The 20 Greatest Characters of All Time - Reaction

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📖 Book Club Discussion: / who-is-greatest-101291574
Hardcore Literature Lecture Series
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📔Contents Page: cutt.ly/CmNhRY3
🎖️ War and Peace: cutt.ly/U3nzGma
🎭 Shakespeare Project: cutt.ly/B3nxHH7
🐳 Moby Dick: cutt.ly/K3nzVKf
☄️ Blood Meridian: cutt.ly/P3nz6Qp
🍂 Wuthering Heights: cutt.ly/N3nxxYt
🇮🇪 Ulysses: cutt.ly/x3nxQmN
🚂 Anna Karenina: cutt.ly/vmNhAWv
💀 Crime and Punishment: cutt.ly/rmNhFt5
⚓ Persuasion: cutt.ly/amNhX7b
🎠 Don Quixote: cutt.ly/cmNjoK4
🇫🇷 Les Misérables: cutt.ly/J3YixoA
📖 Middlemarch Serial Reading: tinyurl.com/45rv965c
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Timestamps:
0:00 who is the greatest character in literature?
1:40 CHARACTER 20
2:30 character reveals itself in action
3:00 great characters enter the collective awareness
3:40 my current personal reading project
4:10 desiring complex characterisation
4:50 the best characters become real people
5:20 great characters come in pairs
5:50 CHARACTER 19
6:50 Shakespearean inwardness in Austen
7:50 the therapeutic value of literature
9:20 great characters as reflection of self
10:10 learning to appreciate otherness
10:40 CHARACTER 18
11:20 being shy about our favourite characters
12:50 give characters the advice you need
13:30 sympathising with characters in turmoil
15:00 finding comfort in books during heartbreak
16:40 CHARACTER 17
17:20 one of my personal favourite lecture series
18:20 the greatest writers wrestle with evil
20:00 sympathising with the anti-hero
20:50 hubris causes one's fall from grace
21:30 most interesting and influential characters
22:30 CHARACTER 16
23:00 the Myers-Briggs personality types
24:00 changing with world starts with yourself
25:00 disliking characters similar to us
25:30 how reading helps you accept yourself
26:00 CHARACTER 15
26:30 one of my favourite scenes in literature
27:20 family history, fiction, biblical myth
28:00 great characters are aspirational
29:40 CHARACTER 14
30:10 strong writers have pantheons of characters
30:40 perfect book for scriptural reading
31:30 experiencing an epiphany in literature
33:00 the wisdom of near death experiences
34:00 befriending characters in times of war
35:30 the healing power of great literature
36:20 CHARACTER 13
37:00 ego death, rebirth, hero's journey
38:00 vicarious experience and inner quests
38:30 how to create complex anti-heroes
39:20 CHARACTER 12
39:50 reading by candlelight in a power outage
40:30 my love of friendships in literature
41:00 why we love characters who go on journeys
41:50 reading is spending time with old friends
42:20 CHARACTER 11
42:50 archetypal wise guides in literature
43:20 my current reading and walking challenge
44:00 strong people who choose to be loving
45:10 feeling drawn to wise elder characters
46:00: what your favourite characters say about you
47:00 identifying with peripheral characters
48:00 CHARACTER 10
48:50 choosing your madness is creating your reality
49:20 identifying with quixotic characters
49:40 a comic work that restores me
50:30 seeing the world as it ought to be
51:00 CHARACTER 9
51:30 the characters we identify with
52:20 characters who change by talking to each other
52:50 CHARACTER 8
53:20 another powerful creator of characters
54:00 identifying with Dostoevsky's characters
55:00 the comfort of honest inner monologues
56:00 a character who is too real to be fictional
56:30 CHARACTER 7
57:00 the paradox of our personalities
57:30 how we change whilst remaining the same
58:00 characters who stay with us for decades
59:00 CHARACTER 6
59:30 film adaptations that aren't faithful
1:00:00 dividing great characters into two types
1:01:30 deep dive biblical exegetical analysis
1:02:20 CHARACTER 5
1:02:50 one of the most frightening characters
1:03:30 a powerful ending to a great book
1:04:10 CHARACTER 4
1:04:50 you cannot complete your quest alone
1:05:30 courageous characters that comfort us
1:06:50 CHARACTER 3
1:07:30 another intensely aspirational character
1:08:10 a character that transcends his shackles
1:08:50 great characters are all-encompassing
1:10:00 CHARACTER 2
1:10:30 most popular book club read-throughs
1:11:00 a revolutionary character with integrity
1:13:00 how we grow alongside great characters
1:14:20 CHARACTER 1
1:15:00 the most powerful creators of character
1:15:30 a character who has become real
1:16:00 subtext, sympathy, backstory
1:17:30 a character whose thoughts are our thoughts
1:18:00 my ongoing relationship with this work
1:18:30 what book club readers say about this character
1:22:20 my personal top seven favourite characters
1:29:00 an exciting reading season at the book club
1:30:00 who is your personal favourite character?

[@shrineshpatel2642]

"Let me call you back, Benjamin's dropped another video."

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you, Shrinesh! ☺️

[@vickieprieto959]

yes, yes, yes! I laughed so hard when I read your comment because that is indeed always me as well.

[@Flowering_Glume]

Ha ha! Yes! I'm in Arizona fully equipped with a beach towel , wine, heading out for a hot Friday date with myself in my swimming pool under the stars an hour and a half ago standing here asking myself, "Will I pause this, will I listen in the pool?" I put on my glasses, dropped my bag, and got really lost in Benji's bewitchery. He could read the ingredients to a particular marmalade recipe from a woman I dislike, but inadvertently I've made toast, triumphantly even! He could make a root canal sound heroic. Benji, do you write? If not, why not? You have a world of characters that live inside you. I would absolutely love to know if you have characters of your own that you might have developed and store for safe keeping until the perfect adventure possesses you to devise a great story of your own into existence?

[@Roland96351]

Yes, I enjoy hearing Benjamin talk. He brings loving passion to all his videos. I never knew how much I was missing from literature until I started listening to this channel.

[@Mamillius-00]

I love Prince Hamlet because he makes me think of this hypothesis-the more intelligent someone is the more unhappy they tend to be.

[@dangerousdiva6741]

Why? Because they see things as they really are, and the truth is often ugly.

[@thelanes6448]

As I start to watch this instalment, I can’t fail to remember a moment when I was teaching a group of 10-11 year olds. I was probably wittering on about characters etc and one bright button perked up and asked ‘Sherlock Holmes isn’t a real person?’ I confirmed he was a character created by the author. Imagine the classroom - all continued writing their stories containing their excellent characters. Several minutes later - same boy asked ‘Mrs Lane - are you absolutely sure?’ I confirmed and he simply replied ‘Oh’. Sherlock is such a great character, he convinces others he is real! I told the child that Doyle was brilliant at writing characters. It was a beautiful moment - the class started to recognise the importance of a ‘real’ character! 🤪

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Ha, that is such a beautiful story!! I love that!! Your class sounds like so much fun, Tracy ☺️

[@frankbolger3969]

Two more characters to think about: 1) Augustus McRae from Larry McMurtry's Pulitzer Prize winning Western epic "Lonesome Dove," and Christy Mahon from John B. Synge's masterwork "Playboy of the Western World." Gus McRae is an aging ex-Texas Ranger adventuring through the old West while making shrewd an engaging observations about life and all that happens on his arduous cattle drive to Montana. With Christy Mahon it"s all about the wondrous web of language that he casts while introducing us to a host of equall ingratiating folks he encounters in a rural pub.

[@carlpeterson8182]

Edmond's real fight in the Count of Monte Cristo was against revenge. That became such an evil force in him. I love the character because he was so flawed and because Alexandre Dumas used him to show an even better way to live.

[@Roland96351]

He's one of my favorites too. It's like the perfect blend of character development and epic storytelling.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

My favourite is of course Elizabeth Bennet because I too make snap judgements about shy men who are rich.

[@paperkay]

Pathetic.

[@LaJessChelle]

😂

[@dorothysatterfield3699]

Bertie Wooster and Jeeves. Comedy is every bit as important as tragedy, imo.

[@kitjank]

I absolutely adore Jeeves and Wooster! Wodehouse can always make me smile!

[@yoclark2723]

I love the Jeeves books! I'm reading Picadilly Jim right now.

[@thundermorphine]

HELL YES!!!

[@tomtom21194]

I read about jeeves and wooster when I'm unwell, i swear the laughter helps me recover quicker

[@Lee_Hazel]

I have gone whole calendar years reading only Wodehouse books. Bertie would get my vote for greatest character of all time!

[@tammiejo]

I love crime and punishments Razumikhin acting as the superego against Raskolnikov, during my reading I was so charmed and reassured by his steadfastness and loyalty, he is just a lovable character that makes the reader feel that Raskolnikov has someone in his corner despite the very uncomfortable danger he is in

[@joecarter2812]

My favorite character is Atticus Finch. Maybe it is from growing up in the American south, but I've always idolized him and seen him as the character I've most learned from. I've always felt Harper Lee managed to shine a light on both the best and the worst of this area that she and I call home. Atticus is the best of the American south to me, something to aspire to be.

[@joecarter2812]

In addition, if Atticus is the southern character I idolize, then Quentin Compson of Absalom, Absalom and The Sound and the Fury is the one I most identify with. I empathize with his internal struggle between the love of the world he lives in and his extreme dissatisfaction with the ugliness he sees around every corner. He wants to see the good, but is often overwhelmed by the negative. When I get to much in the same mindset, I remember Atticus and the real life Atticus's that have influenced my life and refuse to give into the darkness.

[@rifqah_hanaa4608]

@@joecarter2812 I grew up in and live in the American South and could not agree with you more on Quentin. Currently reading Absalom.

[@katlamb4606]

That's such a great choice!

[@JeffB-SFJ]

Happy to see Samwise so loved. All the people I see experiencing/reacting to him for the first time (via book or film) always say, "I need a Sam in my life" and it's true - we all do. I've decided I want to be the Sam for the most important people in my life, but he's so high up there it seems completely unattainable. Also, as an INTJ, thank you for the INTJ character recommendations.

[@joycehorstmann2634]

I have a cat named Frodo and I just adopted a “best friend” for him, named (of course) Samwise Gamgee.

[@HostileButHonourable]

For me, it's Leopold Bloom.all day every day. Maybe it's because I'm Irish, but no matter how many treacheries, misfortunes, mockeries and brickbats were hurled at him, he akways kept his humanity and just kept going which is a very noble trait. His heroism was very real, very ordinary and very relatable.

[@seanomaille8157]

Totally agree. It's his very ordinariness, I mean who else in literature do we follow into the toilet (something all of us do every day) and are privy(!) to his rambling thoughts as he sits, waits and releases? At the same time he displays a very ordinary heroism and humanity. My favourite moment is in the the pub with the drunken nationalist "Citizen" when the outsider Jew, Mr. Bloom challenges the public house banter: -But it's no use. Force, hatred ,history, all that. That's not life for men and women, insult and hatred. And everybody knows that it's the very opposite of that that is really life. -What? says Alf -Love, says Bloom. I mean the opposite of hatred. Salaam. Shalom. Síocháin

[@captain_cloudd]

It's not because you're irish, I'm brazilian and I definitely agree

[@slatebird]

Complete agreement with you!

[@elsitacacahuete427]

Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye. He is just a pure soul, searching and giving pure affection, in the face of so many traumatic experiences.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Fantastic choice :)

[@MR-rh5ch]

For me it's Anne Shirley

[@curiousma]

Bertie Wooster and Jeeves. Always a delight to escape to their world that never was.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Excellent choices! I love them so dearly :)

[@ZZ-gj2kr]

My weekend has become golden. My mind has become altered with so many secret gardens unlocked. So many books, so many characters, so little time, but one must soldier on. Put on the "Do Not Disturb" sign and start pulling books out of the shelves. Ben's videos are sumptuous, each one a banquet of literary tastes, textures, and pleasures. I'm also looking forward to Ben's feast on The Iliad and his taste test of various translations, Emily Wilson's new translation included. Where I live (Malaysia), English Literature is not widely taught. Then discovered Ben's aptly named channel, and my world changed. Edmond Dantes for me, definitely. I need to catch my breath 😅

[@PatMcAnn]

Scarlett O'Hara. Huckleberry Finn.

[@hwelf11]

What you say about Gandalf reminded me of another favorite character who I think is similar in many ways: Merlin, as portrayed by T H White in The Once and Future King, especially in that "sense of whimsy." For example, to admonish Wart (the young Arthur) for some misbehavior, he threatens him: "You run a grave risk, my boy, of being turned into a piece of bread and toasted."

[@bdidaho9572]

Sherlock Holmes is good, but Hercule Poirot is great. I read all of Christie's Poirot novels, and he FAR exceeds Sherlock as a character, and as a thinker. As far as Hugo, I would vote for the characters in Hunchback, especially Claude Frollo, one of my favorite books and a much more memorable read for me than Les Miserable.

[@ikemeitz5287]

Though he didn't make the list, I'm glad Alyosha was at least mentioned. He is, I think, my favorite. It's often that I run across conflicted and morally gray characters that are relatable, but SO rare that I come across a character that is raw goodness, but in a way that makes me connect. He's desperately good, earnestly, sometimes helplessly good. He's what I hope to be, what I (hoping against hope) think I might be in my very best moments.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Alyosha is such a beautiful soul. I love your appreciation of him :) I really wish we had the sequel to The Brothers Karamazov that Dostoevsky was planning. It would have been wonderful to continue the story with this incredible character!

[@Fakaza850]

Charles Dickens wrote one dynamic, Complex and redeeming character and I believe he's the most underrated greatest character cuz the 20 mentioned here are often quoted a lot... Sydney Carton his name....The best Dickens ever created in my opinion....

[@alidabaxter5849]

Oh I adore him

[@shikhasharma8831]

I missed you, Benjamin. I was just listening to your podcast yesterday on The Prophet by Gibran and then bought that book, read it and listened to your podcast again and it all made sense. Everything you do, you must know, is valued by many ❤

[@jefflelek254]

Some of my favorites not mentioned too much yet: Hazel in Watership Down Smiley in LeCarre’s spy novels Marcel in In Search of Lost Time Yossarian in Catch-22

[@sqttttt]

This has to be one of my favorite youtube videos ever & I can listen to you talk for hours! I am nearing the end of The Brothers Karamazov and have to say that I see parts myself in every one of the brothers. I love them all.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Aw, thank you so much! I really appreciate that :) I feel the same way about the Karamazov brothers. Dostoevsky really showed his genius with them!

[@D_Ipsa_Loquitur]

You have taught me how great literature reveals me to myself in the way that I react to characters, books, and authors. When I read now, which is all the time, I read with that question in mind: “what is my reaction telling me about myself?” Following along in the book club and feasting on the lectures has been transformative. Listening to you empathize with the pain some of your readers express is therapeutic to me, and brings about a kind of healing in my soul. With gratitude.

[@brentwilliamson8642]

I've been in the club for two years now. I had never taken the Meyer-Briggs but I am an INTJ-T. I love this list so much. Since I have started reading with the club, my favorite characters are: Pierre - W&P Ivan - BK Edmond - ComC Samuel - EoE Non Club Books: Tyrion Lannister - ASoIaF Atticus Finch - TKaM Roland Deschain - Dark Tower Humbert Humbert - Lolita Santiago - OMatS Tom Rilpley - Talented Mr. Ripley Celie - Color Purple Dumbledore - HP

[@susanburgess820]

Agatha Christie's ms marple and the detective with the best mustache ever, Mr poirot❤

[@elishevabarenbaum5319]

Tess, a well-intentioned innocent, entangled and ultimately trapped by all those who projected their own needs and desires on to her. All the while, the mores of her time only served to enmesh her in a hopeless situation.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Powerful choice and perfectly put!

[@groofay]

I know it's a bit out of this channel's wheelhouse, but Sir Terry Pratchett's Death deserves to be in the running for this list. The empathy Pratchett demonstrates through his characterization of Death itself is staggering.

[@joannemoore3976]

DEATH is an absolutely brilliant and surprisingly compassionate character

[@jannetteberends8730]

My first reaction was: Granny Weatherwax. She is my role model.

[@joannemoore3976]

Oh my goodness how could I forget Granny Weatherwax, she is brilliant. I have 3 daughters and we used to joke that my middle was a bit like Magrat, my eldest is like Nanny Ogg (fully capable of a rendition of The Hedgehog can never be b**gered at all) and my youngest is Granny Weatherax... it the 'look' she can give 😅

[@KarenSDR]

Death's conversation about fantasty with Susan in Hogfather is some of Pratchett's very finest writing: the part that begins with "People need fantasty to be human, to be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape," and ends with "You have to believe in things that don't exist [like justice and mercy]...How else can they become?" I've often said that I consider Pratchett to have been a modern prophet, in the sense of someone who speaks truth to power, and that passage is a prime example.

[@joannemoore3976]

@@KarenSDR Yes, a brilliant passage (I think the Hogfather is one of my favourites). Just before, Death insists they have to save the Hogfather or the sun won't rise, a mere ball of gas will come up (paraphrasing). He encapsulates our need for meaning in a few simple words.

[@ssager2012]

Ben, you make reading not only fun but life-changing. Thank you for all you do. Eternally grateful that you have re-awoken my love of reading 📖

[@barbjs2000]

Atticus Finch. The father I always wanted to

[@katlamb4606]

😢 don't hurt me like that. To Kill a Mockingbird was the first novel I read. I have such high respect and love for Atticus omg!!!

[@joannemoore3976]

My favourite character in my favourite book (within a host of much loved characters) is Faramir in LOTR - he seems like practically the perfect man to me. In Shakespeare, I really like Beatrice from Much Ado, she is funny, witty, loyal and fierce. I have always found Henry V compelling and charismatic if not entirely likeable.

[@Cath38639]

I connected strongly with Esther from Bleak House and Marya from War & Peace. The bookclub member comments that were read were so wonderful! I am very motivated now to read Middlemarch and Paradise Lost.

[@stephenmyers6190]

So many! I’m gonna say Dorthea Brooke from ‘Middlemarch.’

[@jamessgian7691]

Tie between YHWH and Jesus, but if we don’t count God, here we go- Hamlet, Jean Valjean, Don Quixote, Scrooge, Godric, Sherlock, Alyosha Karamazov, King Lear, Ahab, Hester Prynne, Elizabeth Bennett, Gandalf, Falstaff, Oedipus, Ulysses, Willie Loman, Blanche DuBois, Mrs. Dalloway, Jane Eyre, and Winnie ther Pooh. But now I’ve thought of scores more…ugh! Wow! I really wasn’t expecting Jesus to be mentioned here at all when I wrote the above. Pleasantly surprised. And oh, so many more have come to mind as I edit this. Thank you for the stroll down this boulevard where so many my friends live.

[@donnagartshore9345]

An awesome video that makes me want to dive more deeply into my favourites, as well as explore the books and characters I've never experienced. Ben, you are without doubt one the best "booktubers" on here. You combine intellect, heart and compassion, and express your thoughts to teach us in such a relatable way. Thank you!

[@TheMisterGriswold]

Personal favorite is Jack Aubrey, and his surgeon, Stephen Maturin. Characters of tremendous integrity and honor. Inspirational.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Absolutely fantastic choices!!

[@janmariolle]

Two of my very favorites as well!❤

[@fragwagon]

As an O'Brian fanatic, I agree with all my heart.

[@vickieprieto959]

Loved this thoughtful and as always insightful compilation and analysis of the comments, while bringing in your own wealth of knowlege as well as that of so many literary critics. Thank you, Ben! And thanks, bookclub!

[@PabloRuiz-xo6zn]

The greatest character in all of literature? Don Quijote de la Mancha! His supposed "insanity," his pathos, his humanity, his stubbornness, his courage, his weirdnesses and obsessions make him such a compelling, three-dimensional character. Many, many, many, MANY novels in the West since the 1620s, written in all the major and minor European languages, and starting in the 20th century around the world, were inspired or copied after this character. It's quite comical, how Don Quijote has made such an immense mark on global literature for the past 400 years. Which is ironic in itself.

[@AndrewMarloweTV]

Definitely recomend the 1980 East of Eden production with Jane Seymour. Its as long as the book, and delves greatly into all the characters. Its avaialble on dvd on amazon

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Fantastic recommendation, Andrew! I actually got hold of it on DVD very recently and completely agree! Excellent adaptation :) It will be interesting to see what the upcoming Netflix series is going to be like.

[@AndrewMarloweTV]

@@BenjaminMcEvoy so glad you've seen it! You mentioned the james dean version so I was thinking Ben needs to watch the jane seymour version! To me it is most similar to the book, and her depiction of Cathy is breathtakingly chilling

[@jotaig8735]

Hi Ben, thank you for another great lecture!! One of my favourite character(s) are East Lynne's lady Isabel Mount Severn and Archibald Carlyle by Mrs Henry (Ellen) Wood.

[@christaberit]

You should do a list of underrated characters. Characters who have a big impact or who narrate famous stories that are looked over. Nick from The Great Gatsby is overshadowed byGatsby himself but he is the one who we follow and he has the most character growth.

[@JuneTurner-dt4fb]

I am going to watch the video, but before I do I will write down the literary characters that immediately come to mind. Just brainstorming, I would say: Lizzie Bennet, Heathcliff, Bertie Wooster, Jeeves, Mr Micawber, Sherlock Holmes, Gandalf, Tom (from Tom Jones), Lord Henry (from Dorian Gray), Marvin (from Hitchhiker's Guide), and Grimes (from Evelyn Waugh's Decline and Fall). I'll be interested to see how many are in the video.

[@Manfred-nj8vz]

Very interesting and nice indeed. A personal favourite character would be Alexis Zorbas. Have you ever thought to make a video about Nikos Kazantzakis? Except Alexis Zorbas (the title of the novel is actually «The Life and Times of Alexis Zorbas») as you know Kazantzakis wrote at least two other great novels: «Christ Recrucified» and «The Last Temptation». It would be very nice indeed to see your Kazantzakis's discussion / recommendation in the future.

[@olgamaalen]

This came at a perfect time, since I just began reading Tolstoy, and was immediately fascinated by how well he constructs his characters.

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

I find Tolstoy's character construction fascinating too! He's an absolute master of it :)

[@bobdenmore]

Aunt Betsey Trotwood in David Copperfield. In her own way, she shows the orphanned Davy what love means.

[@DiscipleDojo]

My honorable mentions: The Un-Man (Perelandra) Bigwig (Watership Down) Blackthorne (Shogun) Hyoi (Out of the Silent Planet)

[@Missa_and_Catula]

Yes , Bigwig!!

[@stephenglasse2743]

Bigwig is a LEGEND!

[@susanrobertson984]

Thlaly!

[@stephenglasse2743]

@@susanrobertson984 I called MY rabbit Thlayli. I wanted to call him Bigwig but he didn't he have a big wig so I went for Thlayli instead.

[@susanrobertson984]

@@stephenglasse2743 awesome!!!

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

The greatest character of all time for me will always be John Milton's Satan. No other character has made me feel what that one has, and he laid the template for all the renegade antiheroes that followed. Heckin' legendary stuff.

[@wildmanz8233]

Ain't gonna lie: I cried out CONAN THE BARBARIAN when I read the title...I know it's pulp...but I can't help loving it! ⚔

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Awesome choice!! I love a great deal of pulp fiction myself :)

[@mikedl1105]

Jean Valjean. Or maybe the bishop

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

I love them both dearly :)

[@kenjiparas]

Never clicked this fast! Thank you for a birthday treat sir ben! ❤️

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Happy birthday, my friend!! I hope you've had a great one! 🥳 ❤️

[@shoegal]

Happy birthday 🎂

[@katlamb4606]

Happy belated birthday!!🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤

[@MikeFuller-ok6ok]

I like the horse 'Black Beauty'. Lol! But seriously though.

[@fragwagon]

My favorite book from childhood. I started re-reading it at my sister's house, and it's so well done!

[@MikeFuller-ok6ok]

@@fragwagon Thanks for the reply, fragwagon! Lovely to know that someone else gets so much pleasure from the book! Have a Great Weekend!

[@h.calvert3165]

There is a beautiful character there. Who cares about numbers of legs? 🐎

[@MikeFuller-ok6ok]

@@h.calvert3165 Lol! Very true, and Ginger and Duchess.

[@johnsilver8059]

Shakespeare’s Richard III Long John Silver Dickens’ Mr. Bucket (of the Detective) Faulkner’s Ned McCaslin William Gibson’s Turner from Count Zero Darryl Ponicsan’s SM1 Billy Buddusky.

[@michaelkfoury9467]

My reading journey was jump started by Edmund Dantes, but as the years passed I've fallen in love with Rhett Butler (Gone With The Wind), Hank Morgan (Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court), Marc Antony (Antony and Cleopatra) Jim Casy (Grapes of Wrath), and Randle McMurphy (One Flew Over The Cukoo's Nest).

[@jacquelinefaulknall8513]

Marian Halcombe in Wilkie Collins “ The Woman in White” is an original and resourceful female character. Also, Count Fosco in the same book, is an incredibly compelling and creepy villain.

[@alidabaxter5849]

I so agree - I prefer Wilkie Collins to Dickens.

[@eddielew2292]

Cathrine Sloper from Henry James’ “Washington Square.” Her father murdered her soul with his hatred for her, but at the end of the story, she makes her peace with life. It’s a sad ending, but for her, a liberating one.

[@Calcprof]

"The reason Milton wrote in fetters when he wrote of Angels & God, and at liberty when of Devils & Hell, is because he was a true Poet and of the Devil's party without knowing it." William Blake. One of my favorite things about Don Quixote is how nearly everyone in Part II has read Part I, and comments on it. For great characters, I would vote for Hazel Motes from Flannery O'Conner's Wise Blood

[@KeithC77-ux8vv]

Paul Morel from Sons And Lovers. Book breaks my heart every time I read it …

[@AnastasisKottos-nr7th]

What a great video. For me is Meursault from Camu’s stranger

[@signdigger]

My all time top three are Sydney Carton, Exupery's little prince, and a more modern one, Aslan from Lewis's Narnia books. Carton because of his sacrifice for Darnay and the gentleness of his spirit, even after all his drunkenness. Honestly the last chapter of A Tale made me cry something terrible. Still love the Third Timbrel illustration. The little prince because he taught me to look with my heart and not my eyes. He also showed me that even after all that the rose had chided him with he still loved her. And his approach on death. He wasn't afraid to die, I hope I'll live to see it the same way. Aslan for obvious reasons. He taught me the humanity of myself and that only he can tell me my story. Honorable mentions are Gandalf, Don Quixote, and Judy from Seven Little Australians. Just to name the extreme few. There's a ton of characters I love. Thanks Ben for another amazing vid. Love the content and love to see people still talking about the great books! 🤗❤

[@lcako1616]

I really love Artemis Fowl. Maybe its because I was born in Ireland but his character development is actually quite amazing. Especially for essentially a kids book. Everyone else I love has already been mentioned in other comments but I'm yet to see my favourite child genius acknowledged.

[@rifqah_hanaa4608]

Loved the discussion on the importance of peripheral characters; one of my all-time favorites is Fluellen from Henry V. Ian Holm's portrayal of him in Branagh's film brings me to tears every time. I must thank you Ben for another terrific video that sends me diving back into my books. I tend to read more non-fiction than fiction, and also have other hobbies I'm passionate about that take up time; sometimes my poor novels languish on my shelves. But then you and the book club members inspire me, and I dive back in! Picking up Ulysses and Absalom, Absalom! this weekend to relish.

[@patrickkelley8079]

Huckleberry Finn. He was a favorite when I was young and I can read it as an old man and grow more respectful of his journey now more than ever.

[@nicholasschroeder3678]

On my last read for a college paper, I was really struck by the trauma and tragedy in Huck's life. I think the book is even darker than people remember it being.

[@ivanyankovskiorkafka9083]

Now this conversation is iconic)

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you, my friend :)

[@lizzy-wx4rx]

As a huge Austen fan, it's nice to hear her characters got so many votes, and I was surprised by #1 but on reflection--of course! Perfect choice. But I was disappointed that Dickens' characters didn't get more love. I can think of 3 or 4 from David Copperfield alone that would make my list.

[@tmtb80]

K. Levin has my heart. Peripheral character: i recently watched Bleak House, and Sir Leicester Dedlock was such a heartbreak.

[@captain_cloudd]

Great video as always. It's always fun to see typology mentioned, if you're interested in getting deeper into it, I highly recommend Socionics, particularly Gulenko's school. Give his description of Harmonizing subtype of the IEI (which is like INFJ and INFP) a read and I'm 100% sure you'll relate to it a lot (he uses Manilov from Dead Souls as an example of that type).

[@missionrd100]

James Bond, Sherlock Holmes, Philip Marlowe, and Larry Darrell from "The Razor's Edge".

[@anduril1074]

I think that Dolochow from "war and peace" is often overlooked, when it comes to great character writing. Is he psychotic, evil and narcissistic? Maybe, but he doesn't lack courage, which was made quite obvious in the chapter were he infiltrates a french camp in the war. And the fact, that he just wants to be loved and would do anything, for a woman that cares for him gives his whole dark character a bittersweet touch. Of course him caring for his disabled sister and single mother shows, that he is not pure evil. Through him I learned, that even people with the best of intentions and kindest hearts, can get broken, when a love is absent.

[@strelnikoff1632]

I haven't checked in for a while. This is one of your best IMO

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much, my friend. I really appreciate that :)

[@meg1234]

Loved this video! My personal favourites are Tolstoy’s Pierre, Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Woolf’s Orlando, all of whom somewhat go against the norms/rebel against what’s expected of them and aren’t afraid to embark upon their own journeys of self discovery and growth. As always, thank you for your content. You’ve enabled me to reignite my love for literature and to approach reading in a new and ever more fulfilling ways. 🩶

[@brendanward2991]

I love your personal list, Benjamin. Leopold Bloom is my favourite. Among less well known characters, I have fond memories of Phileas Fogg and Jim Hawkins.

[@mrp4242]

+1 for Phileas Fogg

[@baconnyt]

I really love the narrator of In Search of Lost Time. I find his sentimentality to be much needed. His conclusions on the world are, in my opinion, high pieces of wisdom. His search for meaning in a world where everything is passing along is very touching. The whole cast as well is very powerful, and I find them to be extensions of the narrator, due to us only getting glimpses of them in his perception.

[@samaafaiz6523]

As usual, informative feedback about aslew of character and the function of each to identify their strengthness as well as weakness at different part of written books , Iam looking forward to further review including your opinion about them

[@DarrenRosenow]

Thank you for being authentic and genuine in your videos; especially revealing your vulnerabilities. You're very well spoken, reflecting your literary journey.

[@07arijitmukherjee80]

I was waiting for this type of video for soo long

[@lutascosmin]

Always looking forward to your videos,cheers from Romania

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Thank you so much! I appreciate you watching over in beautiful Romania! 🇷🇴☺️

[@NeonRadarMusic]

My personal favourites are: Ishmael from Moby Dick (he's such a nerd, and so am I) Grete from the Metamorphosis (I really feel the book is entirely about her) Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's (not the most likeable character by any means but I've met a few people like her and she felt too real to ignore) EDIT: And, of course, Albus Dumbledore!

[@giodido]

Cosimo Piovasco di Rondò (the Italo Calvino’s Baron in the Trees), Bartleby (Melville), Henry Jekyll (Stevenson). Grazie mille for your great contents, Benjamin! Dear greetings from a new enthusiastic italian subscriber.

[@aerden2]

My answer: Severus Snape. Most fascinating, complex, deeply layered character ever.

[@shoegal]

Lee in East of Eden ❤❤❤

[@lisatobin6390]

Love this! I did miss Huck Finn though---that kid needs on the list.

[@xenopixel8877]

For me it's Yossarian from Catch-22

[@EverymanPondering]

Milton’s description of Satan’s self-love creating sin and then their offspring death is absolutely brilliant! I feel like it’s a big shift in the way you view Satan in the story.

[@EverymanPondering]

I also commented mid watch and wanted to comment on most characters. Such a good list!

[@bragehaavik6107]

I have recently gotten back into reading again, and your videos really inspired me to get into 'deep' literature and re-sparked a joy for fiction, so thank you Benjamin! Although I haven't read too much, my favourite characters so far are probably Franny from Franny & Zooey, Alyosha from TBK, Sonya from C&P, Arturo Bandini from John Fante's quaternity, and Mick Kelly from The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by McCullers :)))

[@vickiejandron620]

Oh, I love so many of the characters mentioned. Two unforgettable characters that come to mind for me are Frankenstein and Godzilla, both examples of what goes wrong when man tries to be God. Wonderful video, thanks. Oh, and Jo from Little Women. I so identify with her.

[@jotaig8735]

Hi Ben, thank you for another great lecture!! One of my favourite character(s) are Lady Isabel Mount Severn and Archibald Carlyle from East Lynne by Mrs Henry (Ellen) Wood.

[@Zenocrate]

When I'm not reading, or walking whilst reading/thinking about books, I know nothing better than your videos. Thank you so much for guiding me to new books - and thus novel ways of perceiving the world - and enriching the old books when I return to familiar but never exhausted pages. I would have voted for Gandalf, Satan, Iago and Jane Eyre but there are personages mentioned here that I want in my life henceforth...

[@miker3701]

Haulden Caulfield from The Cathcher in The Rye Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird and ofcourse, Long John Silver

[@des.esseintes]

Hello, I have loved all your videos and was wondering if you would ever talk about Musil's the man without qualities. As the Austrian Equivalent to ulysses and Remembrance of things past I think it would make a greta video. Love your work!

[@markdavidofficial4274]

Everyone relates to Pierre, but Andrei was the true embodiment of what I’d wish to become. His death literally made me put the book down and stare at a wall for a few minutes

[@NovelFindsByKassi]

Loved listening to this great video while doing some early Saturday morning work. There are some really great examples of good characters in here. It's SO hard to think which one is mine. I liked Piranesi from Susannah Clark's novel, Bambi from Felix Salten, but also The Count from The Count of Monte Cristo and Theresa from Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being. Levin was a great pick; one I wouldn't have thought of yet it's so obvious! I also loved that people picked Scarlet O'hara. I'm one of those who identifies with her survival instinct through all the harsh times she goes through. I'm a newer subscriber of yours and I'm looking forward to getting to know you better! Keep it up! : )

[@ololwtf]

Alyosha from TBK and Zorba from Zorba the Greek for me

[@prashantbhawalkar9267]

Other great characters that come to mind, for me, include the fool in King Lear, Thersites in Troilus and Cressida, Ivan Karamazov, Achilles in the Iliad, Clea in The Alexandria Quartet, and Dora Greenfield in The Bell by Iris Murdoch.

[@Ripleycat]

Mr. Darcy: misunderstood, principled and finally humble.

[@t.m.4864]

When I met Levin, I liked him very much. When he said, “…right then. I’ll throw him out.”, I knew it was love. Other literary loves: -The speaker in Hardy’s ‘The Voice’ poem. -Adam in Paradise Lost when he says that if prayers could alter high decrees he would fly to heaven and beg before the throne of God. -Dorian Gray. -Gandalf. Aragorn. The Ents… -Severus Snape. I will die on that mountain. -The speaker in Yeats’ ‘The Lake Isle of Innisfree’ Literary polygamy & the avid reader are an inescapable fact. 😅

[@claudiadietrich1745]

Brilliant video! I loved hearing the comments from your followers - great insights! My favorite is Jane Eyre.

[@bad-xtian7773]

To me I feel myself relating to Holden Caulfield and Jo March. I'd also include Janie Crawford, Van Helsing and Woland in my favorites

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Incredible list!

[@ileanaaaaa]

As an INFP myself, I think I have to go with Levin as my favourite character 😆🙌, but I also love characters from the world of Austen and Tolstoy in general. They're my absolute favourites!

[@floriandiazpesantes573]

Good to see you here again, dear Benjamin!

[@InvaderSyd]

Kaoru from the Tale of Genji! Such depth and his motivations are extremely relatable for me. Also his first lover Oigimi

[@Kuzglamdring]

Quite becoming stubble! I've never actually thought about my favorite characters. If I have to choose from Shakespeare: Richard II (how I love this play and his reflections) and Lady Macbeth. Scarlett O'Hara - is definitely my "girl, who lived" and survived. Then I immediately think about Tyrion Lannister and Satan (from Paradise Lost)

[@janebowell3985]

So first we had sliced bread and then we had Benjamin and The Hardcore Literature Club🎉 with so many different views from the many members who all share a strong love of great literature. Thank you for another fabulous lecture. 🎉

[@BenjaminMcEvoy]

Aw, thank you so much, Jane. I really appreciate you ☺️🙏

[@Flowering_Glume]

Love you for this! Super sweet.