Writer's Block: On Character Preferences

[readingredhead]

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Favorites, in no particular order, include:
Hermione Granger
Remus Lupin
Nita Callahan
Kit Rodriguez
Dairine Callahan
Roshaun
Tom Swale
Carl Romeo
Harry Dresden
Karrin Murphy
Thomas Raith
Michael Carpenter
Artemis Fowl
Holly Short
Dana Scully
Fox Mulder
Luke Skywalker
Leia Skywalker
Han Solo
Jane Eyre
Edward Rochester
Elizabeth Bennet
Fitzwilliam Darcy
Anne Shirley
Joshua Lyman
Aryl Sarc
Sira Morgan
Jason Morgan
Rael di Sarc
Enris Mendolar
Mackenzie Elizabeth Winifred Wright Connor, aka Mac
Nikolai Trojanowski

It's a rather interesting list. I have characters by J. K. Rowling (2), Jim Butcher (4), Julie E. Czerneda (7), L. M. Montgomery (1), Jane Austen (2), Charlotte Bronte (2), George Lucas (3), Chris Carter (2), Diane Duane (6), Eoin Colfer (2), and Aaron Sorkin (1).

Of course I am more in love with some of them than I am with others. I think if I had to make a top five list, I would probably die first. But since I don't have to, if I think really hard about narrowing it down, it's not so difficult. I don't just like characters for their similarities to me, or their entirely kickass abilities, or anything like that. Sometimes it's more about their depth and complexity.

For instance, take Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Eyre. I would rather be Elizabeth, but as a character I have a deeper admiration for Jane. Elizabeth's story is fun and witty, but Jane's is soul-wrenching.

It's not surprising to me that Julie's characters make up most of the list, since the thing that I love about her writing is her characterization, but if I had to pick one I liked the best it would be a tough call...all her leading ladies have captured a different part of my heart. Aryl, Sira, and Mac would be strong contenders for a spot on my top five, though if it came to an out-and-out battle, Aryl would win.

Scully's possibly the only non-literary character who could make my top five. I love the X-Files because of the depth and complexity of these characters despite the limitations of the medium (I always feel more for books than for TV). I have felt for Scully enough that I think she might deserve a place on the list.

Harry Dresden might be the only man to make the top five, but he really deservese to be there, simply because he is so kickass. Also, his voice is beautiful. There's an example of creator and creation in a fantastic working relationship.

Hm. So I think perhaps my top five, in no particular order, comes down to Hermione, Aryl, Dresden, Jane, and Scully.

And now I'm just rambling. There are far more characters who annoy me than there are characters that I like, so I think I'll stop this entry right now before I go absolutely crazy.

Comments

[aarivale.livejournal.com]

Let's just go with WHAT were you thinking by putting Luke Skywalker on here? He's a wimp. Especially comparatively. I mean... Han Solo vs. Luke Skywalker? No question. And Leia totally kicks his butt too.

Star Wars

[http://Jordy/Chigaijin/ (from livejournal.com)]

Hm, so you like the Star Wars characters because of the books or the movies? Cause personally I always favored Mara Jade and Talon Karrde.

And, thanks to the books, I disagree with Luke being a wimp. He's just never quite able to succeed at what he does. Uh-oh, now I'm sliding into Eragon parallels...

Re: Star Wars

[aarivale.livejournal.com]

Okay - I admit that Luke isn't really a wimp. He's just not as likable as Han and Leia, although admittedly it's partially because Star Wars is kind of about his journey towards adulthood and self-recognition, while Han and Leia are more or less there already. But where some characters would be able to get you cheering for them as they grow up and do stuff, Luke just makes me impatient and annoyed.

Re: Star Wars

[(Anonymous)]

Hey, I like Luke! He's everyone's favorite farmboy who made it to the stars. He's growing up somewhere too small for him and he gets out into the real world and *does* things. Big things! Fantastic things! And okay, so maybe sometimes I wish that I could get pulled out of my small-town life and sent on a quest through outer space.

And I suppose I have to admit that I don't like Luke as much as Leia or Han, but I'm probably more like Luke than I am like either of them, so I have to acknowledge that affinity.

(And to answer Jordy's question, I've actually never read the books. Should I?)

Re: Star Wars

[readingredhead.livejournal.com]

Agh, that was me forgetting to sign in!