Musings on character types

[luzula]

I watched the Captain America movie a while ago, and it got me thinking about the kinds of character types I'm drawn to. I seem to be captivated by people who are idealistic and brave and try to do the right thing. They are often part of some institution that they believe in, but that institution often fails or betrays them, and then they struggle with that.

Obviously Benton Fraser is my prime example here. But Nate Fick, my favorite character in Generation Kill, is another example, and Steve Rogers seems to push the same sort of button for me, although not as strongly. For a more obscure example, Longstreet in The Killer Angels totally hit that button for me, too.

So, these are all men, and all in military or police organizations--I guess that's a place where these issues often arise, but I'd love to find other examples. The first female character who comes to mind is Elizabeth Moon's Paksenarrion, who really fits into that pattern, although her story has other appeals to me as well. She's in a military organization, too. Perhaps Utena Tenjou? Hmm, not really--she's more of an outside challenger than part of an institution, although she is brave and tries to do the right thing.

But one example that really clicked for me when I realized that it fit this same pattern is Shevek in Le Guin's The Dispossessed. He is partly rejected by the anarchist society he comes from, even though he deeply believes in its principles. God, I love that book.

So, do you have any examples of this type of character that you think I'd enjoy?

Comments

[sabra_n]

Hmm...there isn't that much institutional failure because he is the institution, but for me the comic version of Fraser is absolutely The Middleman, of the show of the same title.

[luzula]

Hmm, I've heard the name but I don't actually know what it is. But I'll check it out! Thanks for the rec.

[sabra_n]

The Middleman and his protege Wendy Watson fight comic book evil so you don't have to! Or at least they did, in a ridiculously obscure timeslot on ABC Family for 12 episodes. :P At least the show doesn't take long to get through? But while you're there, it's full of hilarious dialogue, flying-color passes of the Bechdel test, and, of course, the always-uniformed, milk-drinking, ridiculously wholesome title superhero. It's all kind of a mashup of old-school sci-fi with 21st century sensibilities, and I can't recommend it strongly enough. I really hope you enjoy it.

[luzula]

It does sound fun! Thanks for writing up the summary. : )