Garren Jacobsen
Auror
So, as we've all seen, there have been several threads about making a "sympathetic character" from a character that commits very unsympathetic acts. We have all read books where at least one interesting character isn't very sympathetic, yet we love that character anyways. Why? Because they are interesting.
Take a look at the Game Of Thrones Series. How many of these characters are truly sympathetic? Not many. I hate Littlefinger as a person, Stannis is most certainly not the Mannis (he's kind of a douche), all the Lannisters are jerk bags, and even the Starks are kind of tools. But I love reading about them because they are interesting. I can't feel for so many of them. Like Theon, I'm not all that sad he's been turned into Reek, he's a jerk and got what he deserved. But his motivations, his actions, his reasons for doing what he did were really interesting. I never liked him, but I wanted to follow him down his path to see where it leads. I can't wait for when all of Littlefinger's scheming bites him in the butt. I have no sympathy for him, but I want to follow him.
So, I think, we are asking the wrong questions when we ask if person who does a despicable act can be considered sympathetic. I believe the better question is whether we can make Despicable Character interesting.
What do you all think?
Take a look at the Game Of Thrones Series. How many of these characters are truly sympathetic? Not many. I hate Littlefinger as a person, Stannis is most certainly not the Mannis (he's kind of a douche), all the Lannisters are jerk bags, and even the Starks are kind of tools. But I love reading about them because they are interesting. I can't feel for so many of them. Like Theon, I'm not all that sad he's been turned into Reek, he's a jerk and got what he deserved. But his motivations, his actions, his reasons for doing what he did were really interesting. I never liked him, but I wanted to follow him down his path to see where it leads. I can't wait for when all of Littlefinger's scheming bites him in the butt. I have no sympathy for him, but I want to follow him.
So, I think, we are asking the wrong questions when we ask if person who does a despicable act can be considered sympathetic. I believe the better question is whether we can make Despicable Character interesting.
What do you all think?