Anti-Heroes

ChewyLewey

I've realised that both of my 2 main characters in the plot I'm working on are prícks. They are only human of course and have some redeeming features, but essentially based on the actions I have planned for them they would have little sympathy from a reader.

Is this a problem? If the reader dislikes the characters whose POV the story is written from will they essentially stop caring for their plight?

pops

Personally, I have to at least sympathise with the character if not actually like them.

I have read some really good novels where the main character seems like a real idiot (William Boyd's A Good Man in Africa springs to mind), but after a while the reader finds themselves being won over by them.

Maybe you could show a more human side to them, despite the actions they carry out, something that could make the reader empathize with them?

pickarooney

I've never had a problem with the main character of a book being an arsehole and the popularity of books such as American Psycho suggest a great many people feel the same way. Come to think of it, a lot of my favourite books have horrible protagonists.

meganj

Also a lot of crime authors tend to use anti-heroes, like Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series springs immediately to mind and I adore him.

For me I find 'anti-heroes' (if done well) very powerful in a novel. What I don't like is a novel with no redeeming characters, like The Slap intentionally or not for me not a single one of these characters was likeable. I still read the book cover to cover and recommended it to loads of friends. I just wouldn't want to go drinking with any of them :rolleyes:

EileenG

I don't think the hero has to be a good guy, but he has to have something that I can emphasis with. Ideally, he should be fighting some sort of internal battle, as well as dealing with the external baddies, so he should have a good big dark side.

But it really helps if he's not someone I'd cross the road to avoid in real life.

jjammemd

Is venom an anti-hero?

damselnat

Personally, I love a good anti hero, but they have to be convincing, which means not being utterly inhuman I suppose. One of the most memorable characters I have ever read has been Alex in A Clockwork Orange, you don't get much more of a nasty, loathsome piece of work than that...and yet I find I can't loathe him...(probably says more about me though)

PurpleBee

If he has a weakness that can be identified with... even the tiniest weakness or crack in his otherwise pitch black armour of evil will let empathy seep in,

if the devil read dr seuss you couldn't help but love him

Antilles

PurpleBee wrote: »

if the devil read dr seuss you couldn't help but love him

Ever read Paradise Lost? The Devil is such a sympathetic character.

PurpleBee

Antilles wrote: »

Ever read Paradise Lost? The Devil is such a sympathetic character.

yeah that's probably a more sensible example of a likable devil,

the inescapable pain of the devil's personal hell coupled with the unforgiving nature of God made him an amazingly powerful antihero for me

Das Kitty

I don't think it's a problem. I've often been reading a book and stopped to think, What a dick! It didn't stop me enjoying the character or the novel. pickarooney mentioned American Psycho already. It would be hard to imagine a less sympathetic character than Patrick Bateman. I've read a few Chuck Palahniuk novels, and they're wall-to-wall with assholes.