expect sympathy?!

[cacian]

likeability is topical as far as writing is concerned. the writer relies on it to draw on characters otherwise not likeable for the reader to sympathise with them . I call it the sympathy draw.
but are these characters likely to remain misunderstood throughout the story and therefore not likeable at all?
if a writer expects sympathy from the reader is he or she expecting too much? the character is most likely not to get the sympathy vote after all?!

[Jack of Hearts]

They're English words and it seems to be English syntax but somehow this still isn't English.







J

[cacian]

They're English words and it seems to be English syntax but somehow this still isn't English.







J

I gather it is a question of release. :) apologies if my wording is not clear. I have rewritten it.
I am asking whether a writer expect too much from his reader by asking for sympathy.
he or she plates up an unlikeable a character but expect us the reader to understand and sympathise and therefore grow to like them? is this expecting too much?

[Steven Hunley]

I gather it is a question of release. :) apologies if my wording is not clear. I have rewritten it.
I am asking whether a writer expect too much from his reader by asking for sympathy.
he or she plates up an unlikeable a character but expect us the reader to understand and sympathise and therefore grow to like them? is this expecting too much?

You can fall in love with any literary character or person in real life even if they have unlikeable traits. You can love them for their imperfections.

[cacian]

You can fall in love with any literary character or person in real life even if they have unlikeable traits. You can love them for their imperfections.

how sure is anyone about falling in love with imperfect characters? any story is filled with unattractive characters and yet no one ever question whether we all take to them in the same way?
do you write expecting the reader to sympathise? what if they do not? would you say that you would have failed to impress or pass on the message?

[Delta40]

Sometimes authors write in such a way that the reader is able to empathise with characters who are not so likeable. It isn't just about baddies and goodies. In realistic terms, being flawed in diverse ways is part of the human condition and the complex relationships we have with each other makes for good reading

[IJustMadeThatUp]

Cacian, this makes me think of Wuthering Heights. I don't think I liked any one character, but I still sympathized with some of them at points within the story. That being said, I've read books where all of the characters are unlikable and no matter how hard I try, I cannot sympathize with them. I guess it depends on the reader's experiences and the author's skill when creating their characters.