It’s possible that I know more characters than I know real people (and in hindsight after writing this post, I know far more male characters than female), but what can I say? I read. I don’t socialize.
These are my favorite literary characters and why. Who are yours?
- Elodin (The Name of the Wind) is simultaneously maniacal and wise, the one requiring the other at all times. His madness reminds me of…well, of me.
- Howard Roark (The Fountainhead) sticks to his values and vision for life. Anything else is a pointless burden.
- Torey Adams (The Body of Christopher Creed) is wiser than his age but susceptible to its foibles. He sees behind the masks of others but also knows when and how to move on.
- Ray Garraty (The Long Walk) perseveres. It may require a little help from time to time, but he never truly gives up even though he has every reason to do so.
- Ender Wiggins (Ender’s Game), the most innocent of all literary villains, has intelligence and skills worthy of anyone’s aspiration – except maybe for Bean, but Bean’s not got the emotional depth that Ender (aka Andrew) does.
- Hermione Granger (Harry Potter series) doesn’t love books for the sake of books, but for the knowledge and wisdom to be found therein. For her, books are a powerful tool which, without a purpose, are completely worthless but still readable.
- Nathaniel (Bartimaeus trilogy) aspires to greatness and achieves it, only to realize how hollow greatness is. He’s human, dreadfully human, even under all the mess he’s made for himself.
- Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter series) doesn’t shy from peculiarity no matter what others say, do, think, or feel. And she enjoys it. And she believes.
- Lucy Pevensie (The Chronicles of Narnia)’s faith never falters, never fails, never weakens.
- Death (Discworld books) fulfills his duty. He’s funny about the morbid and swift in his responsibilities.
It may surprise some of you that I did not include Peter Pan on this list.
“Surely he’s number one!”
No. He isn’t.
I could explain, but he’s not on this list. He’s more like my favorite least favorite character of all time. I hate to like him and like to hate him. Anyway, there you have it. Who are your favorite characters and why?