by Aleggs Sander

Created on: November 29, 2009   Last Updated: November 30, 2009

Fiction is a popular literary genre that can be used in many ways, ultimately intended to entertain, and to inform. Fables are fictional, since animals do not speak the languages of human beings. Parables are believed to be fictional as well, but several of Jesus' parables had their genesis in real-life events.

One of the powerful factors in fiction is characterization. Characters are important selling points of any story, and make the story much more interesting reading. The Bible presents the most full-orbed characters, but the Bible is not presented as fiction. In the realm of fiction characters are vital to the success of the story. And the characters are usually of such characteristics as to make them unforgettable: indelible in love or hate, and passion and purpose. Good characterization necessitates credibility and the ineffable quality of otherworldliness.

The story line allows one to see the development and advancement of the story, but the characters help us to be drawn into the story, and even to take sides. Some specific qualities that make characters admirable are: intelligence, humanity and at the same time supra-humanity, capabilities and resourcefulness.

Some memorable characters embracing those qualities are Jason Bourne of the Bourne quadrology, Joe Considine, Varak, Havelock (Havlicek) and others in Ludlum's books. Every successful author has created memorable and lovable characters. D'Arcy of Pride and Prejudice, Frodo of Lord of the Rings and Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes.

Fictional Characters make a novel a thing of joy. But why are we drawn to these characters? They are not real. As a matter of fact, the fountainhead of wisdom, fortitude, capabilities, power and achievement in these fictional entities is not found in one real-life individual. But I am convinced that it is for this reason that we fall in love with fictional characters: they are larger than life, and consequently larger than any problem that we mere mortals face.

Years ago, in an interview, Sidney Sheldon said that he woke up with delight each morning and flexed his fingers as he got ready to play God. In creating characters for their novels and stories, authors indeed play God. They create life situations and circumstances that reflect reality, and sometimes are far grimmer than reality, but they always place someone in the story that is more than sufficient for the situations created.

Protagonists may be taken by surprise by the antagonists, but the antagonist will not

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>