I thought it would be interesting to see how people feel about the characters, places, and situations our favorite (or our favorite to hate) characters. – Melanie Schertz
Well, as I wandered my way through Always Austen’s little corner of the blogosphere, I had my attention grabbed by Melanie Schertz’s arresting questionnaire about Our Favorite Characters. I am a sucker for question-and-answer pieces because . . . well, you can read my reasons on the title graphic. I have a nicely finished and illustrated post on my recent favorite topic, mudlarking. While I know mudlarking is an area of abiding passion for many of you, you’ll just have to wait. I’m going to have a good time with Melanie’s questions. So here we go with:
My Opinions on Many of Melanie’s Questions:
Melanie: Darcy…sulking around and aloof or comes to the realization early
I prefer my Darcy to be ardently in love from the very first. I’ll allow him to sulk through that first Assembly, but he’d jolly well better come up to scratch shortly thereafter.
Melanie: Elizabeth… taking a moment to learn about Darcy or being unforgiving early on
Elizabeth gets a little more leeway, but not much. I like to give her credit for recognizing a good thing when it walks up and insults her.
Melanie: Colonel Fitzwilliam… Named Richard or something else
I’m a card-carrying member of the “Jane really didn’t like the name “Richard. If you need more convincing, look at the “plain old Dick Musgrove” allusion in “Persuasion” team. But: He’s been Richard for so long that many people, both authors and readers, believe the name is canon. I allow myself to be dragged along, kicking and screaming.
Melanie: Colonel Fitzwilliam… good guy who is caring or a cad who is distrustful or chip on his shoulder over being a second son
This, and many of the characters listed below, are what I would call “author’s choice.” Make of them what you wish. As Ree Drummond would say, “Whatever makes your skirt fly up.”
Melanie: Charles Bingley… good guy or bad guy or idiot
Again, a great opportunity to do just as you please. I like him as a loveable good guy/idiot who is able to learn and improve.
Melanie: Mrs. Bennet… good mom who is flighty or cruel and despicable mother you wouldn’t wish caring for a dead dog
As with Charles, I like to see Mama given a chance to learn and grow. But she does make an awfully good villain. Really.
Melanie: Caroline Bingley… shrew or redeemable
Aha! On this one, I come down as favoring the total shrew. In my opinion (ahem) there’s nothing like a humiliating Caroline set-down, the harder the better. However, I always await the talented author who will prove me wrong.
Melanie: Lady Anne and elder Mr. Darcy… deceased or alive
As you like it. Many possibilities both ways. And there’s always the paranormal delight of seeing them come back to meddle in the affairs of their son.
Melanie: Anne de Bourgh… Lydia Bennet… Georgiana Darcy… Mr Bennet… Colonel Fitzwilliam’s parents… Jane Bennet… Mr Collins…
I’ve grouped these characters together. Again, whatever floats your boat—or floats your plot along.
Melanie: Story set in England or elsewhere
I marvel at the inventiveness and creativity of authors who can set their stories anywhere, from India, to Depression-era USA, to another planet. I humbly stick to Prosaic Olde England. Same goes for:
Melanie: Story set in different timeline or in 1812 timeframe
I’m overcome with one that was set on the planet Trantor in the year 2525 or thereabouts. But then I’m a fan of Isaac Asimov, too. And when it comes to time travel, well I have but one word: “Outlander.” It’s lovely if you can pull it off, and the “Nine Ladies” of Heather Moll did just that! Then there’s always Don Jacobson’s “Bennet Wardrobe” series.
Melanie: Elizabeth a Bennet or the child of another
Here again, the green-eyed Envy raises her ugly head. I can’t manage it, but there are a few really, really good ones Out There that have managed it to perfection.
Melanie: Long drawn out courtship or quick know they love and take on the enemies together
My favorite stories are those where they realize early that they’re in love and proceed to fight the dragons/bad guys/elements/Fates together.
Melanie: Mr Darcy or Elizabeth have been married previously and have children or theirs is a one and only love
One and only love for me!
Melanie: What level out of a score of steamy do you like? 1- 10, with 1 being absolutely no steam and everything chaste or 10 full board steam
If the steam (or smut as I like to call it) is well written, I can usually enjoy whatever the author decides to write. If an author isn’t comfortable with that, I’m just as happy with a tiptoe past the bedroom door—which can remain closed.
Melanie: Sweet and low angst or roller coaster of angsts that run all over the place
Some books are written with so much angst coming on so thick and fast that I envision Our Favorite Characters with KICK ME signs in the appropriate spots. There’s such a thing as Too Much Angst. “Roller coaster of angsts that run all over the place” is a very descriptive way of putting it.
Melanie: This is the big one… Colin or Matthew? Or one of the other others who played Darcy
Colin—first, last, and always…
I owe a huge thank you to Melanie for tolerating my playing in her excellent blog post. So much more fun than slogging around in the mud of Old Father Thames. Just so you understand, it has rained every day in May here, and the temperature hasn’t gotten out of the sixties yet. I was entitled to a diversion! Melanie has a new book coming out soon, and I understand it’s dark without being a rollercoaster of angst. Watch for her excerpts posted here.
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