Reeling from the last enstallment of the lastest book series I read to try and fill the post-Harry Potter void, I’m on a “romantic heroes of fiction” kick. Keeping in mind three particular heroes of mine (“Pride and Prejudice’s” Mr Darcy, “Twilight’s” Edward Cullen, and “Harry Potter’s” Severus Snape) I interviewed three of my friends and asked them one simple question:
“Why do you like men in books?”
The responses I received were applicable to these three men:
“The one’s I like are usually because of the character build, the growth you can see in a character. It could be the character you hated throughout the novel or story that can, in a chapter, become the one with the kindest heart or end up being the one you feel for the most. Or it could be a character who breaks out of their shell.”
By Daniella Choynowski
Center Spread Editor
Reeling from the last enstallment of the lastest book series I read to try and fill the post-Harry Potter void, I’m on a “romantic heroes of fiction” kick. Keeping in mind three particular heroes of mine (“Pride and Prejudice’s” Mr Darcy, “Twilight’s” Edward Cullen, and “Harry Potter’s” Severus Snape) I interviewed three of my friends and asked them one simple question:
“Why do you like men in books?”
The responses I received were applicable to these three men:
“The one’s I like are usually because of the character build, the growth you can see in a character. It could be the character you hated throughout the novel or story that can, in a chapter, become the one with the kindest heart or end up being the one you feel for the most. Or it could be a character who breaks out of their shell.”
If it’s character build and growth that are most important, look no further than Mr. Darcy: Jane Austen’s brooding, last-minute hero.
Automatically, when Darcy acts unpleasant and rude towards the Bennet’s, you must wonder what is wrong with the man? How can a person instantly hate another, with no viable reason (though I don’t blame him for being rude to Mrs. Bennet – anyone who’s seen the six hour version can attest to her shrieking voice and nosy demeanor). Lizzie, being one of Austen’s token independent free spirits, is of course intrigued by another black sheep.
Yet readers, nor Lizzie, do not uncover the truth behind Darcy’s past until nearly the end of the story. The reader is sidetracked by other’s testimony of Darcy’s character: Wickham’s claim that he was cheated out of money by Darcy, as well as Darcy’s breaking of Lizzie’s sister’s engagement to Bingley. Since the man does not visibly try to redeem his reputation, we are lead to believe as we observe. But Darcy’s actions were always with honorable intent: he was trying to save Bingley from being hurt by Jane (and seeks to put them back together when he realized his mis-judgement of her character), and saves Lizzie’s sister Lydia’s reputation by arranging a marriage between her and Wickham, whom it turns out was lying about being cheated out of money. Darcy is a reserved, but always honorable man, and it takes the reader/viewer hours of the film and hundreds of pages to find that out.
But the character growth over an extended period of time makes the ending that much more gratifying.
“Men in books are much more pleasant than men in real life”
“Twilight is horribly written.” Yes, I’m aware of the fact that I said the exact same thing in an article earlier this year. However, my opinion has changed of the series. The “Twilight” series is captivating in a way that Harry Potter is not. I’m a Twilight-Potter hybrid now. Ironically, my friend, a Twilight-hater extraordinaire, told the proceeding quote to me.
Edward Cullen is, in my opinion, nearly perfect, and hands-down one of the most captivating individuals I’ve ever read about. Much like Darcy, he appears to hate the heroine for no reason in the beginning. As we see, his feelings are not of hate, but of torture, over someone he believes he can never have and doesn’t deserve due to being a vampire. Cullen recognizes the evil and immorality of what “his people” do. I have to admire him for resisting the inherent nature of his race and standing up for what is right even though he (and his family) is in the minority.
In addition to his morals, Cullen’s appeal lies in his utter devotion. His love for Bella never wavers, even if the situation demands he lay down his life. He always seeks to protect her, even if it causes him personal agony. Extraordinary is the man who is willing to sacrifice his own happiness for a woman’s; that is the essence of true love.
Plus, who doesn’t love a piano player?
“They realize the errors of their ways and always try to rectify them. Unlike men in real life who ignore their issues or simply attack people over them. I believe these men do truly exist, they are just few and far between.”
So why include Snape in the list? He spends nearly his whole life trying to correct the errors of his ways: a biting insult to the woman he loved from first sight, and a slip of the tongue that inadvertently lead to her untimely death. What better way was there to rectify the ramifications of his actions by protecting Lilly’s legacy? Of course, in proper romantic hero tradition, he appears to hate the main character, which of course is far from the truth. The emotion that Potter interprets as loathing is self-agony and embarassment over his behavior, a burning remorse panging Snape every time he looks into Potter’s eyes. I remember reading “The Prince’s Tale” in Book 7, and tearing up more and more as I turned each page. Heartbreaking for me was the scene during which Dumbledore asks “Have you come to care for the boy?”
Snape’s answer: a patronus in the exact image of Lilly’s. Patronus’ are supposed to be unique to every wizard; so great was his love for Lilly that his Patronus took the shape of her’s. In a way, Lilly’s love was further able to protect Harry, through Snape’s doings.
I agree with the last quote above; I believe these men do exist (sans magical powers), and they may appear to be few and far between. So until we meet them, let us lose ourselves in the pages.