Thinking About Characters

[zukkokya]

A while back I made a list of my favorite characters for autobiographical purposes (and because my Facebook profile was looking a little barren). I expected a lot of variety, but it seems as if I tend to gravitate to the same breed of character over and over.

Behold!

The Characters I Like Best

Leonard McCoy (of Star Trek 2009 - TOS is currently unwatched)
Paris Geller (Gilmore Girls)
Sophia Petrillo (Golden Girls)
Owen Harper (Torchwood)
Georgia Lass (Dead Like Me)
Ray Kowalski (due South)
Arthur, King (Merlin)
Sirius Black (Harry Potter)
Gregory House (House M.D.)
Stuart Dakin (The History Boys)
Rodney McKay (Stargate Atlantis)
Sanzo (Saiyuki)
Brian Kinney (Queer as Folk US)
Edward Elric (Fullmetal Alchemist)
CJ Cregg (The West Wing)
Dean Winchester (Supernatural)
Dr. Cox (Scrubs)
Stuart Allen Jones (Queer as Folk UK)

So, yeah.

Basically, the most common traits of my favorite characters usually include: smart, freakishly smart, obnoxiously smart, sarcastic, obnoxiously sarcastic, very few trusted friends, stubborn, loyal, committed to their point of view

And lo, I discovered that my favorite characters are essentially ruthlessly blunt, kind-hearted smartasses. Ah, my role models.

But then, before I could feel like too much of a badass myself, I realized that I do have other favorite characters. I call them the Anomalies (I imagine that's also the name they use when they go bowling together).

Characters I Like Best and Who Generally Have Better People Skills

Zoe (Firefly)
Ryuichi (Gravitation)
Pippin (Lord of the Rings)
Mercutio (Romeo & Juliet)
Doyler (At Swim Two Boys)
Howl (Howl's Moving Castle)
Shawn (Psych)

Far fewer of them, but they do exist! Strangely, their traits are far more varied. One is childish while another is cowardly. One is flippant and another is rebellious. One is facetious and another is levelheaded. They're not only different from the glorious smartasses above, they're different from each other. Meaning: if all of them were put into a pie chart, the snarky folks would have a nice, broad wedge and all the rest would have their own individual slices.

I considered digging deep into my soul and making connections between myself and my favorite characters, but I'm content with ruthlessly blunt, kind-hearted smartass.

Comments

[jain]

At Swim, Two Boys! I love that book so much. (Even though it does make me sob my eyes out.)

[pinkpapyrus.livejournal.com]

I actually didn't expect to! I started reading it when I was fourteen and stopped because I got spoiled for the ending and at the time, I refused to read gaylit without a happy ending. But, man. I found a copy at a hotel in Ireland this summer and spent the next four hours in a daze thinking, Denial denial denial happy ending happy ending denial DENIAL! la la la!

Gorgeous, mind-devouring book.