A classical recommendation

[winter]

There is much to be said about the Byronic hero, and of course such a character can be infuriating, self-pitying, misguided and generally deserving to be kicked off a cliff. But on the other hand, woobie.

The case in question: Byron's Manfred. (Public domain, online thanks to Bartleby.com)

I doubt it would have much success on stage, since it mostly consists of Manfred's monologues on how much he does not deserve to live his wretched life, but damn. Master brooding. Respect.

(Mmm. I wonder if in Byron's time his legion of fangirls ever dared to, say, slash Manfred with whoever, or write a Mary Sue who arrives in the castle and makes him forget all about Astarte... What am I saying? Of course they did.)

Comments

[artaxastra.livejournal.com]

I love Manfred! Though I agree, hard as heck to stage. And I'm sure the fangirls did! Pale, wan girl, mistreated by wretched uncle, goes onto the mountain to cast herself down and end it all, lost in a raging snowstorm, happened upon by Manfred, who is perfectly happy to die in a snowstorm, but cannot let this miserable scrap of life die, especially when he looks upon her face, pale as snow, eyelids faintly flickering with life as she opens her eyes upon his masterful face....

[winter]

Mwahaha. Are you sure you don't want to continue that? ;)

Actually since my Nano will be a pure-fun free-for-all, I have decided to feature one Salome di Geraudi, daughter of Manfred and Astarte and one tough alchemist cookie. She's getting along with the ninja pirate like a house on fire - hate at first sight.

[sukeban.livejournal.com]

If you want a character who really needs a good bitchslapping, Werther would be another good candidate :P

[winter]

But the difference is, Werther's a wimp, while Manfred is proud if thickheaded and quite handsome fellow, which several (male) characters make a point of telling him (vain, Byron? of course not...) :P

And the play's actually quite readable, while Werther's Sorrows holds the place of honour as the first obligatory school reading I only read two pages from, because I couldn't stomach more. (The last two pages, of course.)

[sukeban.livejournal.com]

Gary Stu! XD

[winter]

To the T :D He even sleeps with his sister the way Byron was rumoured to have done with his half-sister...