I was trying to come up with an interesting blog post this week rather than just discussing our current read. Is it Measure for Measure still or are we moving on to Paradise Lost for these blog posts? Mmm... I'm not sure. So I started thinking back to all of the different characters we've read about this semester and I'm having a hard time liking any of them.
Seriously, in my opinion, there are zero good protagonists in these stories. It's kind of depressing.
We started the semester reading Beowulf. And, rightly so, we had a huge debate on whether or not he was considered heroic or if he was just an arrogant dude. The jury is still out on that one. But, as a main character, he's kind of... well, not very likable. He seems to just rush into danger like its no big thing without thinking of the consequences of his actions or how it might affect others around him.
Then we read Canterbury Tales. Oh my! This book was filled with unlikables! When we got together in class and we, as groups, had to analyze our own character, we found that most of the people we were assigned to were shady. I mean, the summoner, the pardoner, the wife of Bath, etc. etc. etc. They all didn't have any "good" qualities. Even the nun was surrounded my superiority and let's not forget Dr. MB telling us what her story was. Nuh-uh, not good at all.
There may be some debate on Dr. Faustus. But since this my blog post, I'm just going to say that I don't like him as a character either. Sure, he has his faults. Who wouldn't want knowledge of everything and incredible wealth? Sign me up! But, once you start dealing with the Devil, then you start changing from admirable to stupid. Faustus accomplished so much in his lifetime and was given so many chances to turn his predicament around but could never follow through with saving himself. Come on, dude! You're the main character and you're smart as hell! The least you could do is make some good choices nearing the end of your life instead of picking on the Pope and a bunch of peasants! SMH
Then we have Measure for Measure. I. Don't. Like. Any. Of. These. Damn. Characters! No one has a redeeming quality. No one makes me think, "I'm on your side, buddy!" Not one. Angelo is the horny hypocrite. Isabella's the self-righteous prude. Claudio's a hot mess over there in prison. The Duke is just messing up everyone's lives. And these side characters all need to work on some things.
Can someone please tell me where the "good" characters are? Are there any that we've read about thus far that has redeeming qualities that I'm not seeing? Are you with me or are you against me?
While I will be the first person to admit that there are few characters we have looked at so far this year that I would say are overall "likable", I do think there are some characters with redeeming qualities. I think Isabella is probably the character people think of when they think "good". Her motives for going to see Angelo are pure and, really, she is not wrong when she tells him that her brother should not die for having sex before marriage. That seems a little bit extreme in my book. That being said, she does get entangled in a plot to deceive Angelo. While that may lower her on the "good person" scale a bit, I think that she was desperate and, quite frankly, if I was in her situation I might think of it as a good alternative as well. Isabella is the only character I would really label as "good", but I think some of the other characters have good qualities. For instance, the Wife of Bath is incredibly honest. I can really admire that in a person. Beowulf, while he is very arrogant, his actions did save a lot of people. As for Faustus....well, what is there really to say about Faustus....he had some really good ideas that he didn't follow through on. Yup, that is about all I have for him!
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