they love themselves, who are heroes in everyone eyes but their own.
I like the Sirius Blacks and Samwise Gamgees and Rs.
I like the Kenji Kishimotos and Finnick Odairs and Robin Goodfellows.
These characters are fascinating to me and I never tire of discovering new characters with new traits and secrets and hopes and dreams that hold me from their first introduction to their final words.
But enough about what I love—I want to hear form you. What characters fascinate you, and why?
Oh I love Sam! I think he´s that character that is not the main one, but that without him the story wouldn´t develop. Even Frodo said it "Frodo wouldn´t be where he is now without Sam".
ReplyDeleteI have a fascination for characters that love unconditionally. That no matter what happens, no matter the obstacles, they never sacrifice their love. I like the epic, passionate love hehe.
I love ambiguous characters, who stay in the borderline between good and evil, antiheros who can occasionally be heroes, but just because they do that for themselves, uncertain characters, egoists. In short, I love human characters, not idealised ones.
ReplyDeleteYes! Human characters--I like the way you put that. I agree unidealized characters are far more interesting than their so-called perfect counterparts.
ReplyDeleteThese are totally my favorite type of characters. And the hardest to write as MCs, I think (why is that?). I really wish I could do it well. For now they'll have to remain the sidekicks.
ReplyDeleteI love writing MCs like these, but you're right--it can be pretty difficult. I imagine it has to do with the multi-dimensional aspect of the characters, and we writers also sometimes struggle with being cruel enough to our characters to create those scars or let them make those terrible mistakes. But if you let your inner sadist out, I've found that they can be incredibly fascinating to write. :)
ReplyDeleteI fully believe that the ring would not have been destroyed without Sam. Frodo never would have made it to Mount Doom.
ReplyDeleteAlso I like your example of characters who love unconditionally. There's something really powerful and touching about a character with that much love and loyalty.
I'm really hoping my next MC is more like this. So far I think she is =)
ReplyDeleteOllivander really fascinates me. I think he has a huge story behind what's given in the books. Also Peter Van Houten from The Fault in Our Stars.
ReplyDeleteI usually love characters that are villains, or at least have a couple of bad sides to them. One of my absolute favorites are Darth Vader/Anakin since I just love him since I watched the movie like a little child. Then I really like characters that have both evil sides and good sides to them, like when you can't tell who really are evil or good because they all move because of their own ambitions and goals. One of my other favorite characters are Matrim Cauthon or just Mat from the wheel of times, since he is just so, I don't know believable I guess.
ReplyDeleteOllivander! Wow I hadn't even thought of him--what a cool example. And Peter Van Houten annoyed me considerably, but I could see how you might find him fascinating. :)
ReplyDeleteOk, I completely agree with the dark side bit--I also have a fascination with characters who have a less than perfect view of the world. Anakin/Darth Vader is a great example--I'll admit I'm one of the few who actually didn't mind the prequels but that was because I enjoyed being able to see Anakin's transformation into Darth Vader. Not because it was a nice transformation (I actually think it's quite tragic) but because it was interesting to see what pushed him to becoming such a twisted character.
ReplyDeleteAnd also, anti-heroes can be completely captivating when written well. Great examples!
There's always revisions for molding characters! :)
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Sam should have had the ring from the beginning. Bump Frodo.
ReplyDeleteSam may very well have handled the ring better than Frodo, BUT then he would have ended up an entirely different character at the end. He wouldn't be the Sam we all love.
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