Most Horrible Character

[*Classic*Charm*]

I agree, she seems to be healthy at the beginning of the novel. But considering the depth of her later depression, I think it's unlikely that she could have been as healthy as she seemed. I don't think a crippling, suicidal depression like that could develop without some underlying mental instability. And with hindsight you can see the signs earlier. For example, her intense agitation on hearing of the accidental death of a guard, and her conclusion that it is an omen of evil.

Interesting. I never really considered that

After dancing with Vronsky at the ball in Moscow, Anna does not stay on to supper and determines to leave for Petersburg on the following day. On meeting him at the station, she begs him to leave her alone and dashes into the train. And finally, at Princess Betsy's, although it is now clear that she will give in, she is still trying to resist him, if only in words: "Then do this for me: never say such things to me, and let us be friends,"

Not buying that. She may have done those things, but to me that's not enough. She resisted to a point, but not completely. If she was really determined to do the right thing, she never would have entered into the affair with him. He did not force her.

[JacobF]

Bernard in Brave New World. He was fickle, mopey, and even taking into account his circumstances in the World State I couldn't strain a single iota of sympathy for him. He was a whiny, boring version of Winston in 1984.

[Lady Marian]

Uriah Heep in "David Copperfield." He was slippery, slimy, fawning, servile, base, and evil.

I love adjectives.

[bazarov]

Anna Karenina. I couldn't wait for her to be gone.

Why everybody dislike Anna? I never got that.

Emma Bovary - the ultimate choice.

[Tsuyoiko]

She resisted to a point, but not completely. If she was really determined to do the right thing, she never would have entered into the affair with him. He did not force her.

I understand why people tend to see it that way. But I don't think Anna had the willpower to make decisions for herself. I don't think she "chose" to have an affair, I think she acquiesced to the most pressing demands upon her. Vronsky was pursuing her aggressively, he was giving her far more seemingly positive attention than she had ever received from Karenin, who admits later on that he married her somewhat reluctantly. Anna would never have actively sought the affair. Vronsky was the instigator and therefore, in my opinion, the blame lies with him.

At one point (I can't find it at the moment) Dolly comments that women never truly get to choose for themselves, they only get to pick from the choices presented to them by men. That's what Anna did; Vronsky fought harder for her, so he's the one she chose.

Why everybody dislike Anna? I never got that.

Emma Bovary - the ultimate choice.

I agree completely. However, at first glance their situations seem very similar. Why do you dislike Emma but not Anna? I have my reasons, but I'm interested to see if yours are similar

[bazarov]

I agree completely. However, at first glance their situations seem very similar. Why do you dislike Emma but not Anna? I have my reasons, but I'm interested to see if yours are similar

http://www.online-literature.com/for...ad.php?t=32974

Emma is actually total opposite of Anna. She was crazy, selfish and mean - almost like Zola invented her.

[V.Jayalakshmi]

Dear Members,
Yes, lots of choices there.I do add Mr.Bumble from Charles Dickens's "Oliver Twist' as the choice as he was unkindness personified and we do find many like him in real life,unfortunately entrusted with children's welfare.

Like Anna Karenena's choice that surprise me like some above, why not Rebecca herself and her maid Mrs. Danvers;from the novel "Rebecca' by Daphne DuMaurier.

[*Classic*Charm*]

I understand why people tend to see it that way. But I don't think Anna had the willpower to make decisions for herself. I don't think she "chose" to have an affair, I think she acquiesced to the most pressing demands upon her. Vronsky was pursuing her aggressively, he was giving her far more seemingly positive attention than she had ever received from Karenin, who admits later on that he married her somewhat reluctantly. Anna would never have actively sought the affair. Vronsky was the instigator and therefore, in my opinion, the blame lies with him.

At one point (I can't find it at the moment) Dolly comments that women never truly get to choose for themselves, they only get to pick from the choices presented to them by men. That's what Anna did; Vronsky fought harder for her, so he's the one she chose.

Anna didn't have the willpower to decide for herself? Then she should have removed herself from the situation. The excuse "Vronksy's here and paying more attention to me" isn't good enough. If she were being tempted by something she didn't want, she should have gone home to her child. She could have kept him away had she really wanted to. Even if she would never have sought it herself, she consented to let it happen. The fact that she and Karenin entered their marriage perhaps less than enthusiastically is no excuse whatsoever to have an affair.

Like Anna Karenena's choice that surprise me like some above, why not Rebecca herself and her maid Mrs. Danvers;from the novel "Rebecca' by Daphne DuMaurier.

Mrs. Danvers was horrible. Good choice!

[mollie]

I am startled to see Anna Karenin and Emma Bovary being selected as the most horrible characters in fiction. Annoying, exasperating, infuriating yes, but most horrible?

O'Brien in 1984 is unspeakably evil and cruel, and ruined countless people's lives for no reason but that of the pursuit of power.

The Strickland character in The Moon and Sixpence is a solipsistic, cruel and nasty person.

Heathcliff from WH is a vicious sociopath.

Dorian Grey, Alex from A Clockwork Orange, Pinkie from Brighton Rock, ad infinitum - are Anna and Emma really worse than all of those?

[*Classic*Charm*]

I am startled to see Anna Karenin and Emma Bovary being selected as the most horrible characters in fiction. Annoying, exasperating, infuriating yes, but most horrible?

Yes. Horrible. I despise her.

[DaveB]

I'm going to go with this one too. Certainly the most overrated American novel, but what do you expect really? It seems the perfect schoolroom text - it actually praises the innocence of the white girl girl in relation to her racist surroundings, and ultimately robs the voice of African Americans subjected to racism, and gives the voice instead to, once again, a white person, one who is too smart to be racist, yet at the same time, is ultimately privileged by all the racist programs in her society.

Always on the soapbox. It gets tiresome.

[mollie]

Yes. Horrible. I despise her.

More horrible than the list of murderers, rapists, genocidal maniacs, torturers etc. I've listed? Really, genuinely, she is the absolute worst you can come up with?

[rtc143]

Jay Gatsby because of his obsession. I don't know, he just annoyed me too much. Oh those 20s....

Also, I didn't really like Leonce Pontilier from The Awakening... he seemed like a stereotype of the "typical family man" who doesn't spend time w/ his loved ones. Crap.

[*Classic*Charm*]

More horrible than the list of murderers, rapists, genocidal maniacs, torturers etc. I've listed? Really, genuinely, she is the absolute worst you can come up with?

It's a personal thing I suppose. Perhaps if I was more familiar with all the murderers, rapists, genocidal maniacs, etc., I might think differently. Maybe it's because I've never actually encountered a person like that, I find it difficult to think of them as being real people. But Anna irritates me to my very core and contains all the everyday qualities that I most dislike in others and thus, I find her absolutely horrible.

If you want me to list someone else, I'll also say Alec D'Urberville. I hate his too, but he doesn't make me grind my teeth like Anna Karenina does.

[mollie]

If you want me to list someone else, I'll also say Alec D'Urberville. I hate his too, but he doesn't make me grind my teeth like Anna Karenina does.

Not at all, if you can't stand her, you can't stand her, fair enough. And I'm sorry if it seemed like I was having a go at you or trying to tell you what to think, I was just surprised by it, and you were the one who responded!

At any rate, thanks for your reply. Food for thought.