Weak characters

It seems that in much of Western literature, there is a preference for strong characters. When I hear praise for a character, I've lost track of how often it's due to his or her "strength." I don't mean strength in terms of being well-written or being "three dimensional" or being physically strong. But in terms of attitude, resolve, will, and these sorts of things. People seem to like reading about characters who know what they want and take control of their own destiny, and when trials and tribulations arise, they face them head-on and push forward. They make their own decisions and fight for what they value. They have flaws, maybe many of them, but they struggle to overcome them. They are active and drive the story forward. In this way, they are "strong" characters.

But I'm getting tired of that.

I want to read about weak characters. I want to read about a main character who can't find the strength to do anything. I want to read about a character who gives up. I want to read about a character who can't overcome his flaws. I want to read about a character who doesn't have the will to keep fighting. I want to read about a character who, when the going gets tough, runs away. I want a character who keeps refusing the call. I want a character who can't save the maiden. I want a character who can't even save himself. I want to read about a character who is passive, who doesn't know how to control his own destiny, and is dragged forward, kicking and screaming, by the story. I want to read about a character who struggles to make a single decision, and when he does make one, it's the wrong one. I want to read about a character who, in this way, is "weak."

I don't even care if he or she becomes a strong character by the end of it. Of course I want some kind of growth and satisfying resolution, but I don't care if the character becomes strong. Maybe he just comes to terms with his weakness. Or maybe he finally makes a decision, even if it's the wrong one. Or maybe he just realizes that he can't stay like this forever. Maybe he just gets a little less weak.

Am I crazy? Does anyone else want to read about strong-as-in-well-written-and-interesting weak characters like I do, but can't seem to find very much fiction written about them? Is anyone else sick of "strong," active characters?

I'm curious to hear your thoughts. It just seems to me like everyone praises strong characters, and no one ever has anything good to say about weak or passive characters.

dolores haze said:

I just finished my second read of Ishiguro's 'Never Let Me Go." The characters in that are very passive. Absolutely fabulous book, though. Heartbreaking. Literary fiction allows for this type of character more than genre, I'd say.

Click to expand...

I actually just started that book yesterday. Good to hear. Thanks.

And yes, I'm curious about the literary vs genre perspective on this, too.

I definitely find far more books I like in this way in literary fiction.

ETA: I actually am aware that there's plenty of this type of fiction out there, since it's mostly what I read. It's just that I don't tend to hear about it very often. I can't remember the last time I heard a character being praised or liked for weakness or passivity, so I'm under the impression it's not the norm.

Dawnstorm said:

I have little to add, except that I think that the situation looks worse on critique sites than in bookshops. So I'm not overly worried.

Click to expand...

This does seem to be the case. As I mentioned in my edit, it's not so much that I don't think there's much of these characters out there, but that I sometimes have trouble finding them when it's explicitly what I'm looking for, because reviews, readers, and criticism tend to praise "strong," active characters rather than "weak," passive ones, making it difficult to judge whether I'll like something or not.

Rhea said:

Well, if you want something really depressing, read J. Joyce's "Dubliners". full of weak characters who cannot and won't go on with their lives. Uhh, that book ruined J.J. for me completely.
I honestly cannot read about weak characters - it doesn't fit my personality. There has to be some development, something worthy about the characters for me to keep up my interest. Whiny, wimpy MCs make me very impatient and I close the book with a definitive clap never to open it again.

Click to expand...

I loved Dubliners. Yes, I want to read about a whiny and wimpy but interesting and relatable MC.

AndreaGS said:

Love Haruki Murakami, though. His protagonists tend to be passive and apathetic.

Click to expand...

Murakami is one of my favorites.

S. Eli said:

I think your definition of strong and weak characters makes it difficult for me to agree. Sure, I've read all about characters who have this undying will to do something and they get annoying after a while. Really, who's like that? But I also think that what's good about these characters is that they face trials. They conquer them (sometimes). I was behind you until you started listing the qualities you wanted.

One of the best stories I've ever read had a main character with a tragic flaw. And, yes, in my opinion he was a weak man. But it wasn't because he couldn't save the maiden, it was because he couldn't save himself. He was strong, but his weakness was his fear of being weak. And this is one of my FAVORITE characters in the history of books.

Now, I think the point I'm trying to make is that whoever you described in the OP is not someone I would look forward to reading about. It also sounds like it would have a lot of Deus Ex Machina going on, because the character can't even really DO anything. And even more, it sounds like they'll just do a lot of wallowing.

Click to expand...

I don't mind wallowing so long as it's interests. And just because the main character is passive doesn't mean there need be any Deus ex Machina. The secondary characters may be the active ones that drive the story forward, dragging along the MC with them.

Perhaps I'm just misreading the OP. And if I'm not, I can say from a sociological point of view that strength has always been valued, so I don't think you'll get that character anytime soon. World's not ready.

Click to expand...

Since when have characters needed to have qualities valued sociologically in order to be valued as characters?

The character that keeps fighting no matter what and eventually succeeds may be the one I admire.

But the one that runs away may be the one with whom I identify, and the one I want to read about.

Flicka said:

I think maybe people usually use 'flawed' or similar rather than 'weak'? 'Weak' carries such negative associations and so other words like 'human' or 'lost' or 'flawed' may be easier to use for someone who can relate to their, eh, weakness? I'm just guessing. I do think I see them quite often in what I assume is literary fiction (and art films) and that critics quite often do praise the character for being 'flawed' in the way you describe even if they use other words than 'weak'. On here though I think the emphasis is strong on genre (is it just me or are 50 % here writing sf/fantasy?) and I think it's a lot rarer with your type of character in say fantasy.

Click to expand...

No, I don't mean simply flawed. All believable characters are flawed. I mean weak. I mean passive.

What if Frodo simply went home after Rivendell instead of choosing to carry the Ring? Really, who could blame him? What would the story be of him struggling to live a happy life in the Shire knowing what was coming, knowing the days were limited, coping with the fact that he ran away? I already know the story of what happens if he takes the heroic option. These days, I want to read the story of what happens if he takes the cowardly option.

lemonhead said:

I really do think you mean weak, rather than passive. Even if frodo went back, that is still being active....and what he does next is still active. It may be a weak decision, a flawed journey, but it's a journey.

Click to expand...

Well yes, but relatively speking, I would consider "do nothing and let the world end" more passive than "go out and save the world."