Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Top Ten Favourite Characters in Classic Novels


Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the lovely ladies over at The Broke and the Bookish
This Week's Prompt
TOP TEN FAVOURITE CHARACTERS IN CLASSIC NOVELS
I had a really hard time picking the top ten list this week. The prompt was X Genre and I was just so torn. So I'm going with what I know.

1. Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice

I can't help myself, I just had to put her on here and she'll probably be on every bookish list I ever write. I love that she's so headstrong and pretty snarky for her era. She's independent and pretty much the quintessential strong female character in my mind. 

2. Jo March from Little Women

Here's another female character that goes against the grain. Sensing a theme here? Jo is a writer and does what she wants. She loves her family more than anything, but she also has a really strong sense of self. She puts a little of herself into everything she does. I love that she writes and puts on plays and gives up her one vanity, but regrets the decision moments later, while still knowing she's done a good thing. I kind of just want her to be my best friend. 

3. Ponyboy from The Outsiders

This book was one of the first assigned books that I fell in love with. Ponyboy goes through so much, loses so much, but even at the end he just seems so young. I can't help but love him and all the greasers. Heart. Broken. by the end. 

4. George Knightley from Emma

Emma kind of drives me crazy which is why I rarely pick up that book. However, George Knightley is kind of the best. He's the more mature family friends who has loved from afar for years. He's kind. He brings out the best in the woman he loves. Also, Paul Rudd plays him in Clueless, what's not to love? 

5. Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables

Like I said last Tuesday, I pretty much grew up with Anne Shirley, like a lot of young girls. I loved reading about her adventures and remember always thinking the adults were too hard on her. Her relationship with Matthew was one of the most touching father daughter stories I can remember. She's just this great, headstrong young girl who's touched so many lives. 

6. Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird

Atticus Finch is patient, a loving father and fighting racism. How can he not be on this list? He's the best. 

7. Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby

Gatsby makes a lot of terrible decisions in the name of love. He's super shady, total and complete liar. But I never end up hating him. His story is pretty tragic and I could read it over and over again. 

8. Yossarian from Catch-22

The book that shows us the ridiculousness of war and bureaucracy brings us Yossarian. He's subversive, his actions, while meant only to allow him to escape the war, essentially highlight all that is wrong with it. It's funny. It's dark. It's kind of perfect. 

9. Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet

Mercutio is my all time favourite character in this tragic love story. He brings the comic relief, but is also one of the first members of the warring parties to speak the truth. I die a little every time I watch his death.

10. Macbeth from Macbeth

Macbeth is horrible. He's a murderer and his sanity is slowly leaving him. He also has some of the best lines and is such a rich character. The nerd in me is just drawn to the analysis.  

7 comments:

  1. Ooh, I ADORE Atticus. And, yes, Gatsby would be in my top ten, too! I wouldn't have even thought of Ponyboy, but now I really want to reread The Outsiders!

    Excellent post!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Making this list has made me want to reread The Outsiders too! It's such a good book and I haven't read it in years!

      Delete
  2. I adore this list! Ponyboy yes! New follower via GFC. Here's my TTT

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ohh Atticus Finch is great!! So is Elizabeth Bennet!

    Great list! I need to add some classics to my reading list.

    OurTTT @The Quiet Concert

    ReplyDelete
  4. Macbeth is such a great character. The PBS Shakespeare Uncovered did an episode featuring Macbeth that aired recently and it really delved into his character. And Jo, dear Jo, I so remember from my childhood.

    Great list.
    My list.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I didn't realize that they did an episode featuring Macbeth, I'm going to have to track it down. Thanks! In a similar vein, there's a book I came across recently on netgalley called Lady Macbeth On the Couch that looks at her psychology which I really want to read.

      Delete
  5. I'm not a huge fan of the classics, but Ponyboy is one of my all-time fav characters ever!! And Jo of course is great as well!

    Thanks for stopping by My TTT :)

    ReplyDelete