Hello! I have returned. And if you guessed that I would have 220 queries waiting for me, you would be both correct and psychic.
Needless to say, since I have about 100 non-query e-mails to attend to, query responses will be a bit delayed until further notice.
A quick You Tell Me for Wednesday, which was originally suggested by Dylan Ford, and partially inspired by The Atlasphere, which is in part an Ayn Rand fan dating site.
Fictional characters possess all of the power of real people when it comes to influencing and changing lives. So the question: what fictional characters have most affected you? Who has changed your personality, worldview, and/or ethics?
Kelly says
Major childhood influences included the children in A Wrinkle in Time (I wanted to be them) and Ponyboy in the Outsiders (I admired his conviction and wanting to do good despite his circumstances). As an adult, I can relate to the tree in The Giving Tree. You want everything for your children.
My three favorite characters from a book are Fred Weasley, Junie B. Jones, and Jake Brigance (from A Time to a Kill).
Juliette says
It's interesting that so many of us (a mathematician can calculate the stats) cite characters from our childhood or teenage years of reading. Just goes to show what we already know, that what our children and teens are reading is highly influential in their lives. We better make sure it's quality.
custom term papers says
Would you believe that Tom Sawyer influenced me to be like a kid most of the time. I am a very serious and anti-social before I read his adventures and now I am getting a social life back.
gerriwritinglog says
I would say the characters that influenced me the most are from when I was young. Roger Zelazny's Corwin of Amber taught me to be stubborn as all hell, and all the characters of E. E. "Doc" Smith's Lensmen series taught me the focus of will and the choices we make define who we are.
Come to think of it, I'm still pretty much under the influence of those characters.
Authentication code: rhero
I don't think I need to say more. :p
Laurel says
Juliette:
I've noticed the same thing in myself and others. We are much more greatly influenced by things we read in childhood. Characters I've met as an adult fascinate me and make me think but haven't really influenced me in the fundamental, personal values way that childhood heroes did.
Gilbert J. Avila says
George Bowling from Orwell's "Coming Up For Air." I wasn't so much influenced by it (I read it when I was 20), but in hindsight it was prophetic. It reminds me of what Howard Helms said:
"Along with being deceptive and crippling, memories can also be beautiful. If it is perilous to look back, it must be madness to want to go back."
Yamile says
All my faves have already been mentioned: Jo March, Jonathan Levingston Seagull, and Donald Shimoda. I met them all before my 9th birthday, and many things I've done with my life happened because of things I learned from them.
Hank Riordan and Francisco D'Ancona (Atlas Shrugged). In spite of their many flaws, I can look at my life now and see what I am doing that is productive and worthwhile. That speech about money, priceless.
And since the Summer of 2000, when I discovered Harry Potter, I've read the series every year, several times. Her characters feel like people I know. I think about them daily.
Yamile says
Oh, I forgot, he's not actually an inspiration for myself, but Max from the Wild Things grew up to be my husband. He's still the same; I send him to bed without dinner sometimes. And our little son, he's just like his father. At this house we read "Where the Wild Things Are" twice a day, in English and Spanish. I know my son identifies with Max, and after reading the book so many times, I've learned to appreciate the things that make him a Wild Thing.
bridget in oregon says
Scarlett O'Hara.
I read Gone With the Wind when I was thirteen. Even at that age I always thought she should have had more fun with Rhett. I also wondered why couldn't she recognize Ashley as the pansy he really was?
Patrick Rodgers says
Interesting question, I just started writing my second novel and I got the idea for it all the way back in 1999 (yes I should have started writing like a decade ago) from a movie and a film character.
The movie was a Perfect Murder with Michael Douglas. Now Douglas is the ultimate villain in this movie and yet he gets foiled by sheer dumb blind luck because the good guy always has to win. It angered me then and it angers me now.
So I wanted to write a screenplay with this Villain in mind and do it right instead of foiling the villain just so the good guy could win but I had never even read a screenplay. The idea sat like that in limbo for a number of years as I couldn't write a screenplay. In 2006 I wrote the first ten pages of the story I had in mind as I decided to do it as a novel instead of screenplay.
I abandoned the project shortly after but it has nagged me and for the first time in a decade I am hell bent on getting this story to paper.
I picked up where I left off in 2006 on Monday and have spent the last three days kind of tweaking what I wrote three years ago. Now I its 22 pages and I am in the flow.
Diana says
Lara – the moment Mildred began to stress over whether or not the new neighbors would buy cheap toilet paper for the shared bathroom, I knew I found a kindred spirit.
Liz Argall says
Jack London's White Fang – was a touchstone of strength, endurance and change.
Mira says
Laura – thank you.
Mmmmmm, chocolate.
You know, I feel really GOOD right now.
Chocolate……
Weronika says
Rose from East. I loved her strength and courage.
Otherwise, I will have to go with Narnia figures–Lucy especially–and these days I also find myself thinking often of Anna from My Sister's Keeper. She was so conscientious of good and bad in a contemporary setting.
pjd says
Mary Poppins.
Brianna Kingsley says
I would have to say HongGilDong.
This charactor definately inspires me.
Shell says
This is crazy late to be leaving a comment, but today has not been one that allowed time at the computer, and this is a question I really wanted to answer.
When I first read Lord of the Rings I loved Frodo, had a huge crush on Aragorn and just wanted Gandalf to be my grandpa or something. A few decades later, I find myself hoping that I am like Sam–completely dedicated to the people I love, fearless in moments of terror, and so centered in who I am that after the end of the world I am still me.
Taran from Prydain has been another great influence on my life. I love the series, but my favorite one by far is Taran Wanderer. Taran leaves to find his parentage, hoping it is noble so he can marry Eilonwy, and finds a sheepherder instead. Ultimately he learns that who he is is more important than where he came from (Reader's Digest has nothing on me when it comes to condensing things).
Almost fourteen years ago I met my father for the first time, and though I'm very happy that I did, I had already learned from Taran that I was already okay without that question being answered.
As for David Eddings, I was planning on reading the Belgariad to my son this summer. He's plenty capable of reading it himself, but so far he doesn't seem to mind too much when his crazy mom still reads to him, and I can't stand to miss out on all the giggles and chuckles, especially once Silk comes along. If I could just drag the kid away from that darn Wii…
Maya / מיה says
Charlotte and Wilbur from CHARLOTTE'S WEB. Made me cry when I was five, think in college, and always celebrate the power of friendship and loyalty.
Anonymous says
It's always been Alice in Wonderland. Her constant unfazedness,managing to be polite (hiding how courageous she's really being) in the midst of so many turmoils taught me a lot. Also, Alice gave me an excuse to be permanently curious and mix with outrageous people without losing a sense of self.
Cat says
Pippi Longstocking. I always wanted to be so self-assured and after many years of training myself I am close.
s.w. vaughn says
Hector the Collector, from Shel Silverstein's poem of that name.
WitLiz Today says
Clyde Griffiths, "An American Tragedy."
Life lesson Number One: Making one really bad decision can mean the difference between life and death.
Life lesson number two: That everyone is capable of making such a decision, but not everybody will.
I was ten when I read "An American Tragedy." It had a profound influence on my life as I went into my struggling teen years, searching for any kind of moral compass. This book should be required reading in High School, imho.
This is why its so important that children be taught not only to read asap, but they should be challenged in high school to read a full-spectrum of classic literature, as well. I remember I wasn't challenged much in HS to read anything, but that didn't really matter, because I read anything I got my hands on from the time I was six.
And now that I'm older and writing, I'm learning that the quality of my writing will depend largely on my reading habits.
Debby says
Yossarian in Catch 22
Anonymous says
Wow, I'm stunned by all the responses.
I don't think any fictional character has influenced me. There are a few that I wouldn't mind being friends with, but, "influence" — as in, change what I think or how I think? None. Their circumstances aren't mine.
You can admire a character's bravado or sense of humor or tenacity or whatever, but I hardly ever stop and think, in the middle of a mess — Wait, what would Jay Gatsby do?
mb says
Flora in Cold Comfort Farm. Common sense trumps all!
Actually, there are so many characters that have influenced me in small ways. I don't take them as role models, but I do think of them at times in life when their stories resonate for some reason, and a line or two, or an attitude from a character will come to me.
Laurel says
Anon 5:32
I don't think many adults are much influenced by characters beyond an occasional sense of being uplifted by the story but surely lots of ten year old girls have asked themselves "What would Anne Shirley do?" Or Laura Ingalls or Jo March or whoever.
WitLiz:
I always had mixed feelings about imposing literature on kids. I know I read some things in ninth and tenth grade that I was fully capable of understanding. I had the intellectual capacity for it. But at fourteen and fifteen I didn't have the experience to appreciate it. More than one classic was more or less ruined for me because I was too young when I read it. Bigger themes and non-happy endings than I had the background to deal with, yet, I guess. I'm sure there are kids who are ready to tackle some of the works on high school reading lists but for the most part it might be the reason so many of them view classic literature with distaste.
On the other hand, it seems negligent not to make literature part of their education. Alas, alack, I lack the solution!
terri says
Reluctant hero characters such as Tom Joad from Grapes of Wrath, Stu Redman from The Stand, and Jack Ryan from the early Tom Clancy books (before he developed super powers).
verify word: 'lamonvif' just too cool not to mention
terri says
And, Ginny Babcock from 'Kinflicks.' I ask myself 'what would Ginny do?' and then do the exact opposite. She was short on impulse control, self-esteem and common sense.
Anonymous says
Jane Eyre, Elizabeth Bennet, Jo March, Laura Ingalls and Anne Shirley.
For ever and ever, Amen.
To me those five have always had some sort of magical power. And the older I get, the more insight I gain into each of their stories.
Justus M. Bowman says
Cleric Preston from Equilibrium.
JStantonChandler says
Meg Murry & Calvin O'Keefe from "A Wrinkle in Time"
Jo March from "Little Women"
Jack from "Here There Be Dragons"
Luna Lovegood from the "Harry Potter" series
I'm sure there are others, but those are the first that leap to mind.
LindsRay says
As a child, Anne of Green Gables was my hero. She was dreamy and imaginative like me, and I wanted to go to college and get my BA like she did. So I became an English major and write like crazy in between teaching school.
Anonymous says
I read this book by Ted Dekker once. I think it was called Showdown. He had a character in there…a really freaky guy with a black trench coat and broad rimmed hat…and he decomposed over the length of the story. I don't know why, but I remember that character more than any other. He still gives me nightmares.
Matilda McCloud says
Bigger Thomas in NATIVE SON by Richard Wright (and characters in INVISIBLE MAN by Ralph Ellison and in RAISIN IN THE SUN by Lorraine Hansberry)
the characters in Leon Uris's novels like EXODUS taught me about the Holocaust before schools and media were talking about it, and so were life changing for me
ATTICUS FINCH
HARRIET THE SPY/ HOLDEN CAULFIED(proto-writer/outsider types who observe the world and with whom I feel a kinship)
STRONG GIRL CHARACTERS like Nancy Drew, Jo March, and others…
ryan field says
Eugene Grant from LOOK HOMEWARD ANGEL, by Thomas Wolfe and edited by Maxwell Perkins
MervD says
Mostly pre-teen stuff. Tom Sawyer, Calvin and Hobbes, Peter Parker, Professor X.
A little bit later, the young Waverly Jong from Rules of the Game. She's one of the few Asian American characters that influenced me.
Patrick Rodgers says
Laurel your right as a kid I was probably more influenced by characters. While as adult a lot of times I am like well I could have written that better.
I end up really liking a character but the rest of the plot and storyline are very weak and substandard and I want to do the character justice in a proper story.
Sometimes not even that my character from the novel I am writing right now doesn't even resemble Michael Douglas' character from a Perfect Murder at all. He is just similar in that he is the ultimate villain and the character just was born when I saw that particular movie.
Anonymous says
So many… come to mind.
Cinderella, Prince Charming, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell,
John Galt (sigh)…
Pi
Dorothy (THE Dorothy of the Wizard of OZ)
of course, the ultimate moralists:
Jesus
Jimminy Cricket
And lately, obsessively, Edward from Twilght (mmmmmm)
@booktweeting says
Harriet the Spy, first and foremost. And Jo March. They were a big part of my childhood self-definition.
After that, Colette, as she presented herself in her autobiographical works (which, like many autobiographies, were largely fictional!)
Also Sherlock Holmes, Nero Wolfe, and Miss Marple.
M.C. Beaton's Agatha Raisin has influenced me by negative example–there are some traits of hers (e.g., belligerence when she's feeling defensive) that I am always trying to stamp out in myself.
Mira says
I don't know. I still feel influenced by characters I read – especially if I admire them. Or perhaps if I don't.
I think to myself – "hey, I need to not make that mistake.' Or, 'I want to be more like that."
For example, right now, I'm feeling a great kinship with the chocolate factory in 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.'
I think I want to be a chocolate factory when I grow up. That factory has it pretty good.
Alex says
In middle school, was Ender Wiggin, in Ender's Game.
High School: Ender from Speaker and Xenocide and Felix from Armor.
Now: Neil Gaiman's hero character model, with emphasis on Shadow in American Gods.
I think the trend here is fairly blatant. In middle school I was offered entrance into a special college level program at John's Hopkins for gifted and talented youngsters, but turned them down. The inability to escape one's own extraordinary circumstances seems to be a theme in my life, reading, and writing.
And welcome back, Nathan.
J Turpin says
Flashman. George MacDonald's rogue anti-hero persevered through more than a dozen novels and I never got tired of his cowardice, knavery or sheer dumb luck. Comedy meets adventure meets history in some of the best books ever written… (though my favorite of his was the one-off "The Pyrates") RIP, George.
Laura Martone says
Mira – I love CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY (as I said yesterday, Roald Dahl was a huge influence on my literary leanings), but I'm not so sure I'd want to be Willy Wonka's chocolate factory. It's infested with singing Oompa-Loompas. Ick.
Patrick – Have you seen DIAL "M" FOR MURDER (A PERFECT MURDER was, after all, a sub-par remake)? While I like it better, I suppose it still has the same issue… a stupid villain. Personally, I appreciate genius villains (that's why I love SEVEN so much – that and David Fincher rules!). So, good luck with your story. Don't give up this time!
Anonymous says
As a child, Lyra from His Dark Materials.
As an adult, too many to count!
Ryan Crafton says
Calvin from Calvin & Hobbes.
You just gotta love that obnoxious, little guy.
Laurel says
Ryan,
I birthed Calvin. Admittedly many years after Bill Waterson created the original version. He's a lot funnier in a cartoon strip.
Anonymous says
Two female characters I have liked a lot in recent years and would like to be influenced by: 1) Luxa from Suzanne Colins' Gregor the Overlander Series, which I read to my son and he then read to himself. 2) Tasmin Berrybender from Larry McMurtry's Berrybender narratives. I have also been greatly inmfluenced by Junie B. Jones. I find myself realzing a lot of what my kids do is more normal than it seems when I remember parts of her stories. Plus in the Junie B. Jones books, like the Simpsons TV show, one can find a good example to explain almost anything to a kid in a way they can understand.
ella144 says
Jo March from Little Women
Anne Shirley (of Green Gables)
Jane Eyre
Elizabeth Bennett from Pride & Prejudice
Anne Elliot from Persuasion
Harry Potter
August from Secret Life of Bees
Mary Russell from Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series
Esme Weatherwax from Pratchett's Discworld series
hmmm, mostly women it seems, but each of these characters has helped me understand something about myself or others. And as I've read and re-read these books throughout my life, they continue to teach me lessons.
Dawn says
This was one of the more difficult questions for me to answer. I had trouble thinking of one character that influenced me. There were and are characters who I love and enjoy, but I can't say they've influenced me.
I could say Atticus Finch as a beacon of what is truly good and fair.
I could say Odd Thomas as someone who has given me a painfully accurate description of love and loss — something I've never experienced — that reduced me to tears of understanding.
However, for instilling in me at a very young age the idea that the world will always surprise you and that anything is possible, for permanently blessing me with a sense of magic and whimsy … I'll say: the cat, the cow, the moon, the dog, the dish, and the spoon.
Patrick Rodgers says
Laura I am actually a huge Hitchcock fan and own 43 of his 52 movies and have seen 47 of the movie he has made including Dial M for Murder. But when I saw the Perfect Murder at that time I hadn't seen Dial and my character was born.
I don't think I could do it much better than Hitchcock did but I know I can do it better than a Perfect Murder.