***
So, we’re
talking strong female characters, something that is near and dear to me. I will
admit that I’ve put books aside when the main character comes across as too
passive or weak. I don’t enjoy reading about someone who sits around waiting
for someone else to save them, or who only manages to accomplish everything due
to sheer dumb luck (something I sometimes call TDTSS: ‘too dumb to survive
syndrome’—it’s deadly for a character!).
What makes a
character, especially a female character, strong then? Well, honestly, I think
that can vary a whole lot depending on the book and setting. There are some
awesome examples of leading ladies who are completely capable of leading a
revolution, fighting the enemy tooth and nail, and otherwise being strong
physically and mentally.
But that’s not
the only kind of strength.
Sometimes strength
comes in the form of relying on other people, and I don’t have a problem with a
character needing to do that (just maybe not all the time). Other times,
strength comes in the form of kindness and forgiveness, especially when there’s
been some serious harm done. And there are plenty of other ways to demonstrate
strength without a gun/sword/ninja skills/fists of steel.
What I’m trying
to say is that strength comes in many forms. We are rather familiar with the
“kick butt and take names” form that we often see, but it’s not all that there
is to strength. In order to form a really well balanced character, I think it’s
important to have express strength in a variety of forms. It lends humanity and
makes the character identifiable for the reader, which is definitely something
that you want. This is definitely something that I worked toward with Leah, the
main character in An Absence of Light: while she’s able to kill the Shadows
with the best of them, and has a brain to figure out new methods, she also has
the strength to be flexible when she needs to. And oh does she need to in
Absence! For me, that’s one of my favorite things about Leah and what I hope my
readers enjoy, too!
What about you? What makes a character
strong? Ever come across TDTSS?
Inner strength- strength of character and integrity are big for me in that regard.
ReplyDeleteStrong heroines as in emotionally strong are huge deal for me. I don't want to read about a needy heroine...who just needs to be loved.
ReplyDeleteI think it's all about the journey. Katniss from Hunger Games comes to mind immediately...not just her strength from the start of the book, but the way she grew over the course of the first book. (I think the strongest story was the first book.)
ReplyDeleteI love strong female characters. I usually see it in TV shows and movies, but also in books, but I hate it when women just sit or lie around watching a fight and waiting for the man to save them.
ReplyDeleteLove this. Yes, some characters struggle to ask for help. They see it as a sign of weakness. When they finally do ask for help, it's anything but a weakness. It's a show of inner strength and growth.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Meradeth!