What is it about Flawed Characters?

What makes a character flawed? Why are character such as The Doctor, Harry Potter, and Macbeth so interesting and intriguing? They are flawed and in all but one lovable. How can that be?

I have read a number of books and plays over the years, also watched a number of TV shows with rather extensive plots and well defined character. The ones that I empathize with, or that I enjoy watching/reading the most are the characters with the most flaws, or more than enough flaws. Any good story has characters, excellant stories have flawed characters that grow with the story, and truly awesome stories have characters who despite being flawed and clearly make mistakes, yet can grow throughout the story. These characters are so flawed that the reader not only empathizes with the character, but sometimes learns with the character.

That is part of why I want to tell stories, write, and also read awesome stories. I want to write the awesome stories. When I look at my bookshelves, I see very excellent and awesome stories (the strictly good or terrible end up going to the Salvo down the street). Naturally, I am drawn to stories with excellent awesome stories, characters, concepts; such as "The Dark is Rising Sequence" (Susan Cooper), "The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica" (James A. Owen), or anything written by Anne (Todd) McCaffrey. I have discussed these books/series before and what I want to talk about today will feature some others. I also see what books are on the bookshelves, everything from the Divergent series, Hunger Games, City of Bones, I want to be able to share my stories with the world, inspire others, make people laugh or cry.

When I read a book or more specifically a series, I want to travel with the characters, to live in their world for the duration of the story. After all most books/series involve travel of some sorts, or at least a mental journey. Sometimes the character travel from The Shire to Mount Doom to drop off a ring, learning, growing, and changing. Flawed characters are like any other character, but usually they have something else to overcome. Frodo Baggins, a flawed character that grows throughout the "Lord of the Rings" fighting off Orcs and Riders, dealing with the One Ring, friends, betrayal, and death.

There are others that recent have come to my attention, and the reason for today's blog. Strap your seatbelts on, its all about Flawed characters!

As an avid (sometimes fanatical) fan of Doctor Who, Sherlock, Torchwood, even Firefly, I have come into contact with a slew of flaw to extremely flawed characters and I simply love them. Take Torchwood, with Captain Jack Harkness, Gwen Cooper, Owen Harper, Toshiko Sato, and Ianto Jones, they are all really messed up, either in love with each other, sleeping with each other, choosing the wrong side, or doing things that one wouldn't suspect them doing, because they, with their flaw think it's the right thing to do. It makes for interesting stories when you see Gwen fighting between her Torchwood self and shagging Owen to wanting to make a life in the outside world with Rhys. Might not always be a happy fuzzy world, but it's emits a truth that exists in the real world. People are flawed, whether good or bad; that people feel this way and struggle to do the right thing and be good people. Sometimes people are not good. It's a truth I can see.

After having finished "The Hunger Games", I am left to digest my thoughts on Katniss, Peeta, Gale, Finnick, Plutarch, President Snow, President Coin, etc. First off, what a world to create, (claps slowly and than increase in strength to Suzanne Collins). A real world(?), present time story about struggle, politics, personal strife, love, and  torture. [Not giving spoilers here]. Katniss is the most flawed in the whole of the series. It's her story and her struggle. She is well defined in her personality and also in her flaws. The first book is riveting in its portrayal of Panem and the Games. It's an interesting concept and reminds of 1984,  Brave New World, or We with this utopian/dystopian society. Scaring stuff, because the world could end that way if not careful. But, it's set in the real time world, with barely a hint of the time frame in which it's set, could be right now, or in 100 or 200 hundred years.

The second book ("Catching Fire") I struggled with, because it reads like two separate stories not one book. Usually the second book, most often in a three book series, will often have something like a 'sophomore slump', where it struggles to keep the pace just right, yet still advance the plot. Katniss struggles, sometimes a lot, with life after the Games, but you are still rooting for her. She learns, and then sometimes has to re-evaluate her knowledge of the people around her. Then she is thrown the curve ball, a new Games, the Quarter Quell. Also riveting, even with the mid section slump. In reality, when you look at Katniss and Peeta you can see why they are the way they are and that make you want to root for them and you can understand why they are flawed. Their environment made them flaw, yet they are trying to move past it. 
 
By the time of "Mockingjay" you see that she is trying, even with the crazy plot driven war going, trying to move forward in her life. She was very much a child in "The Hunger Games", while "Catching Fire" she was a and awkward teenager/young adult Victor dealing with the truth of the world, and then "Mockingjay" she is now and adult, in a new role and trying to bring peace to Panem and herself. The last chapter is the most potent, giving us the chance to see Katniss grow. The last chapter, it's usually when the Hero/Heroine has to make that final choice. With Katniss it is no less easy, but you have traveled  with her and can see (ultimately) what needs to be done. I enjoyed the whole series. I even understand why some people did not like the book, but I understand the motives, even though I didn't see it coming. It's something different and to be experienced.

Then, I started thinking about other stories with extremely flawed characters that I have read or watching,
some I have mentioned above.
*Harry Potter, the boy who live, he is also very flawed and yet still comes out of top and the story is pretty freaking great too!
*There's the Unicorn, from Peter S. Beagle's "The Last Unicorn" a shy and naive unicorn that goes seeking others of her kind. She is transformed in something mortal, learns to love, and now regrets. A stellar story and one, you, Dear Readers should read, or re-read or re-re-read.
*There's Macbeth, the tortured Thane of Glamis, who kills and lies, only to end up beheaded at the end. A less happy ending, but not all story have happy endings. Shakespeare, was very masterful at creating a world of tragedy; where flawed characters ran amok through England or Scotland. Macbeth is one of the most flawed characters in literature, so much so that by the end of the play pretty much all are dead. But it beg the question, why do we love these wed characters?

Speaking for myself, I can connected to a character when I know what they are experiencing. The real emotions of a betrayal, the loss of love, death. These things are real, even if the circumstances are not even close to that which we live and breath on a day to day basis. Just knowing that Katniss suffers loss, so much so that it blind her to the world around her. That is a VERY real thing. There are people who have experienced that, still do. Those are the things that connected us to characters in books, movies, TV show and when done well often helps us to understand our own world. When you meet someone who has been hurt by a close friend, has felt betrayed, and has trouble building trust, for example. You suddenly have a chance to build a friendship and maybe, just maybe find your own healing in that friendship. I know I have experienced that same thing as mentioned above and have learned to put my trust issues aside, because I found someone who experienced something similar and together we helped sort out feelings and thoughts. That, ironically, led to helping yet another friend to work through some trust issues. It's not always a guarantee, but often by finding these connections, we can find out solutions.

So, Dear Readers, what stories do you find therapeutic in nature, what stories draw you in. Maybe a favourite flawed character? Favourite book/TV series featuring a flawed character(s)? Leave me some LOVE below. I hope you enjoyed my little foray into flawed characters and what makes them fascinating.

Today's Music:

A to Z Challenge: today is brought to you by the letter A, which is for Aberystwyth

Today is 'A' day. I am going to blog about Aberystwyth. A town in Wales, where a very good friend lives and I hope to visit someday soon.

I have this strong desire to see Wales and the magic that this little country exudes. Aberystwyth, which I am sure I could never pronounce as I don't speak Welsh. But, that makes me want to travel to Wales and Aber (as it is commonly called) to experience it and see it maybe I could learn.

Since my very early days have I wanted to travel across the pond to England, Scotland, and Wales (and Ireland too!). There is such an old world feel to that part of the world, but there is something else. When I read the children's series call "The Dark is Rising" Sequence, written by Susan Cooper which is partially set in Wales, I was even more convinced that I should travel there. Everything that Lynne has told me about life in Wales and Aber just make my heart soar with the hills of the countryside, the coast of Aber (even after the nasty winter storms that rocked the coastline), and the places that Susan Cooper (the author of "The Dark is Rising") exist. In many ways the world of of Aber and Wales is like a fairytale, without the actual knights and dragons. The stories revolve around Arthurian legends and myths (that's also A topic).

Aber and the surrounding locales of Wales inspire something in me. It's most likely the writing. I am dying to put to words that this beauty of a town and land has known since the early days of civilization, with castles dated back to the 12th century: Aberystwyth and Cilgerran Castles, gorgeous coastlines, and spectacular hills. And I got this from pictures and details from my friend, imagine what it is really like!

Aberyswyth Castle

Cilgarren Castle

The pictures are complements of the fantastic site Welcome to Aberyswyth! Go and check them out. Visiting the site has made me want to finally work , on saving the funds to go there and getting my passport, finally!

Wales is a place where names don't have vowels that we (of the rest of the world know them) have. Cwmystwyth (Cwm-uss-twith), Bwlchgwyn (Bull-ch-gwin), Rhydymwyn (Ree-duh-moin), Ysbyty Ystwyth (Uss-butty Uss-twith), Mwnt (munt, rhyming with a northern English pronunciation of hunt) are just a few examples of this vowel-less language that has me stumbling over the names.

Blogging A to Z Challenge

Review: "The Seeker"

I don't know why I do this to myself. I start off thinking that this is a good idea, and then WHAM 99 minutes later I am sitting in my living with David going, WHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHY? I guess it's the inherit English major in me. I like to compare and contrast to the detriment of my movie watching at times.

When I did my Eragon review a few months ago, I knew that i was probably going to hate the movie afterward. See, I saw Eragon in movie format before I read the book and thought it was a cute dragon movie, if a little influenced by other books. It became more obvious after I read the book, where the influences come from, but the movie suddenly seemed less 'good' (for a lack of better terms). When I re-read the book and then watched the movie, taking notes, I discovered how different the movie was to book. I had to restraint myself after I yelled at my poor tv about the rather drastic changes and edits made to the book. Some people asked me why I chose to put myself through that, 'torture', 'waste of time', or maybe better that 'weird thing that English majors sometimes do.'

It gives me perspective to use my writing and intuitive skills in such a way. i know that might confuse some people, but I really enjoy it. I also don't tell people what they can or cannot watch. I know some folks who prefer the movie versions and that is fine. I just like to give a bit of perspective.

Movie Poster

Book Cover

Now that the air is cleared, onward to "The Seeker" review. The movie was released in 2007 and is based on the book, "The Dark is Rising" by Susan Cooper, which is the second book of the "The Dark is Rising Sequence". I was introduced to this series when I was in Middle School by my local library. I was a library kid, meaning I spent my Saturdays in the library. I believe it was Yvonne who pointed me in the direction of "The Dark is Rising". I read all 4 books, devouring them like I was starving. It was a fascinating read filled with adventure and folklore. I should note that "Over Sea, Under Stone" is the actual first book in the series and it some ways not as crucial, but that is a matter of opinion. "The Dark is Rising" is the story of Will Stanton, the 7th son of a 7th son, who upon his 14th (11th in the book) birthday comes into his inheritance, that of the battle between the Light and the Dark. He is an Old One. A warrior of the Light that battles against the Dark and has to collect the 6 signs of power to battle the Dark.

Upon the opening to the movie I am very aware of the number of semantic changes that was changed  to the story. I can understand some change to a story that is being adapted for a movie, but what i cannot understand is why there was so much disregard for Susan Cooper's work. Instead of going through the WHOLE story which might take awhile, I will stick to the main points.

 ~WARNING! THERE ARE SPOILERS AHEAD!!~

First, there are extraneous plots written into the story, where previously none existed.

1. Forced Love Interest between Maggie and Will. Maggie, a real character is the book and tweaked for the movie in a quasi-half assed attempt at a relationship. The set up is that Will sees Maggie on the bus, but doesn't speak to her. She ends with Max, one of Will's older brothers, yet there is still that indication that Will and Maggie are destiny to be together. In the book, she is attracted to Max, while an agent of the dark, her role was much smaller in the book, that of a simple traitor that Merriman and Will discover while looking for the 6 signs of power.
2. Identical Twin subplot. Will is a twin! This he learns that he is actually a 7th son, where is believed before that he was the 6th son when Merriman, Miss. Greythorne, Mr. Dawson, and George reveal that Will is an Old One . By the end Will now has Tom (his twin brother) that he brings home. It is unnecessary and very distracting to to now have this extra character that was only slightly mentioned earlier in the movie- who didn't even exist in the book-who had been captured by the Rider and held prisoner for 14 years.
3. Merriman the Teacher. The use of Merriman as a teacher is all but left out of the movie. He was Will primary teacher in the book, but in the movie is more like a whiny partner that works with the other Old Ones: Miss Greythorne, Mr. Dawson, and George.
4. The 6th Sign is the Soul. This is kind of cliched and very over done. It's not even correct. The movie has 5 of the 6 signs as actual objects and the 6th is the soul of the Young Old One, Will Stanton. In the story  there are 6 signs of power, each a different element that Will has to find: Wood, Bronze, Iron, Fire, Water, Stone. I find this very lazy and almost cheating in the storytelling. Also, in the movie, as Will find each of the signs there is no mention of which sign is found each time a sign is found.
5. Will's family never knew of the Old Ones. They never knew of the battle between the Light and the Dark. The movie makes Will's father a Professor of Physics who had originally wrote a paper of this VERY SAME PRINCIPLE. In the book, everything that happens to Will as an Old One happens in another time or place, with no other family present. The family is unaware that Will has any special powers or has this unique birth right. Of course there are times, in the book, when Will does things that don't always make sense, but it's written as if the world is blissfully unaware of the war commencing on their doorstep.
6. The Stanton's are American. The movie make Will and his family Americans living in England, when the book has the Stanton's are already English, with the back story that the family had relocated after the last great battle between the Light and the Dark, only to have Will return to England on his 14th birthday
7. Set in Modern times. The movie is set in the 2000's where there are cell phones, skype, and all the major technological advances, while the original story is set in the 1970's and the Stanton's lived in a small town, where they grew their own vegetables and raised rabbits and chickens. The times were tough and they had to eke out a living on the father's meager earnings as a jeweler and what they could sell. This I can sort of understand, as the demographics for the movie are kids 10 to 16 (roughly) and if it's 2007, then maybe one needs to modernize it a tad. I am NOT fond of this change myself, but it's a lesser of the MANY evils that director, Marc Platt presents in his movie.

Christopher Eccleston as the Dark Rider ensconced in feathers and furs.

Now, with all that being said, I didn't completely hate this movie. I am glad that I only paid 3.50 for the crappy American DVD I brought. But, positively Christopher Eccleston, who plays the Dark Rider (who rides a WHITE horse, not correct) is probably the single best reason for this movie. His overacting and goofy persona were quite enjoyable as the Dark Rider, the force of the Dark trying to get the 6 signs of power from Will. I loved Christopher Eccleston! He was MY first doctor and will always hold a special place in my heart. As much as this movie got wrong, , Eccleston got it right (well sort of). I could and can count on Chris to make the Dark Rider all the more silly. He overacts the part, majorly, whether intention or not, I care not, he is FANTASTIC!

Also, I will give credit to the screenwriter, there were a number of details that I wouldn't have thought that they would include, starting with the rooks in the trees to the family dogs noticing something is different with Will on his birthday. It's not much, when they massacred a wonderful fantasy novel that uses a lot of Celtic, Norse, and Arthurian Legend, you have to find something good about it. After all I did pay 3.50  for the DVD. Note: The British release of this movie, titled as "The Dark is Rising" is an extended edition with bonus and deleted scenes and included the forgotten character, 'The Walker' from the book, not the movie, which I should add as number eight on the list. The Walker is a critical character to the plot, as he is a fallen character that is trying to redeem himself by baring on of the signs until the Seeker (as Will Stanton is called) comes to claim the sign. It's very heavy to The Walker, yet quite light for Will.

The books are a different kind of story, but enjoyable ones. I recommend the whole "Dark is Rising Sequence" series to anyone who loves to read. As for the movie, well, I think anyone who like bad movies might enjoy it for the Christopher Eccleston performance. It might make for a decent riff project. I would watch that, cause I already had the DVD.