Favorite Character, and Why?

[Andy]

In literature, who's your favorite character, and why?

And if your favorite happens to be one of your own characters, perhaps you could (also) give one that most of the literary world is familiar with? :D

[Crocolyle]

Dimmesdale from the Scarlet Letter . I loved how despite being sinful and troubled, the reader could relate to him and feel sympathy for him. I also loved how Hawthorne portrayed him ironically--how he wanted to admit to what he did, but was unable; how he, being a preacher, told his congregation that he was a terrible, despicable human being, which only made the congregation love him more, think him more perfect, think him more humble.

My second favorite is virtually any character that fits into Poe's archetype of the neurotic genius. J. Alfred Prufrock from the Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock--despite it being a poem--is also pretty cool.

Edit: Oh, and I'd tap Eustacia Vye...

[Shaun]

You know, it's really hard to pick a favorite character because a lot of my favorite books don't have characters I "like" in the same way. I love 1984 by George Orwell, but his characters aren't super cool awesome...you know what I mean?

So if I have to pick a favorite I guess I'd go with Pepper from Tobias Buckell's books (Crystal Rain and Ragamuffin...and probably his new one Sly Mongoose). He's this augmented human who just kicks ass
But that's in other literature...in my own literature I have a soft spot for Pea (or if you want his full name: Pantifilus the Extraordinarily Abnormal) or possibly Marx Ignatia from the story of the same name...cause she's badass.

[Midnight_Moon]

That's a really hard question. I think mine would have to be Stargirl from Stargirl. She is so comfortable in her own skin and she isn't afraid to have who she is shine. I think she shows a great message about being yourself to the world.

[Wheelsgr]

Oh... hum... I think I'd have to say one of my favourite characters is Artemis Fowl. I remember growing up with the books and loving to read about Artemis because he was just this creepy, evil little genius, who was fun to watch grow in the books.

But I think a rather timeless character is Falstaff in King Henry the IV. He's very clever and makes his every vice into something involuntary, like he's some sort of victim or hero. He's a thief but doesn't think it's a bad thing because, according to him, stealing is his trade and there's no shame in toiling in one's trade. He was the one character that made me get through that play for school....

[Carraka]

Jaime Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. Yes, you totally saw that comoing.

Uh, yeah. Last time I did this I ended up spoiling stuff for Imelda and then asked to be banned. So let's try again.


Jaime starts off the series as one of the hate-able characters of all time. He is handsome and brilliant at swordfighting, but he broke his vows, murdered his king, has an affair with his twin sister (who is the queen), fathers all of the royal children, throws an adorable eight-year-old kid from a tower (into a coma), and is generally nasty all the way around.

Then he gets captured and loses his sword hand in the third book, and slowly begins a transformation. He begins to care more about his vows and loses interest in the things that interested him before. He doesn't switch loyalties and suddenly love the "good side", but he adheres to the morals in his own way. Meanwhile, everyone else expects him to be as he once was, and that's what they see. No one seems to notice that he's getting better, and the onces that do notice reject him anyway. Plus, he's funny. Ask Imelda.


What I also love the most is that when people start the series and I tell them Jaime is my favorite character, they immediately think I'm insane and evil. By the end of the fourth book, we are in perfect agreement.

Tyrion Lannister, Jaime's ugly dwarf brother would make a close-second.

This is the 33,333rd post on YWO! -happy-

[lango]

Marco, from Animorphs
Funny when happy
Sarcastic, irritable when angry/afraid
Still, whenever his friends need him, he'll be there for them, being calm and calculating, even when he's torn between saving his mother or helping his friends :P

[Nanyoky]

Aly from Tamora Pierce's Trickster books. It was really interesting to watch her mature through the books, but not in the dreaded cliche 'coming of age story' way. At the end of the series, she was still fun loving and witty, but she had drive, purpose and loyalty to keep her going. She also reflected on how much she had changed since being sold into slavery (how she had treated the boys she dated, her definition of fun, etc) which was helpful to the reader in not only her character development, but the people around her's and how she viewed them in terms of herself.

[Chie'N'Kadath]

This is tough, so I'm gonna list the ones that came to mind.

Anansi from American Gods, Anansi Boys as well as African mythology (Not the name of a book there.).

His portrayal in Neil Gaiman's books is perfect. In African Mythology, he's a spider-like prankster, and Neil keeps that spirit in his books, he's portrayed as fun loving but ultimately devious (not entirely in a bad way though.). I love the bit in American Gods when they are all gathered together in Odin's hall, and despite being advised not to tell a story to lighten the mood, he tells the story of the time he stole tigers balls. Yes, it's immature but it was still pretty funny.

Randall Flagg A.K.A. "The Walking Dude," "Marten Broadcloak" and many other names really. from The Stand, The Eyes of the Dragon, The Dark Tower Series aren't just references or silly cross overs.

As Stephen King said himself, Randall is in many ways his super villain. I love many of the villains in Stephen's books, but Randall flag portrays in my eyes one of the most enigmatic and creepy villains ever. I love how his appearances in King's novels after The Stand aren't just references or silly cross overs. He fits in perfectly in these separate universes and does his job quite well, only broadening him as a 'super villain' in many ways.

Tom Bombadil from The Lord of the Rings, The adventures of Tom Bombadil

Yeah, I don't think he belonged in the films but I loved his part in the fellowship of the ring and I loved his own novel. He's just a fun character. I know that's a vague description, but he's a bit odd to describe really.

[Ichigo]

I have to say Mr. Darcy, from Pride and Prejudice. He's simply amazing, the way he is.
Ahhhh

[Shukara]

Raistlin Majere from the Soulforge. He always displays a certain amount of inner strength and ever with his physical ailments he always strives to gain power, even if it means death to him. He cares for those who no one else cares for. He doesn't believe in self-pity and he hates when anyone pities him. He is a very independent man.