The clash of the anti-heroes... [Archive] - Literature Network Forums

PoeticPassions

02-18-2009, 08:56 AM

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

02-18-2009, 09:28 AM

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

02-18-2009, 09:43 AM

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

kelby_lake

02-18-2009, 10:14 AM

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

02-18-2009, 02:10 PM

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

subterranean

02-18-2009, 04:25 PM

Behemoth

02-18-2009, 04:35 PM

First off, what a brilliant question! :D
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....
:D
Wow. Check out the complete lack of logic in that sentence ...

Wilde woman

02-18-2009, 05:05 PM

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. :D

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

02-18-2009, 05:25 PM

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

02-18-2009, 05:25 PM

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

PoeticPassions

02-18-2009, 05:26 PM

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

02-18-2009, 05:34 PM

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

02-18-2009, 05:40 PM

Macbeth all the way!!

mono

02-18-2009, 10:24 PM

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. :nod:

rozreads

02-18-2009, 10:53 PM

:yawnb:;)
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!

Jeremiah Jazzz

02-18-2009, 11:16 PM

I'd like to hang out with Mr.Humbert for a day. Finally someone to talk about french literature AND ingenious sexcapdes..

weltanschauung

02-18-2009, 11:16 PM

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

oh come on, dorian gray is nothing but a trembling shadow of lord henry...

i think a cup of tea with marquise de merteuil and vicomte de valmont would be absolutely charming http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/71.gif

bazarov

02-19-2009, 04:48 AM

oh come on, dorian gray is nothing but a trembling shadow of lord henry...

After Lord Henry said that there is no good influence; it's against nature :lol:

Definitely Raskolnikov; I really don't see what was his problem. He made some murders, I admit; but that's it, he proved (tried) his idea so you would be safe. He is smart and intelligent, that would definitely be very interesting conversation.

Humbert??!! Some of you would like to meet him? For what? To ask him about his experiences with Dolores aka Lolita? That's sick :lol:

Satan, but from Faust; would also be interesting. Claude Frollo from Hunchback of Notre Dame, Woland from Master and Margarita...

PoeticPassions

02-19-2009, 04:55 AM

subterranean

02-19-2009, 05:27 AM

I can't believe no one has voted for Alex... why wouldn't you want to go pillage the town with him, create chaos, engage in violent and sexually lewd acts (ie rape and/or extreme and and uncalled for aggression)???

ahhh, Alex scares me. :bawling:

I might end up sharing him with another chick. So, not really good idea to pick him. ;)

Still thinking for my vote.

crisaor

02-19-2009, 06:37 AM

I'd hang out with Rodya, by a landslide. Mono already summed up very nicely many of the motives.

And Satan is too damn creepy, say something he doesn't like and he'll drag your soul to the abyss, you can't chill out with that kind of people :p

kelby_lake

02-19-2009, 11:11 AM

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. :D

Or out of it ;)...

Wilde woman

02-19-2009, 06:59 PM

Or out of it ;)...

That works too! :p

Virgil

02-19-2009, 09:51 PM

Macbeth all the way!!

Yes, me too. MacBeth, and perhaps he can bring along his charming wife. :D

The Comedian

02-19-2009, 10:40 PM

I'd have a cold cup of hell-coffee with the Prince of Darkness over anyone of those warm blooded Yahoos any day.

eyemaker

02-20-2009, 01:23 AM

how bout having a repast with Raskolnikov? I would be glad knowing him better. Perhaps putting also in my itinerary- Satan's company after Rasky.:D
lol

JBI

02-20-2009, 01:37 AM

Humbert Humbert - I'm male, and over 14, so nothing to worry about there - but he is the wittiest of them all (though he'd probably spend the time snickering at me).

bazarov

02-20-2009, 05:15 AM

Humbert Humbert - I'm male, and over 14, so nothing to worry about there - but he is the wittiest of them all (though he'd probably spend the time snickering at me).

Pedophile and gay - that's 10th circle in Inferno?

Emil Miller

02-20-2009, 06:29 AM

I'd have a cold cup of hell-coffee with the Prince of Darkness over anyone of those warm blooded Yahoos any day.

You're going to meet him in Starbucks then ?

The Comedian

02-20-2009, 08:30 AM

^ Nice! :)

kelby_lake

02-20-2009, 12:20 PM

Humbert Humbert - I'm male, and over 14, so nothing to worry about there - but he is the wittiest of them all (though he'd probably spend the time snickering at me).

Am I the only female who voted for him? Oh dear :) We shall invite Satan over to for chit chat and biccies.

PoeticPassions

02-23-2009, 05:10 AM

Am I the only female who voted for him? Oh dear :) We shall invite Satan over to for chit chat and biccies.

Humbert is my second choice, and since I am older, I wouldn't worry either... But I think most people are afraid of his sardonic sense of humor, and his, at times, incomprehensible wit. I think he would tire of me easily, however... but I also think that I would be bored of him soon as well.

Rainyhawaii

12-12-2012, 01:56 AM

The nameless narrator in Dostoevsky's Notes From Underground.

I haven't read many of those ones so I couldn't really say from the choices there. I just got Catch-22 for my sister for Christmas and am now tempted to put down my current book to read that before wrapping it.... Good idea?

Ser Nevarc

12-12-2012, 07:56 PM

SATAN! All day! You people are making me worried . . . how's he in second to Raskolnikov?!

kelby_lake

12-13-2012, 05:53 AM

I'm shocked at my younger self for wanting to spend the day with a paedophile :O

Volya

12-13-2012, 02:51 PM

Macbeth, an anti-hero? Surely he's more of an out-right villain.

Desolation

12-13-2012, 03:05 PM

Raskolnikov...But, only if he's in that stage where he's really sick and demented, laying in bed hallucinating, babbling about strange things and visiting apartments to shout at hapless maintenance men about blood.

Satan would be interesting...As would Humbert, but I think I would have a hard time resisting the urge to punch Humbert. Alex can go thoroughly **** himself, as much as I love the movie based on his book (not as fond of the book, though).

kelby_lake

12-14-2012, 04:23 PM

Macbeth, an anti-hero? Surely he's more of an out-right villain.

More like a tragic protagonist.

Eiseabhal

12-31-2012, 04:30 PM

Macbeth (Shakespeare's not the real fella) could be seen as an anti-hero because he has qualities which are clear at the start of that play but he has the fatal flaws of overweening ambition and being easy to manipulate by his dominant wife. As he spirals downwards he certainly appropriates the mantle of evil villain but that is not how he starts so tragic protagonist is right.