It depends on the character, but quite often it's a mixture of flaws and, for some odd, what kind of career they have. The second one isn't deliberate, and I wasn't aware of it until you asked. But if we do a quick round-up of characters I identify with they're all scientists of one sort or another (Owen Harper, Severus Snape, Kerr Avon and Stephen Maturin). I'm deeply annoyed that they're all male.
I think it's because they react to things in a similar way to me, they don't internalise, they shout back and are normally deeply unpleasant about it, and then there's the horrible moment where they go too far and you can't help but recognise it.
With Stephen Maturin it's odd, because I love Jack Aubrey more, but for the same reasons that Stephen loves him, which I think also helps with the identification.
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Date: 2010-03-23 11:28 am (UTC)I think it's because they react to things in a similar way to me, they don't internalise, they shout back and are normally deeply unpleasant about it, and then there's the horrible moment where they go too far and you can't help but recognise it.
With Stephen Maturin it's odd, because I love Jack Aubrey more, but for the same reasons that Stephen loves him, which I think also helps with the identification.
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Date: 2010-03-23 11:58 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-03-23 11:59 pm (UTC)