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Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Jane Austen's Love for Elizabeth Bennett

by Stephanie Morrill

Did you ever have a character get under your skin? If so, you're in good company. In a letter to her sister Cassandra, Jane Austen had this to say about Elizabeth Bennett, the main character of Pride and Prejudice: "I must confess that I think her as delightful a creature as ever appeared in print, and how I shall be able to tolerate those who do not like her at least, I do not know."



Such vulnerability. Such reluctant acceptance that not everyone would find Elizabeth to be charming and brave and funny.

Do you have a favorite character that you've created? Please share with us what makes them so special to you!

14 comments:

  1. I'm twelve years old and my favorite character is one I created around eight months ago, although he has evolved considerably last weeks alone. Perseus Storm. Perseus is complicated, that is for sure, his father was kidnapped by Imperial soldiers three years ago and he is a half Demigod, which is hard for him because, well, he hates Demigods. He also has a friend, if you can call him a friend, Marhen Holones, a human who trained with him at the Academy, suffered with his through various hardships, but when they left the Academy he betrayed Perseus and joined the Organization. My book is actually about how Perseus and Marhen have to work together to save the world and eventually rekindle their friendship. It's a pity I'm having trouble writing it.
    Awesome post, as always! This blog is a lifesaver!

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    1. Sorry! This post wasn't supposed to be anonymous. It's mine!
      PS. For the past few days I've stopped writing my book. I've come up with many new ideas and characters, and I'm gonna try them instead! Although Perseus will always be a favorite, as one of my first deep and complex characters. Sorry again!

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    2. Perseus sounds like an interesting character and a fun one to write, Jonathan! :D

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    3. Cool! I happen to be a mythology writer as well. I deal more with Norse, but my favorite character, Hector is Hercules rebirth.

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  2. My favorite character is Isabella Grant. Even though she's not my MC, she's my favorite (apologies to my MC, Kate!) She's always got something on her mind and knows the answers to just about everything. Despite her gruff exterior, once you've proven yourself to her, she's a real good friend.

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  3. I love my fictional characters... I've fallen head over heels with some of my heroes, heehee.

    Oh, by the way, Jane Austen spelt 'Bennet' with one T. As you can see, I love Elizabeth so much I've stolen her surname for my nom-de-plume! :D

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    1. Oh, I am seconding you, Naomi! I thought I was the only one who fell in love with my own characters. I am so glad to see I am not alone in this!

      One of them is Master Arland, a stoic nobleman who adopts orphan boys and raises them as his own children. He shows little affection until Daniel comes along; Daniel is so pitiable that the Master cannot help but fondle him... a little. Daniel I also have fallen for. He is small and feeble and, to make matters worse, a dreadful accident renders his feet forever numb and useless. So he needs always to be carried, by horse or man. He is a timid boy with a forgiving heart and quiet nature. I can't help loving him!

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  4. In the book I just finished- there's two. In a book i just started- not yet ;) In a sequel for the book i just finished (even though i haven't started it yet): There's one. :)

    1st book: My POV FMC, Amity Leston. We're alike....a lot. (especially in the clumsiness aspect).

    And then there's Percy Marxin from that book. I don't even know how to explain him. I didn't plan for him to be that crazy, he kinda just spiraled into insane-ness. What made it even worse was that I made him to kill him...(which I still did *sobs uncontrollably*)

    The sequel to the above book: Nico Thaddeuson. He's hopelessly gloomy (he has a reason for it), but I have a hunch that he's gonna be an awesome character ;) And he loves food. A lot XD

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  5. I love almost all my characters . . . Jason, Jared, Hayden, and Emma are my favorites, though. Emma because she's sweet and shy and probably the most "ordinary" of my characters (and she reminds me of myself). Jared because he's fun to write and he's kind of Han Solo-ish character. And Jason and Hayden because they're complicated and mysterious and really are heroes- even if Jason won't admit it. (I would totally date either Jason or Hayden, BTW, if they were real.)

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  6. My favorite character is probably my first one. Hector is impulsive, strong, and has a very simple mind. If it weren't for his half brother or other companions he would die. He and I have been through everything from cases of mistaken identity to getting turned into rabbits.

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  7. I love Lizzy Bennett! Jane Austen has every right to hold her in such high esteem:D

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  8. I love Elizabeth Bennett! I've just started my WIP, but I love working on developing my characters, especially the antagonist, mostly because this is the first time I've ever really developed my characters at all. It's been so exciting to actually make them real instead of cardboard characters with no goals.

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  9. Elizabeth Bennet is one of my favorite characters ever! My #1 is Hermione Granger, though. As to my own characters, my favorite is probably the MMC, even though the trilogy centers on the FMC. I don't know, I think he's more like who I WANT to be and the FMC is who I am now (and no, I'm not talking about a sex change).

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  10. About a week or two ago, I would have said Aura Simms, in a heartbeat, but now, since I've been experimenting with different POVs, I'm going to have to go for her little brother, Ray. Except he doesn't really like me...at all.

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