A
unique character is what many people say creates a memorable tale. Their
differences are sometimes shown in the grandest and tiniest of ways. Many
times, these character’s uniqueness is created in the way they stand against
all odds. Their flaws are not hidden and that is how they appeal to an audience.
Real people have flaws, and when a character does, it creates a more vivid
reality for the reader. Sometimes they find themselves in their favorite
characters.
Other
times, a character is made unique by its absolute difference from reality. In
the novel, The Wizard of Oz, every
main character stood out to me due to the humanity they lacked. It’s why it
became one of my favorite tales (before the movie). The Tin Man had no heart,
the Lion no courage, and the Scarecrow hadn’t any brains. Their contradicting
characteristics is what made them so vivid to me. Here they were, lacking the
very aspects that made humanity, but they came off as human through different traits, despite their
physical appearances. In Little Women,
by Louisa Alcott, the four main sisters carried very different versions of
humanity within themselves. That’s what made them unique; the variation of common
value and principles.
When
reading a book, I look to my characters as actual people and disregard their
physical descriptions. As a whole, people connect through their humanity: their
principles, values, morals, intelligence, etc. That is why when an author
creates someone who holds different aspects of what we consider to be common, they
stand out. They become different, whether we relate to them or not. That’s what
makes them unique.
Hi Aaryn
ReplyDeleteI think you bring up some interesting points about character and this idea of reality within art. There does need to be a certain amount of "reality" for a story to work for us, but the great artist can create a whole new world and give it a sense of reality. Nabokov also says that a good reader can use his/her imagination to enter that new (perhaps unreal) world and become part of it. This is the magic that happens between readers and writers.
Mrs. Mac
Aaryn,
ReplyDeleteI found what you said about looking to characters as actual people interesting for a couple of reasons. First of all, I love what you said about people connecting through humanity, and I know that, as a reader, I tend to enjoy characters more-- and thereby enjoy books more-- if I can empathize with them. This was the main reason I disliked The Great Gatsby the first time I read it: I couldn’t get passed how much I disliked the characters. I didn’t understand the lives they were living and the decisions they made, and I simply could not connect with them.
On the flip side of this, Thomas C. Foster urges his readers to keep in mind that “characters are not people.” Sometimes, to enjoy a book, the reader must suspend the desire to connect with a character’s humanity and instead view the character as a symbol or a vehicle for the author to make their point. This is why I could more properly enjoy The Great Gatsby when I reread it. I stopped looking for humanity in the characters and instead viewed them as symbols for their economic statuses, which allowed me to better appreciate the book.
I agree that unique characters make a memorable tale. Too often, many characters will follow cliches or typical tropes that make them uninteresting. The heart of a story is the characters who participate in it and push it along. Unique characters give a draw that makes you want to know more about them and their motives because you have never seen something like it. While we do often find comfort in relatable characters, it's refreshing to see someone stand out or be outside the box. A character like this allows us to see things from a different perspective.
ReplyDeleteAaryn, I really like how your opinion on how characters are unique because of their differences from reality, in a way, I agree with you. I believe that readers connect with the characters in a book as they would with another person, but I also believe it has something to do with how someone feels during the time that they read the book. I'm also find it interesting that you say people connect through their humanity, which is how a reader would connect with a character in a book. Connecting with a character makes reading a book more enjoyable as well. Although I agree with your opinion of what makes a character unique, I also believe that what makes a character unique are the obstacles they encounter throughout their story. The things that an author uses to push a character in a story is what makes the character unique; whether it is their intention or not, I believe that is what makes them one of a kind.
ReplyDeleteDear Aaryn,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you when you talk about relating to a character. Sometimes I relate to a character because they are exactly like me, and I have experienced what he is going through. On the other hand, when I was little I loved the books about Winnie the Pooh. I wanted to be Christopher Robin and have adventures with animals that could talk. I think yes sometimes, we like unique characters because they are exactly the same or the exact opposite. And sometimes it isn’t even the character that is unique but the situations around them are what makes them unique.