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02-02-2005, 06:05 PM | #11 | |
Vice of Twilight
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: on a mountain
Posts: 1,121
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Enca,
Quote:
On the other hand, you have a character like, as one example, one of the saints. They're very good, and often reach the highest point of goodness that anyone can reach, but so very often they're surrounded by people who are also good and saintly, and rather than standing there to 'set an example' for everyone, they concern themselves with being good, and the example comes with it. Though I have read some stories of saints where the author portrayed them as the annoying kind of good person. We could take another example from Tolkien's books. Frodo is a very good person, that cannot be denied. He even has that oddness that can be found in many Mary-Sues. He's an Elf-friend and all that, when a typical hobbit is nothing of the sort. But I haven't yet met a person who will complain that Frodo is 'too perfect.' And again I think it's because of the author. Frodo exists along with many other good characters, and that helps greatly. But I think the greatest thing that makes him a realistic character rather than the absolutely perfect character is that he is in the story as a character, existing in his own way. Whilst Tolkien is writing of him he doesn't pause every few moments to sigh: "Ah! how ideal Frodo is! I have personified the ideal hobbit. I must show him to the world and try to show these immoral people how they really should behave. Ah, precious, precious, holy, saintly Frodo!" From what I gather from your posts, Enca and Kitanna, we're much in agreement of what 'flawed' actually is. 'Flawed' doesn't mean they have to be murderers, or be at the extreme of any vice. But they still have places to go. There's a possibility of becoming better. They still have something to fight for, even if it's merely inside of themselves. Thanks for all your interesting input so far.
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In the fury of the moment I can see the Master's hand in every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand. Last edited by Nurumaiel; 02-02-2005 at 06:31 PM. |
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