This weekend is bank holiday weekend in the UK and I thought a more lighthearted posts would be in order. When did my blog become so serious? That was never the intention.
Anyway, I decided to do a follow up post to Favourite Fictional Females. In the name of equality, this post will focus on male characters. π
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Some fictional characters are unequivocally good. Others are unequivocally bad. And then there are all the different shades of grey. In my view, the latter are by far the most interesting and I tend to get annoyed with books, where all the characters are black or white. A specific trope relating to grey characters is the slow uncovering of their personality, where we only get to understand them properly quite late in the book. It’s like pealing layers off an onion and discovering more depth and nuance in each layer. This trope works best over time, hence many of my favourite layered characters are from a series.
1. Professor Snape, Harry Potter
Severus Snape from the Harry Potter books is, if anyone, the prototype of a complex and layered character. From the beginning, we see him as despicable, but gradually small signs indicate, all is not what it seems. When the truth is finally revealed in the last Harry Potter book, sigh! This is character building at its best and Alan Rickman captures the nuances to perfection in the films. Dumbledore from the same series is also a great example of a layered character, whom we only get to understand properly in the last book.
2. Ove, A Man Called Ove
I think, I have the potential to turn into an Ove. Perhaps, that is why I took to him immediately – instant recognition! π Ove points his finger at people he doesn’t like, approaches modern technology with deep-rooted scepticism and sticks stubbornly to the old ways of doing things. But behind the grumpy facade a warm heart is beating and when Ove’s backstory is gradually told, it’s difficult not to be deeply touched.
3. Gollum, Lord of the Rings
At first sight Gollum is unsympathetic and evil, one of the many enemies, Frodo will have to overcome. But some of the old Gollum still lingers and Frodo manages to cultivate this side of him. Gollum’s internal fights with himself, where the good and the evil go up against each other (Smeagol vs. Gollum) are heartbreaking and you realise that he is just another victim of the vicious powers of the ring.
4. Haymitch, The Hunger Games
Haymitch is drunk, rude and disruptive. But even if he and Katniss dislike each other, an understanding builds between them. It is clear that Haymitch tries to prevent other people getting close and during the series we get to understand him better and sense there is more to him below the surface. However, it is only in the final book, his devastating backstory is fully revealed.
5. Scrooge, A Christmas Carol
Let’s finish with a classic and beloved character. Who can resist the cold-hearted and cynical Ebenezer Scrooge, who despite his appearances, still has a core of goodness inside of him. Admittedly, it takes three spirits and a former colleague to get through all the defensive layers of greed and selfishness, but by the end, Scrooge’s joy and generosity is contagious.
These were some of my favourite layered characters. What do you think about layered characters and do you have any good examples?
It’s strange how much your taste changes in so many things as you get older and this is true of books as I used to hate characters who were complex when I was younger, much preferring the sense of knowing exactly where you are with someone so there are no fictional surprises. But now, I love the characters who have depth and, I think, humanity or human experience that have crafted, pummelled and soothed them into the people they are. Great blog as always. I couldn’t think of any characters off the top of my head when I read this unfortunately, to share. I expect I’ll have an epiphany in the middle of the night as usual! I’ll keep you posted if I do.
Absolutely! I hadn’t thought of that, but I am sure you are right. As we get older and get a more nuanced view on life, we also prefer more complex characters. The thing is, in real life you never meet anyone, who is 100% good or bad and characters portrayed like that just seem unrealistic. To me it’s important to have characters I can relate to. They don’t have to be likeable, but at least have they have to come across as real people. Thanks for a great comment as usual!
It’s not a book character but Raymond Reddington from The Blacklist TV show is one of my favourite recent complex characters. Charismatic, ruthless, compassionate, psychopathic, funny, articulate, attractive. He has it all! I told you I’d have an epiphany.
He certainly sounds like a great character! Haha, yeah I think the brain often needs time to (unconsciously) mull over a specific problem. And then certainly it comes to you in the middle of some completely random situation. π
Wow, those choices are so accurate!π Professor Snape, Haymitch and Dumbledore were characters so well done, it was a joy (and a bit sad) to grow with them. I think Theophilus Goon from Enid Blyton’s, Five Find-Outers series would be an interesting choice too! Thoughtful write!
I am glad you approve of my choices! π Yes, it was so much fun (and sad as well) to follow these characters on their journey. Goodness, it has been ages since I read Enid Blyton, so I don’t even remember Theophilus Goon. I do remember thoroughly enjoying the books though!
Ooh, what a great list, Stargazerπ Haymitch is especially inspired.
Thanks Jonetta, I really liked Haymitch even if he doesn’t appear to a favourite from that series. But I think he is very well written.
Thatβs exactly why I thought your choice to put him on this list was inspired. Heβs complicated in a good and bad way. I liked him.
Good to hear, I am not the only one! π
We have different tastes I think!. I loathed A Man called Ove. I found it patronising and sentimental and it divided our reading group right down the middle – half in my group, half in yours. Don’t like Lord of the Rings, never read The Hunger Games. Yup, I like Dickens and yes, we can all get behind Scrooge. I quite enjoyed HP when my daughter was at the HP Fan Club age! I’ll have to come up with my own list, but inevitably my mind has gone blank just now.
Ah well, we can’t all like the same books! I am sure, it’s a good thing you never attempted The Hunger Games, which you would probably hate. π I would love to hear about other examples of layered characters, if something pops up in your head!
Great idea for a post! Yes to Snape, Gollum and Scrooge! (I don’t know the others) I can’t think of any better examples than yours π
Thanks! Yes, these are probably some of best known examples, but I wanted to choose characters most readers would be familiar with.
Greetings. Kate Winslet does a great job portraying a complex person in the recent limited series called Mare Of Easttown. She plays Mare. It’s on HBO, and maybe elsewhere.
I agree. Great show and Winslet is amazing! Complex, tortured, strong, vulnerable – so much going on. Good choice.
More incentive to check it out!
I just checked it out, it’s available on Prime which is my primary source of visual entertainment. The series sounds right up my street and I generally like Kate Winslet, so perhaps I’ll give it a try. Thanks for the recommendation!
I watched it on the plane from Blighty just last week and had to have my mum tell me what happened in the last two episodes as I ran out of air(plane) time. Gritty, tense, twisty, scary, relationship tension – it was good. Enjoy!
That sounds great! Too bad you missed the last couple of episodes…
Yes, and no means to watch it here but my mum provided an excellent summary and told me that if I wanted, she would set up Skype in her lounge so I could watch it live. I said that wasn’t necessary.
Great choices! All of these are definitely complex, multi-dimensional characters and I am sure they are not so easy to write as they are to imagine. I will also say Henry from Tartt’s The Secret History.
Thanks Diana, glad you approve of my choices. I am sure you are right about the characters not being easy to write. Also, I am impressed by some of the characters in series, where the author must have figured out how the character should play out from the very outset of the story. Henry from The Secret History is an excellent example, I thought he was so well written and interesting.
I loved Ove!
Me too!
Thus is such a fun post! I agree with Ove-I think Backman is generally amazing at creating layered characters π
Glad you liked it, I had fun writing is as well! I haven’t read other Backman books, but I really ought to since I enjoyed Ove so much.
If youβve liked Ove Iβm sure youβll love Anxious People too π
I think, you are right. Don’t know why I’ve been holding back. Perhaps, I’m afraid it will disappoint, because Ove made such an impression.
Promise it wonβt!
Alan Rickman and Michael Caine, always! π
Always!
I might have to read/watch the final HP after all then. I gave up when the Dementors came into view in the first movie. I haven’t read Ove either but it’s on my list and from what you’re saying about him I think I’d like him! I second Raymond Reddington as Scuffedgranny mentioned above, he’s a bad man who killed a lot of people but he cares a lot about certain people as well so in the end you actually like him. I love characters that make me feel this way!
Ah really! I think the books are much better than the films. There is a lot of humour in the books, which I don’t remember from the films. If you can bear it, you should try it on audio, narrated by Stephen Fry. Pure bliss! Sounds like I will have to look into Raymond Reddington. I love when characters make me feel like that as well.
I’m going to have to get to know Ove as the differing opinions in the comments is intriguing and this was such a fun post!
Haha, yes you should try Ove. It has been a while since I’ve read it, but I really loved it. You could argue it’s sentimental, but it’s also well balanced with a lot of humour and definitely a lot of human nature, you will recognise from people you know.
What a fun idea for a post! I especially agree with your choice of Haymitch, one of my favourite characters in The Hunger Games. A Man Called Ove is on my reading list and now Iβm looking forward to it even more! πβ€οΈ X x x
Yay, good to see another vote for Haymitch! I’ve seen readers discussing their favourite characters from that series and he isn’t normally one of the popular ones. You have something to look forward to with Ove, he is such a fun character!