Protagonists

Re: Protagonists

feeds@yuku.com (AirPrang) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:02:01 GMT

No worries, you can have him. Would you want to be in a relationship with him though? I've been re-reading the books where he's with Dr Patience Aitken, and she's more than living up to her name.

Seriously though, he is appealing on some levels but I think I'd settle for being friends. It'd be a lot less frustrating.

Good point about those romance heroines. I'd never thought of that, but...

Re: Protagonists

feeds@yuku.com (Islandgirl81) — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:36:00 GMT

Digressing a little, but I agree with sublimosa on how ridiculous the "loner heroines" of Harlequin Romances were. They were always supposed to be these sweet, lovely women who, inexplicably, had absolutely NO friends nor any relatives they were particularly close to. However, I'm going to disagree with AirPrang about Rankin's John Rebus being "very unattractive" as a romantic interest. I actually think he's rather appealing, in a world-weary sort of way.

Re: Protagonists

feeds@yuku.com (Golophin) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:21:47 GMT

A good protagonist for me has to be someone i can get emotionally invlolved with for example Jon Snow, Severian the Lame, Boromir of Gondor or the main character in the True History of the Siege of Lisbon. A hero i can enjoy reading their exploits but its not neccasery that i identify with them for example Sherlock Holmes, Dirk Pitt, Aragon or James Bond.

Re: Protagonists

feeds@yuku.com (sublimosa) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 13:56:36 GMT

Violet, it's not necessarily that I don't LIKE loner characters. I guess I am prone to feeling depressed at how starkly lonely (amid all the other tragedies) the character is feeling. Perhaps I'm projecting and should say how lonely I'd be feeling.

Although I "like" Rebus, he's a good example. (Only read a few of the books so far but from what I read on here his circumstances don't change.)

...

Re: Protagonists

feeds@yuku.com (Violanthe) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 12:03:19 GMT

What loner characters have you read and disliked in the past?

Re: Protagonists

feeds@yuku.com (sublimosa) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:29:16 GMT

well, he has to have some man vs. himself going on as well as external conflict
I don't want him or her to be a total loner. It drives me crazy when characters have absolutely no friends/relatives.
I don't want a Dirk Pitt of Clive Cussler fame.
(For those of you fortunate enough to have missed him-he is perfect. He always wins every outrageous battle, no matter what the odds. He always always always gets the girl. I'll let Roger Moore's James Bond slide by all...

Re: Protagonists

feeds@yuku.com (AirPrang) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:03:23 GMT

Ian Rankin's Inspector John Rebus: deeply flawed, a bit of a maverick, but ultimately dead straight as far as policing goes. (And also very unattractive as a romantic interest!)

Re: Protagonists

feeds@yuku.com (saundrakane) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:25:09 GMT

I think that is because we love our heroes to be single and free and available for any adventure that comes along.

Re: Protagonists

feeds@yuku.com (Violanthe) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:56:12 GMT

Well, practically every protagonist in popular culture has terrible luck in relationships.

Re: Protagonists

feeds@yuku.com (saundrakane) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 06:50:51 GMT

I actually like a protagonist that is a little marginal...good but with human quirks. Harry Bosch is the Michael Connelly series is one example. He is basically a good guy but constantly breaks the rules and is in trouble with his superiors. And he has terrible luck in relationships.

Protagonists

feeds@yuku.com (Violanthe) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 15:20:03 GMT

What makes for a good protagonist in fiction? Is a good protagonist necessarily synonymous with a good hero? If not, then what's the difference? And who are some of your favorite protagonists in fiction?