Discussion Question: Fictional Characters
What makes a fictional character feel real to you? Who is your favorite fictional character?
Please discuss your responses to this question in the comments. Note: you can respond directly to other comments by clicking the “Reply” link in the bottom right corner of each comment.
(Credit for this discussion question goes to Liz.)
April 1st, 2009 at 3:54 am
Being able to identify with a fictional character makes him/her feel real to me. Simple, I know. My favorite fictional character is probably a little cliche, but – Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. Always.
April 1st, 2009 at 6:52 am
… and I think a character must also inspire in ways that can relate to your real life… in ways that a person often overlooks or is too inhibited to utilize…
April 1st, 2009 at 4:21 am
I agree with Jen… Being able to identify with a character is really important when it comes to a protagonist or at very least, be able to recognise someone that you already know in real life in a character. But at the same time, I think just generally making the reader sympathetic towards them in some way helps too. Other than that, the character has got to be really interesting.
I don’t know who I would say is my favourite character (probably leaning towards Mr Darcy. P&P is so popular!), but quite recently I’ve been really interested in Steerpike from the Gormenghast series. He’s deliciously Machiavellian & a complete anti-hero.
April 1st, 2009 at 5:58 am
Speaking of anti-heroes, may I add a variation to this discussion? I was thinking of nominating Randle P McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. However, it made me realise that it is the evil Nurse Ratched who is the more realistic character and probably provokes the most reaction within the reader. Therefore, should a character who you can build up hatred towards be considered a favourite? I don’t mean that you like them, but if you can hate a fictional character, then the writer has clearly done a good job.
PS. The reason I like McMurphy is sense of hope he brings to his fellow asylum inmates. I think he may be one of the best written characters in literary fiction – I don’t identify with him (thankfully) and despite the fact that he is a criminal who cheats his way into an easy sentence Kesey has made him likeable via the fleeting moments of freedom he gives to people who had previously just given up on life. Even then it doesn’t end well for anybody but you’ve still gotta love McMurphy.
April 1st, 2009 at 6:49 am
Good question!
To feel real, a fictional character must resonate with my imagination, yet also gnaw on the roots of my real life experiences (or knowledge of the real world).
April 1st, 2009 at 9:00 am
I’m in agreement with the other people here, that it’s about identifying with the character. They need to be portrayed as human, rather than a perfect vehicle for the author to drive the narrative. I, as I am inclined to do, think of something Hemingway said: “When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.” And as it is often the case, ol’ Hem was right.
I think it’s, because of that, I can only relate to modern characters who are a little broken or imperfect. There’s no identification with Mr. Darcy for me.
I would say Sal Paradise from On The Road and Robert Jordan from For Whom the Bell Tolls. At least I’d like to think I could be as heroic as he is.
April 1st, 2009 at 9:56 am
I know Zach Braff is not fictional but very real, but there’s just something about him that makes me connect and want to be like him. Whether it’s in IRL or his roles in movies like Garden State or even TV shows like Scrubs.
April 1st, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Wow! Tough question…I’m not even really sure. Obviously, they have to be relateable.. that’s the only thing I can really think of at the moment. I’ll keep thinking!
April 1st, 2009 at 4:22 pm
I like characters that I can relate to, but who also surprise me or have some kind of edge to them.
April 1st, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I definitely am going with the majority on this one. A character needs to present some front that I can relate to. At the same time, the character needs a spark, or something with an edge, like Ashley said.
On my part, I enjoy a good fantasy character. Most of the time you can follow their plight, but at the same time they have something you don’t. This could be magic, sword fighting skills, etc. That unknown seems to make the character more exciting. You feel yourself pulled into the world of the character and you get to experience things from their point of view.
I’m not sure I can nominate just one character here. But I’ll go with one of my favorites, Jessica Darling. I absolutely love Sloppy Firsts, by Megan McCafferty. Jessica is that person that I’d love to be in a novel. Those of you who’ve read the novel know what I mean.
April 2nd, 2009 at 9:52 am
Whenever the character is easy to relate to, he feels much more real.
I have a couple favorite fictional characters. Echo (from Echo by Francesca Lia Block) for her strength; and Holden Caulfield (from The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger) just because.
A character is most real to me if after reading a book, it feels like I just caught up with an old friend.