Thank you, David :) I really appreciate that! Perhaps this is why I enjoy Cervantes' novel so much - certainly a little more DQ than Sancho Panza I think!
Meursault in The Stranger by Camus. I read it back in school and profoundly identified with the protagonist, not so much with the nihilism but his rather detached view of life. It's hard to explain.
I remember reading and identifying at that age too. I was on a bit of Camus kick (perhaps this is a rite of passage?) and devoured his Myth of Sisyphus and The Rebel alongside this one. I must give it a reread!
I heard about kintsugi yesterday for the first time in connection with narcissism. 2 characters that resonate with me are Mr.Samler and Herzog,both are alter egos of Saul Bellow and are broken and vulnerable. I feel as if I am Raskolnikov when I read C. and P.- his heightened emotions and moral dilemma. Of course, Emma Bovary. As Flaubert said ' Cest moi.' love your videos.
This was so insightful! My sister bought me a copy of Catcher in the Rye when she was abroad and read it before she gave it to me. When she handed me the book she said "the main character is just like you" I know most readers at least during their teens identify with Holden Caufield but having my affinity with him confirmed was the highest compliment I've ever received. And yes, when I read it myself, I felt he was me. Btw, my sister meant it as an insult because she said the narrator was such a downer 😂
Thank you! I have my old beaten copy of Catcher in the Rye beside me as I speak. I'm hoping to reread it again soon, along with Salinger's Nine Stories. How wonderful that an insult to your sister is praise for you :) I'm sure one could bandy the word "quixotic" about in an insulting manner, but I would be elated with this as a character trait!
@@BenjaminMcEvoy oh yes, being compared to Holden is probably the best compliment I've received. I always felt my depressive outlook on the world and ppl was something that needed fixing. But Holden spoke for me and to me like you said and it was so validating. I don't know how I'd feel if I reread him now but it doesn't bode well for my "maturity" that I read him in my 20s and still identified with him lol! Most friends I recommend the book to can't stand his perspective! Because they are parents now and wonder what it would be to raise a child like Holden😄
@@1siddynickhead I was a female Holden. The dourness and serious nihilism made me get an engineering degree to earn self love and self respect. It worked for a lot while. In my 40s now, separated, but emotionally free. Barring the death of one of my children or terminal disease diagnosis, little depresses me and I can help my own kids deal with their moods
@@MilanElan I'm so happy to hear that.. I'd like to think I've grown up a lot since I identified with him.. As much as I love Holden it's just not helpful to think the way he does in everyday life.. It just gets in the way of having any kind of good experience. So while I adore him hopefully I've matured enough to realise his and my previous outlook is harmful to my mental health
I don't have a specific character in mind but I tend to have a soft spot for heroes or protagonists that are cowardly. My reasoning behind this is that these characters are somewhat truthful depictions of how many of us would act in certain situations.
Is there any concern about failing to extract unique, new, foreign experiences from fictional characters, if we're focused too much on overlaying our own experience on top of them?
Interesting question. This is something that has occurred to me too. It's difficult to conceptualise in words, but I think if one were able to truly plug into the strain of self-reliance Emerson is an advocate for, one would be able to connect with authentic new experience with one's character being a response to, rather than an imposition upon, the work. But, yes, we should be careful not to put words or ideas in the mouths of these writers. Ultimately, all art criticism is going to be more revealing of the critic than the artist.
To be honest, it's really difficult to identify with one fictional/literary character. I think that we can identify with all of them, good or bad. It seems that we all have a part with them. I believe that's because the great books, the classics, made our modern world. They've inspired movies, television, video games, comics, etc. So I believe that I identify with many, not just one. And I'm actually glad of that.
Curzio Malaparte ,author off Kaputt, The Skin,The Kremlin Ball and many more works is the narrator and main character of his books. He was a journalist and fiction writer. He made himself the main character in his books. Work of a genius who is sadly not well known.
Jane Eyre will always be one of the most relatable fictional people for me. Her personality, especially when she was a child, I felt myself in. I’m only a teenager so I see why I relate more to young Jane then when she got older, I can see myself growing into her. My mum said we (my family reads a classic book every Sunday morning together, I thank her for loving literature so much) Jane Eyre because she saw me so much in her.
On my 7th birthday my brother bought me a small hard bound book of Wind in the willows .Plain green copy with no illustrations. Then, as now l can see in my mind's eye all the creatures and the World they lived in like it was yesterday.Still have that little book.(happy birthday from your brother lan June10th 1953)
Long John Silver (from whom I stole my nom de RUclips), MM1 Jake Holman from “Sand Pebbles”, Sgt Steiner from “Cross of Iron” (originally published as “The Willing Flesh”), Ray Hicks from “Dog Soldiers”, Robert Jordan from “For Whom the Bell Tolls”.
Nice Video! What also peaks my interest is, identifying with fictional characters, that would potentially serve as a role model for another character, if they would exist in the same universe or work.Therefore one could identify with both. Let's take Raskolnikov as an example: it is obvious for the reader that he has that "Übermensch" Nietzsche thinking in his head and sees himself as superior towards others and only really shows sympathy towards his family, friends or really close ones. However, after the murder it becomes quite evident, that he is (for the sake of the readers enjoyment luckily) not capable of handling the murder and therefore begins to regret and learn the hard way, that he is no "Übermensch" nor Napoleon. Now let's look at my favourite character from Tolstoi, namely Dolochow (the german translation spells him like that). He on the other hand really puts the same mentality Raskolnikow wants to have, to action and lives by it. Of course some would say, that Dolochow is a boring psychopath, but I always loved the chapter, where Nikolai sees, what a caring family member he is for his mother and sister and that all he wants, is a trustful and loving wife. He is no heartless beast after all. Back to Raskalnikov: If one had read "crime and punishment" as well as "War and peace" (ideally a bit Nietzsche) with a focus on Raskolnikov and Dolochow, the similarites between both of them would be fairly obvious. However, many readers do not sympathize with Dolochow due to his cold nature, but sympathize with Raskolnikov, who cannot reach Dolochows cold-heartedness, which he aspires though. This is very interesting, I think: we rather sympathize with the one, who wants to be a sort of cold hearted Übermensch but despise the one, who reached that point. Maybe we are ashamed of ourselves, just like Raskolnikov, that we are not able to copy the mindset of people like Dolochow, and therefore start to hate him? (Side-note: Raskolnikov on the other hand does not hate the likes of Dolochow, he even aspires to be like Napoleon) What I wanted to say is, that one does not only identify with a character by identifyinng with that explicit character (Raskolnikov), but also by at least sympathizing with other characters (Dolochow), that live by the ideals of the first one.
Hi Ben, great video! Have you ever read the Studs Lonigan trilogy by James T. Farrell? Although I can’t say that I can completely identify with Studs, I have never felt more emotionally attached to a character. You knew early on that Studs was headed for tragedy based on the limitations imposed on him by his upbringing and his surroundings. I would think as I read that I wish I could be there to help steer him away from choices that would be detrimental to his life. The last pages of the third part of the trilogy were really gut-wrenching.
I would never identify with any characters from the works of the Marquis de Sade such as "One Hundred and Twenty Days of Sodom" and "Justine." His sadism has had no effect on my romantic life.
Another extraordinary video. Short and meaningful. So thank you for this nutritious insight in your technique of deep reading. I think I always identify with characters in books as much as in film. From teenage on not so much to developing my character or values but to make use of their behaviour their style and language for my own public persona. I’m now onto something else. I wish to discover and integrate my shadow in a Jungian way in my remaining years. So I’m currently looking out for things and people that I dislike, that make me angry and aversive. In Don Quixote the characters that most I liked were the women actually. I think he painted them very loveable and respectable as a contrast to the rather foolish men. Don Quixote feels to me rather ambivalent. Destructive in his recklessness but also loveable in his sincere wish to help. In his ability to listen and learn. To forgive.
Thank you :) I recorded a podcast this morning and thought about you as it was pertinent to mention shadow-work. The podcast was on Emerson's essay on 'Self-Reliance'. If you haven't already read it, please do. It will fit marvellously into a self-work program. Interesting that you like Cervantes' women - they are great, aren't they? He painted them beautifully and I can tell Miguel was a great lover of women (not in a Don Juan sense). DQ's ability to forgive - I love that you've picked up on that. A truly under appreciated virtue that he thoroughly exemplifies.
@@BenjaminMcEvoy thank you for your recommendation of Emerson. I’ve purchased an audible. And I’m looking forward to listening to your podcast. It’s not yet uploaded, is it?
This is my favourite video of yours Ben, thankyou. I recommend the confederacy of duncees by john kenndy Toole. It is a modern classic early 60s highly amusing. Also stoner is a very good read. It is by a different author. Forgot his name. I do love the classics though. Peace Lara.
Thank you so much :) Wonderful recommendations, I really appreciate them! I'm actually rereading Stoner at the moment after a friend insisted, and I can feel a podcast in the works already. Tremendous book!
Thank you! Tough question - so many to choose from. Sancho Panza, Jean Valjean, Cleopatra, Juliet, Joe from Great Expectations, Queequeg, and Clarissa would all be strong favourites of mine :)
Why you must be one of the most underrated literature RUclips channels. Love everything I’ve seen so far and I see a lil bit of a Don Quixote in you!
Thank you, David :) I really appreciate that! Perhaps this is why I enjoy Cervantes' novel so much - certainly a little more DQ than Sancho Panza I think!
Raskolnikov. It was very unpleasant at first, but it has helped me gain a better perspective in life and I am doing better now because of it.
Brilliant - Raskolnikov's a great one for this!
Meursault in The Stranger by Camus. I read it back in school and profoundly identified with the protagonist, not so much with the nihilism but his rather detached view of life. It's hard to explain.
I remember reading and identifying at that age too. I was on a bit of Camus kick (perhaps this is a rite of passage?) and devoured his Myth of Sisyphus and The Rebel alongside this one. I must give it a reread!
I heard about kintsugi yesterday for the first time in connection with narcissism. 2 characters that resonate with me are Mr.Samler and Herzog,both are alter egos of Saul Bellow and are broken and vulnerable. I feel as if I am Raskolnikov when I read C. and P.- his heightened emotions and moral dilemma. Of course, Emma Bovary. As Flaubert said ' Cest moi.' love your videos.
This was so insightful! My sister bought me a copy of Catcher in the Rye when she was abroad and read it before she gave it to me. When she handed me the book she said "the main character is just like you" I know most readers at least during their teens identify with Holden Caufield but having my affinity with him confirmed was the highest compliment I've ever received. And yes, when I read it myself, I felt he was me. Btw, my sister meant it as an insult because she said the narrator was such a downer 😂
Thank you! I have my old beaten copy of Catcher in the Rye beside me as I speak. I'm hoping to reread it again soon, along with Salinger's Nine Stories. How wonderful that an insult to your sister is praise for you :) I'm sure one could bandy the word "quixotic" about in an insulting manner, but I would be elated with this as a character trait!
@@BenjaminMcEvoy oh yes, being compared to Holden is probably the best compliment I've received. I always felt my depressive outlook on the world and ppl was something that needed fixing. But Holden spoke for me and to me like you said and it was so validating. I don't know how I'd feel if I reread him now but it doesn't bode well for my "maturity" that I read him in my 20s and still identified with him lol! Most friends I recommend the book to can't stand his perspective! Because they are parents now and wonder what it would be to raise a child like Holden😄
@@1siddynickhead I was a female Holden. The dourness and serious nihilism made me get an engineering degree to earn self love and self respect. It worked for a lot while. In my 40s now, separated, but emotionally free. Barring the death of one of my children or terminal disease diagnosis, little depresses me and I can help my own kids deal with their moods
@@MilanElan I'm so happy to hear that.. I'd like to think I've grown up a lot since I identified with him.. As much as I love Holden it's just not helpful to think the way he does in everyday life.. It just gets in the way of having any kind of good experience. So while I adore him hopefully I've matured enough to realise his and my previous outlook is harmful to my mental health
I don't have a specific character in mind but I tend to have a soft spot for heroes or protagonists that are cowardly. My reasoning behind this is that these characters are somewhat truthful depictions of how many of us would act in certain situations.
Is there any concern about failing to extract unique, new, foreign experiences from fictional characters, if we're focused too much on overlaying our own experience on top of them?
Interesting question. This is something that has occurred to me too. It's difficult to conceptualise in words, but I think if one were able to truly plug into the strain of self-reliance Emerson is an advocate for, one would be able to connect with authentic new experience with one's character being a response to, rather than an imposition upon, the work. But, yes, we should be careful not to put words or ideas in the mouths of these writers. Ultimately, all art criticism is going to be more revealing of the critic than the artist.
4:05 reminds me of martin's dunk and egg tales
I have a feeling that he could be a fan of Cervantes!
To be honest, it's really difficult to identify with one fictional/literary character. I think that we can identify with all of them, good or bad. It seems that we all have a part with them. I believe that's because the great books, the classics, made our modern world. They've inspired movies, television, video games, comics, etc. So I believe that I identify with many, not just one. And I'm actually glad of that.
When I am reading Oscar Wilde brilliant they way he wrote poetry and played is out of this world .
Absolutely :)
Bookmarked. Nice statements about Tolstoy
Curzio Malaparte ,author off Kaputt, The Skin,The Kremlin Ball and many more works is the narrator and main character of his books. He was a journalist and fiction writer. He made himself the main character in his books. Work of a genius who is sadly not well known.
Very nice - I'll have to look into these books. As you say, he's not super well known, but you've done him a great service by recommending him!
Jane Eyre will always be one of the most relatable fictional people for me. Her personality, especially when she was a child, I felt myself in. I’m only a teenager so I see why I relate more to young Jane then when she got older, I can see myself growing into her. My mum said we (my family reads a classic book every Sunday morning together, I thank her for loving literature so much) Jane Eyre because she saw me so much in her.
great video man
Thank you, my friend! :)
On my 7th birthday my brother bought me a small hard bound book of Wind in the willows .Plain green copy with no illustrations. Then, as now l can see in my mind's eye all the creatures and the World they lived in like it was yesterday.Still have that little book.(happy birthday from your brother lan June10th 1953)
Emma Bovary. That identification left me hopeless for months at end, but it serves as a cautionary tale now, and I tread more carefully than I'd like
Great video, as always
Thank you!
Long John Silver (from whom I stole my nom de RUclips), MM1 Jake Holman from “Sand Pebbles”, Sgt Steiner from “Cross of Iron” (originally published as “The Willing Flesh”), Ray Hicks from “Dog Soldiers”, Robert Jordan from “For Whom the Bell Tolls”.
Scout Finch and Josephine Marsh.
Very nice!!
Nice Video!
What also peaks my interest is, identifying with fictional characters, that would potentially serve as a role model for another character, if they would exist in the same universe or work.Therefore one could identify with both. Let's take Raskolnikov as an example: it is obvious for the reader that he has that "Übermensch" Nietzsche thinking in his head and sees himself as superior towards others and only really shows sympathy towards his family, friends or really close ones. However, after the murder it becomes quite evident, that he is (for the sake of the readers enjoyment luckily) not capable of handling the murder and therefore begins to regret and learn the hard way, that he is no "Übermensch" nor Napoleon. Now let's look at my favourite character from Tolstoi, namely Dolochow (the german translation spells him like that). He on the other hand really puts the same mentality Raskolnikow wants to have, to action and lives by it. Of course some would say, that Dolochow is a boring psychopath, but I always loved the chapter, where Nikolai sees, what a caring family member he is for his mother and sister and that all he wants, is a trustful and loving wife. He is no heartless beast after all.
Back to Raskalnikov: If one had read "crime and punishment" as well as "War and peace" (ideally a bit Nietzsche) with a focus on Raskolnikov and Dolochow, the similarites between both of them would be fairly obvious. However, many readers do not sympathize with Dolochow due to his cold nature, but sympathize with Raskolnikov, who cannot reach Dolochows cold-heartedness, which he aspires though. This is very interesting, I think: we rather sympathize with the one, who wants to be a sort of cold hearted Übermensch but despise the one, who reached that point. Maybe we are ashamed of ourselves, just like Raskolnikov, that we are not able to copy the mindset of people like Dolochow, and therefore start to hate him? (Side-note: Raskolnikov on the other hand does not hate the likes of Dolochow, he even aspires to be like Napoleon)
What I wanted to say is, that one does not only identify with a character by identifyinng with that explicit character (Raskolnikov), but also by at least sympathizing with other characters (Dolochow), that live by the ideals of the first one.
This is absolutely my experience reading the Bible a few dozen times over 50 years.
I agree, it’s like a mirror.
Hi Ben, great video! Have you ever read the Studs Lonigan trilogy by James T. Farrell? Although I can’t say that I can completely identify with Studs, I have never felt more emotionally attached to a character. You knew early on that Studs was headed for tragedy based on the limitations imposed on him by his upbringing and his surroundings. I would think as I read that I wish I could be there to help steer him away from choices that would be detrimental to his life. The last pages of the third part of the trilogy were really gut-wrenching.
I haven't, but it's been on my to-read list for years. You've inspired me to get into it sooner :) Thanks so much for sharing, Chris!
This is slightly irrelevant to the video, but how come Oxford did not keep you on to lecture? You are very knowledgeable!
Thank you! Back in the day, I gave a Shakespeare lecture for the Oxford summer school. Perhaps one day I will return :)
I love the idea of kintsugi.its beautiful to me... I had to Google it😊
It's wonderful, isn't it? I love the philosophy of it so much!
I would never identify with any characters from the works of the Marquis de Sade such as "One Hundred and Twenty Days of Sodom" and "Justine." His sadism has had no effect on my romantic life.
That's a relief to hear, Carroll! Same here :) 😂
Emma Bovary
Flaubert is with you on that one! "Madame Bovary, c'est moi!"
Another extraordinary video. Short and meaningful. So thank you for this nutritious insight in your technique of deep reading. I think I always identify with characters in books as much as in film. From teenage on not so much to developing my character or values but to make use of their behaviour their style and language for my own public persona. I’m now onto something else. I wish to discover and integrate my shadow in a Jungian way in my remaining years. So I’m currently looking out for things and people that I dislike, that make me angry and aversive.
In Don Quixote the characters that most I liked were the women actually. I think he painted them very loveable and respectable as a contrast to the rather foolish men. Don Quixote feels to me rather ambivalent. Destructive in his recklessness but also loveable in his sincere wish to help. In his ability to listen and learn. To forgive.
Thank you :) I recorded a podcast this morning and thought about you as it was pertinent to mention shadow-work. The podcast was on Emerson's essay on 'Self-Reliance'. If you haven't already read it, please do. It will fit marvellously into a self-work program. Interesting that you like Cervantes' women - they are great, aren't they? He painted them beautifully and I can tell Miguel was a great lover of women (not in a Don Juan sense). DQ's ability to forgive - I love that you've picked up on that. A truly under appreciated virtue that he thoroughly exemplifies.
@@BenjaminMcEvoy thank you for your recommendation of Emerson. I’ve purchased an audible. And I’m looking forward to listening to your podcast. It’s not yet uploaded, is it?
@@exildoc It is indeed :) open.spotify.com/episode/7g5TA97EqmFtJbB40MCiX5
@@BenjaminMcEvoy thank you, found it 🤩
Why is there Matejko's Stańczyk?
This is my favourite video of yours Ben, thankyou. I recommend the confederacy of duncees by john kenndy Toole. It is a modern classic early 60s highly amusing. Also stoner is a very good read. It is by a different author. Forgot his name. I do love the classics though. Peace Lara.
Thank you so much :) Wonderful recommendations, I really appreciate them! I'm actually rereading Stoner at the moment after a friend insisted, and I can feel a podcast in the works already. Tremendous book!
Great video as always! If you don't mind me asking, who's your favourite character in literature?
Thank you! Tough question - so many to choose from. Sancho Panza, Jean Valjean, Cleopatra, Juliet, Joe from Great Expectations, Queequeg, and Clarissa would all be strong favourites of mine :)
@@BenjaminMcEvoy Juliet is your favourite Shakespeare character?
@@dhanushthimmaiah2108 I have a soft spot for her - but Lear and Cleopatra would be in there too!
Spiderman
🌺🌺🌺