I don't mean sexy rogues. Han Solo is cocky and--at least initially--mercenary, but he's always likable. I mean the kind of guys who treat others badly, who make us want to punch them in the face. The kind of guys our sweet boys should just kick to the curb.
I suppose that in many genres, protagonists who are less-than-endearing are not only acceptable, but even expected. But I write romance. By definition, my protagonists fall in love. Doesn't that mean they should be lovable?Well, sometimes. I mean, Colby in The Tin Box, he's capital-a Adorable. And what about perky Nicky from Housekeeping or sweet Goran from Pilgrimage? It's hard not to like them.
But my muse is a difficult bitch. People say that romance novel protagonists have to be handsome, so my muse gave me big, ugly Brute. And if protagonists are also supposed to be sweet--or at least broodingly appealing--my muse occasionally throws me an asshole.
For instance, there's Berhanu in Guarded. Volos is loyal and good and brave, but Berhanu treats him like shit. Even after Volos nearly dies to save him, Berhanu doesn't seem to appreciate him. I know a lot of readers were pissed off with Berhanu. Heck, so was I! Another example of a character who's not very sympathetic, at least at first, is William in The Tin Box. He's infuriatingly uptight and he's borderline rude to cute Colby. I didn't like him much as I began to write him, even though I knew why he acted like he did, and I knew he was going to change.
I hope that by the end of the story, it's clear why Berhanu acted like he did, and I hope he redeems himself. I hope that readers fall in love with William as they get to know him, just as I did. I hope that folks agree with me that even heroes sometimes act like pricks, and that even dickheads can improve.
What are your thoughts on main characters who act like dicks?
Well I can be a little unforgiving if the charachter is an asshat and doesn't redeem himself to me. I liked William and understood why he was the way he was, so I didn't really see him as a big score on the jerk-o-meter.
ReplyDeleteBut I just got (friendly) called out on GR by an author on her blog post cause I was not forgiving of one of her MCs. He was a big fat O for me and I said so, to be fair his reasons were not explained in the short and he didn't redeem himself at the end either, so I was unhappy that the other great guy was stuck with him. Lol
So, I guess I like jerks if they grovel and make up big time for being asshats.
If the jerk has a good reason for being one or if he begins to change for the better I can accept it. I do, however, wonder why the love interest wants the jerk. I did wonder about Volos for a while since Berhanu was so much of a jackhole at times, especially in the beginning but he does change for the better.
ReplyDeleteI'm less forgiving of the jerks who remain so throughout the story.
I feel pretty much the same way jana-denardo does about jerks as MCs! I don't really have anything to add to it.
ReplyDeleteI liked how William developed in The Tin Box. I am not far along in Guarded yet so I have yet to form much of an opinion on Berhanu.
Even jerks deserve love and at least a HFN. At least that's what I tell myself as I grumble and curse at him while reading. LOL
ReplyDeleteI think many of us like flawed characters because they’re human and more real. But I prefer both characters to have some degree of likability. When they don’t, I put them into two categories: a basically decent guy who acts like a jerk or a guy who has an asshole personality. If it’s just a matter of bad behavior, I’m more forgiving if his behavior is explained. With the severe personality flaw, I need to see at least a little growth by the end of the book. If neither happens, the book leaves me feeling unsatisfied and unhappy. That’s not how I want to feel when I get to the end of a romance.