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From my perspective as a reader I'd say I am more on the "over the shoulder looking" side. If there is only one protagonist in the story, this is easy (e.g. Indiana Jones). If there are two or more...
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#2: Post edited
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Antares
·
2024-09-01T20:57:21Z (3 months ago)
From my perspective as a reader I'd say I am more on the identify side. If there is only one protagonist in the story, this is easy (e.g. Indiana Jones). If there are two or more (e.g. Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn) I tend to like the "underdog" more. The main character appears a little "over the top" to me. The underdog, is more likable as in the example with CEO/Hobo. If the main char turns "evil" or even just does something "unethical" I instantly lose trust in that character, even if everything before was indicating him being "the good guy" (e.g. Obi Wan Kenobi in Episode 1 as he eagerly wants to attack Darth Maul... that was so dark side of the force). But come to think of it... at the point Mal in Firefly just shot a guy instead of trying to negotiate or something... I did not lose that trust frankly. You mentioned Anti-Hero... is Mal one? Maybe and that is the explanation for it. When it comes to Anti-Heros I think of "Joker" (J. Phoenix) first. It is a tragedy and you can really feel with him but there is also this small little feeling of disgust deep within.I'd say it is a common trope, yes. Of course we want to identify ourselves with the "hero" and the "good guy" unless it is a special genre where the focus is elsewhere (on the villain for example).
- From my perspective as a reader I'd say I am more on the "over the shoulder looking" side. If there is only one protagonist in the story, this is easy (e.g. Indiana Jones). If there are two or more (e.g. Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn) I tend to like the "underdog" more. The main character appears a little "over the top" to me. The underdog, is more likable as in the example with CEO/Hobo. If the main char turns "evil" or even just does something "implausible" I instantly lose trust in that character, even if everything before was indicating him being "the good guy" (e.g. Obi Wan Kenobi in Episode 1 as he eagerly wants to attack Darth Maul... that was so dark side of the force). But come to think of it... at the point Mal in Firefly just shot a guy instead of trying to negotiate or something... I did not lose that trust frankly. You mentioned Anti-Hero... is Mal one? Maybe and that is the explanation for it. When it comes to Anti-Heroes I think of "Joker" (J. Phoenix) first. It is a tragedy and you can really feel with him but there is also this small little feeling of disgust deep within.
- I'd say it is a common trope, yes, thinking as being part of the story and feel closely with the main char. Of course we want to identify ourselves with the "hero" and the "good guy" unless it is a special genre where the focus is elsewhere (on the villain for example). Because obviously, as a reader, you want to spent our time "with them". If the hero is not to _my liking_, I'd probably put the book away or end the movie.
- Having that said, I think what you describe is not a contradiction or implausibility, it is just a wide spectrum of possible shades of (main) characters and everyone has its sweet spot(s) in that spectrum somewhere. There certainly is no general rule.
#1: Initial revision
by
Antares
·
2024-09-01T20:49:01Z (3 months ago)
From my perspective as a reader I'd say I am more on the identify side. If there is only one protagonist in the story, this is easy (e.g. Indiana Jones). If there are two or more (e.g. Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn) I tend to like the "underdog" more. The main character appears a little "over the top" to me. The underdog, is more likable as in the example with CEO/Hobo. If the main char turns "evil" or even just does something "unethical" I instantly lose trust in that character, even if everything before was indicating him being "the good guy" (e.g. Obi Wan Kenobi in Episode 1 as he eagerly wants to attack Darth Maul... that was so dark side of the force). But come to think of it... at the point Mal in Firefly just shot a guy instead of trying to negotiate or something... I did not lose that trust frankly. You mentioned Anti-Hero... is Mal one? Maybe and that is the explanation for it. When it comes to Anti-Heros I think of "Joker" (J. Phoenix) first. It is a tragedy and you can really feel with him but there is also this small little feeling of disgust deep within. I'd say it is a common trope, yes. Of course we want to identify ourselves with the "hero" and the "good guy" unless it is a special genre where the focus is elsewhere (on the villain for example).