The clash of the anti-heroes...

[PoeticPassions]

Ok so I figured there were all these polls on Romantic heroes and on male characters that are the most desirable... but I think that along the way we have forgotten the anti-heroes of books, plays, stories, etc. Those men that fall from grace, or never were moral (by societal standards), or the ones that fall into delirium... murder old ladies and then are driven mad... or well, men that are far from perfect, but oh so intriguing.

So who wins in this type of battle? Or better yet, who would you most like to spend a day with?

Macbeth (need I say it?)
Alex (A Clockwork Orange)
Yossarian (Catch 22)
Tyler Durden (Fight Club)
Raskolnikov (Crime and Punishment)
Satan (Paradise Lost)
Humbert Humbert (Lolita)
Victor Frankenstein (oh how could he create the monster and then cast him out!)

[PoeticPassions]

very well put, joseph... they are the lost men... but perhaps you could gain something from them in one day spent together. Or go mad along with them . Yossarian might just be less isolated, and Satan might spurn you on to revolution.. while Tyler Durden might at least be an interesting guy to talk to...

though I chose Raskolnikov. Who knows why... heh

[Lokasenna]

I think I should enjoy Satan's company, particularly as a dinner guest... just so long as we didn't talk politics!

[kelby_lake]

It'd be nice to have some intelligent conversation, and I quite liked Humbert. Luckily he wouldn't be any threat to me.

Maybe we'd invite Raskolnikov around for tea.

[Emil Miller]

I voted for Humbert but on reflection I decided that I wouldn't like to spend a day with him.
Now, Lolita, well............???

[subterranean]

Durden? An anti-hero? O c'mon, he's the enlightened self, or at least. he brought the self to realize who he really is. Otherwise, he would still have measured himself with some sets of Swedish furniture.

[Behemoth]

First off, what a brilliant question!
My first impulse was to go with Raskolnikov but, to quote Joseph90ie, I think I could only appreciate him "from a distance", and he probably wouldn't be up to the sort of conversation you could have over lunch. Satan, on the other hand, with his powerful rhetorical skills....

Wow. Check out the complete lack of logic in that sentence ...

[Wilde woman]

Hmmm, I had a hard time choosing between Yossarian, Raskolnikov, and Humbert Humbert. But I eventually went with Yossarian because I love a man in uniform.

Plus, Raskolnikov might get it in his head to come after me with an axe and Humbert Humbert is...well...a pedophile, albeit a brilliant one.

[PoeticPassions]

Durden? An anti-hero? O c'mon, he's the enlightened self, or at least. he brought the self to realize who he really is. Otherwise, he would still have measured himself with some sets of Swedish furniture.

well he is brilliant in his own way... but as far as literature goes and characters, he would be considered as an anti-hero... and a spectacular one at that. He is flawed... and that's what makes him more interesting

[PoeticPassions]

Oh I should have thrown in Dorian Gray... ay...

[PoeticPassions]

lol, true Brian, very true. We're all humbugs, I mean Humberts in that respect!!

She was only 12 when Humbert met her... goodness, you men...

[subterranean]

well he is brilliant in his own way... but as far as literature goes and characters, he would be considered as an anti-hero... and a spectacular one at that. He is flawed... and that's what makes him more interesting

Ok, noted. This is pretty much a subjective point of view. But anyway, I would prefer to see Gollum in the list instead of Durden .

[amalia1985]

Macbeth all the way!!

[mono]

Out of the list, definitely either Raskolnikov or the Paradise Lost version of Satan. I chose Raskolnikov because, yes, one could consider him a villain, and he acts impulsively, yet he also seems so thoughtful, emotional, introspective, and an excellent observer; towards the end of Crime and Punishment, I think he ends up more as another victim than a villain, a victim of the tortures from his own mind - remorse, shame, obsession.
I also chose Satan of Paradise Lost because . . . well, who can imagine a more intelligent and manipulative villain? Simply said.

Out of any literary villain I can think of, I would feel fascinated to meet Mephistopheles of Faust by Goethe. Though a metaphorical version of Satan himself, in human form, I cannot think of any villain as cunning, witty, nor convincing, yet so torturous while maintaining his composure, as him.

[rozreads]

I think I should enjoy Satan's company, particularly as a dinner guest... just so long as we didn't talk politics!

But religion is okay right?

Loved your post!