So many fictional characters are forgettable. Even when a book is good and the author skilled, the characters often feel vivid only while you’re reading and then they quietly fade away…But then some don't!
A friend of mine once went on a rant about The Great Gatsby, which had had read months ago, saying"If Gatsby is so great, why does the book have to be titled that? I mean let readers come to that conclusion naturally." He had a lot more to say, like, Who exactly thinks he’s great, anyway? Nick? Or Gatsby himself, the narcissist who wants to repeat the past, bend reality to his will, and erase anyone who doesn’t fit into his egotistical fantasy? Is it the author, Fitzgerald, who’s in love with his own creation? Or is Fitzgerald actually Nick, and he fell under Gatsby’s spell, or actually Max Gerlach's spell, the real-life figure behind the character?
The more my friend talked, the more pissed off he seemed, so I thought, “You know what? I think Gatsby is living rent free in your head.”
Which character is living in your head these days?
by honey-collector
34 Comments
Karen Murphy.
Mmmhm.
The Dresden Files.
Harriet Smith- Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’. Simultaneously hilarious, earnest, naive, and deeply relatable even now. Love love love her.
Gus McRae and Woodrow Call.
I read Crime and Punishment a little under a year ago and I’m still processing Raskolnikov.
Rhysand
The Lopen from Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive books.
He’s just an upbeat and positive dude. His lines get stuck in my head all the time
Hank Stamper.
I actually don’t charge rent to any fictional characters living in my head.
Olive Kitteridge and Lucy Barton. Mostly Olive.
Discworld’s Death.
“”WHAT CAN THE HARVEST HOPE FOR, IF NOT FOR THE CARE OF THE REAPER MAN?”
Caleb Trask. He has always stuck in my head, he feels so real in some way. Such a tragic character.
Maia from The Goblin Emperor, who comes into power suddenly and is so conscientious that it not corrupt him, that he use it for the good of all.
Gavroche. Scout and Atticus. Idgie Threadgoode.
Judge Holden from Blood Meridian- The people that have read that book largely cannot agree on what he is, other than memorable
Kvothe
Jean Valjean from *Les Miserables*
Tess from *Tess of the D’Urbervilles*
Dr. Larch from *The Cider House Rules*
Claire DeWitt.
Judge Holden – Blood Meridian
Judge Holden.
Currently it is Leonato from Much Ado About Nothing, because I’m trying to learn his lines for a for a play.
I try to channel Arthur Dent in my decision-making processes, but I spend a lot of time thinking about Fenchurch.
Samwise and Atticus.
Captan Ahab. I often struggle with my inner bete blanche.
Roland Deschain from The Dark Tower.
Sir Gawain.
The fear, the impending doom, the uncertainty, the self image, the need to impress. He is an entirely human character who is forced to confront his flaws and face the shame of failure.
Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh is my mental image of my struggles with depression.
Charles Marlow, I think it’s because I really enjoyed the story within a story framing and digressions of *Lord Jim* especially
Rachel Vinrace
Loch Lamora
Dorian Gray
When I eat eggs, I always say: eggie weggs!
Sherlock Holmes
Larry from *The Stand*
Daniel Waterhouse from *The Baroque Cycle*
Lena Lingard from My Antonia