As I am about to go on a very long journey with my very own protagonist (I start the First Draft of my very first novel on Monday.) I wanted to share with you some characters that made a very deep impression upon me, I won't be the first book-lover to say that my most beloved characters are like real people to me. If ever there was an ambition to have when writing a novel it should be to make sure you write a character that people are going to care about. I aim to have that thought firmly fixed in my mind at all times!
Here are some extracts from notes I made about some of the characters that have influenced me most:
'Was I then a monster, a blot upon the earth, from which all men fled and whom all men disowned?' - The Creature from Frankenstein by Mary Shelly
One of the key aspects about The Creature is that I IDENTIFY with him.
* He represents Voice of the Other - this is distinct.
*I view him as Disabled Man.
*Embodiment of the wider struggle of man.
*He is articulate, intelligent, this is always attractive to me.
* He is destructive - this seems tragic and true to me - probably conforms with my world view.
'It was to be. That was the pity of it.' From Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy
One of the key aspects about Tess is that I CARE about her.
*Idea that character is taken down some dreadful, inevitable path because of defining actions. Have always enjoyed the gloom that comes along with such a fatalistic outlook.
*At the same time, in spite of circumstances she is a strong, non-apologetic female guided by strength of her own moral compass.
*There is also a side note here, about how strong aspects of personality within a character can sometimes end up informing key defining actions that help move a plot forward.
*You cannot help but feel the tragedy of this character.
'Don't you see, you have to do something to show you still got some guts.' McMurphy, from One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Keesey
One of the key aspects about McMurphy is that I ROOT FOR HIM TO SUCCEED
*He is a leader.
*The stakes are high in his game. He pays the price for his courage.
*He is at odds with the environment around him.
*Side note about characters being interesting because they do things they shouldn't.
*He stands up for something important.
'Give me an egg, Nuncle. And I'll give thee two crowns.' Fool from King Lear by William Shakespeare
One of the key aspects about Lear's Fool is that he FASCINATES me.
*Air of mystery surrounds him - who is he really?
*Embodies themes of wisdom (perhaps supernatural, perhaps human).
*Character allows for rules of interaction to be bent or skewed in a way that would not be appropriate for all figures in the play.
*Ultimately theatrical in nature allows for issues to be explored in interesting ways distinct from the world of the court. The fool makes use of the artifice of his role, there are riddles, songs, madness and truth all embedded in this character's words.
* Also works as a mirroring/reflecting device he and the king become interchangeable in eyes of the audience.
These notes may seem sketchy but at the time I was really trying to ask myself technically how do they function upon my inner psychology - not, what are the characteristics I necessarily love about them? - Hope this makes sense . . .
Indeed, this is by no means an exhaustive list - probably every central protagonist Austen ever wrote should go on here, as sources of early inspiration. They are generally characters that the reader cannot help but ADMIRE. Equally, for me, The likes of the Cathy and Heathcliff, over in the Bronte camp, should go on this list for the opposite reason, being in part UNLIKEABLE is also very important for creating complex figures, that feel like real humans, as opposed to the embodiments or symbols of thematic ideas.