The guardian lists ten anti-heroes, but I think on the whole it's a rather eh and icon-free list. Of course it has Scarlett O'Hara, Mr. Ripley, and Satan from Paradise Lost, but no Heathcliff? No Humbert Humbert? Hmm. No Eric Northmann (note to self: must excise Sookie Stackhouse from brain!)?
What about Lady Catherine, or Macbeth, or Gollum?
I'd like to know, dear readers, who are your most loveable literary villains, villainesses, or anti-heroes?
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4 years ago
I love Viscount de Valmont and Henry Crawford!
ReplyDeleteOh, the girls: Becky Sharp and Mary Crawford.
ReplyDeleteWilloughby, the cad!
ReplyDeleteDag from "Generation X" by Douglas Coupland. I developed a crush on him in my early twenties and I've still got it.
ReplyDeleteAnd also Jack from "Gilead" and "Home" by Marilynne Robinson but I think everyone feels that way who reads about him.
As for the ladies...I'm not sure if Rebecca of Daphne DuMaurier's creation would count as an anti-hero but I like knowing that she led someone with a stiff lip like Max De Winter through a merry dance.
And Emma, of course.
Emma, Willoughby and the Crawfords, how could I have forgotten those wondrous creations? And all the YA tomboys--Laura, Anne, Caddie Woodlawn.
ReplyDeleteWell I think that Guardian list is pretty laughable. But Moving on...
ReplyDeleteI'd definitely include Willoughby & Wickham. Villian-wise I love Blue Duck (Lonesome Dove), Big Brother, and Moriarty. Dean Moriarty is maddeningly wonderful.
Ladies-wise: Emma Woodhouse, Mrs. Havisham, and Carrie's mom from Stephen King's Carrie.