THE BOOK REPORT: Four timeless literary charactesr

In my last column I discussed how people choose favorite books based off the aspects of the books: the characters, the plots, or the effects upon the reader. Often, it is the characters that attract us to a story, due to similarities or differences. Their humanity reflects our humanity, allowing the author to connect his message with our lives. So for this column, let’s look back at a quarter of the greatest characters from literature, why they stand out, and why their books are worth reading.

Holden Caufield - The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger - The original angst-filled teen, angry at everyone and everything in his life, not satisfied with the world. This character, so provocative that his book was banned upon publishing, is one that every teenager can connect with. We have all felt the way Holden feels and reading his story creates a channel to vent the anger and frustration of teenage rebellion. The genius of Salinger is creating a character so universal that teenagers from the 60’s through the 00’s could see themselves reflected in the story.

Captain Ahab - Moby-Dick by Herman Melville - Ahab typifies what revenge can do to a man, gutting him of every thought by pay back, driving him to sacrifice all he has for one chance to strike back. Captain Ahab, with his ivory leg, harpooner’s eye, and mysterious prophecies, stands out from an American classic full of memorable characters. Melville layers his Captain with the methods and knowledge of a sea captain, allowing this giant of a character to remain realistic. On a side note, I was very tempted to toss Moby-Dick into this mix of characters, but chose the man, rather than the whale.

Atticus Finch - To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - In the same way that Captain Ahab embodies the negatives of humanity, Atticus typifies all that is good. He is the perfect father-figure, striving to be an honest, upright, and moral example for his two children. When everyone else in the town condemns a black man of rape, regardless of the evidence, Finch steps in and defends him in court. His family suffers the racist barbs of the citizens, but he is a great man in spite of his surroundings.

Hamlet - Hamlet by William Shakespeare - Prince Hamlet is the only crazy one on the list, though Ahab might fit that title as well. The story begins just after his father’s murder when a ghost appears to him and urges revenge on the guilty. The rest of the play is full of accidental and planned deaths, each caused by Hamlet’s grasping for his goal of revenge. Much like Ahab, revenge is his motivation, but unlike the ship captain, the prince is wavering and unsure throughout the play, leading to further havoc. Hamlet is the picture of confusion and contortion, ripped between alliances, betrayal, revenge, and one blood-hungry ghost.