Inspiring Characters

One of the best things about reading is the exposure to people you’d never meet in your lifetime. Literary characters are some of the most multi-faceted, interesting and inspiring people I’ve ever had the chance to meet. They make unwise decisions just as you and I do and, through them, experience is shared and passed along. It may seem ridiculous that I catalogue fictional characters on my list of inspiring people, but when authors are able to create characters as realistic as someone you’d meet on the street, it really does feel like I’m interacting with those characters as my friends.

One of the most common complaints I’ve heard in regards to books is when people say they can’t understand the motivations of the characters. I rarely completely relate to my favorite characters, and sometimes I don't even like them, but instead I try to see them as people to learn from. It’s never as simple as deciding between right and wrong, but it’s interesting to understand the decisions a character makes in the context of their unique storyline. Humans are incredibly complicated, but living through a character different from myself is a fun exploration.

Who better to discuss life-changing moments with than Billy Pilgrim? Billy hails from the world of “Slaughterhouse-Five”(1969) by Kurt Vonnegut. His incredible journey through time is obvious by his name, Pilgrim. He is a voyager through his own memories, and it is never clear to him or the reader what time he is actually in. Billy copes with his traumatic memories of war and tragedy with a somewhat hallucinatory experience on the great alien planet of Tralfamadore, where he is a human on display. No matter what crazy thing is happening in my life, I can always reunite with Billy and realize things are never as hectic as they seem. His journey is incredibly calming, and by the time we’ve parted ways once again, I’m always a little more clearheaded and ready to take on my challenges.

Who better to remember those magical times when we felt that all was right in the world than Craig Thompson? Craig is the protagonist and author of the autobiographical graphic novel “Blankets” (2003). In "Blankets" he describes his time with his first love, Raina. Both grew up in difficult homes, and neither felt financially or physically safe. After meeting at church camp, Craig and Raina take solace in each other's company and, in doing so, they each become the pieces needed to keep their lives together. "Blankets," has a plot that comes full circle and it reminds me of my happier memories. When reading, I turn toward my happiest memories, knowing they directly led me to where I am today.

Who better to commiserate with of the unbelievably selfish acts of friends and family whom we thought cared about us most than Shannon McFarland? Shannon lives in the façade-filled world of “Invisible Monsters”(1999) by Chuck Palahniuk, where every person and every situation is not at all how it seems. Shannon and her best friend are former models, but, after losing her entire jaw to a gunshot wound, Shannon flees her perfect life and goes on to travel around with "Queen Supreme" Brandy Alexander and a gorgeous man, thieving and scheming along the way. After leaving her story, I’m always a bit more wary of those around me. Those we care about most can turn their backs in the blink of an eye; and after that, nothing is ever the same.

These exciting characters are multifaceted and dynamic, providing detail to story lines that would be nothing  without them. Getting into a character’s head and exploring thoughts different from my own is liberating, and it’s fun to see the world through someone else's eyes for a while.