# Ficitional Characters whose influence far exceeds that of the work they are part of.. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 19, 2008, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663 "2008-10-19T21:06:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/41 "2008-10-22T19:57:26Z")
> [@](#): > > On that note, I imagine it’s only a matter of time before “Kill the Wabbit!” becomes more well known as the name of Ride of the Valkyries than the actual title. Some day it might even be as well known as the Lone Ranger Theme. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/42 "2008-10-22T20:33:57Z")
That’s the William Tell overture ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/43 "2008-10-22T20:39:01Z")
I think Little Nemo knows that. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/44 "2008-10-22T20:39:33Z")
> [@Peter\_Morris](#): > > That’s the William Tell overture Right. Which long ago became “The one with the cannons!” But that’s a bit beyond the scope of the OP. ---
**Author:** ![Jman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jman/32/4416_2.png) [@Jman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jman)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/45 "2008-10-22T20:43:07Z")
Willy Loman ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/46 "2008-10-22T20:48:47Z")
If we’re considering characters whose names have become common words, certainly most of us understand “gargantuan” as a synonym for gigantic, and many know **Gargantua** was the name of a giant in a series of novels by Rabelais, but fewer know that he appeared in an earlier novel by an anonymous author, and even fewer have read the source material. I wouldn’t count Dracula, since the novel is well-known and continues to be read, especially by people with even a casual interest in vampires. Instead, I’d look to his predecessors whose names may be forgotten but who left their mark on their genre. Vampires of folklore might be found among peasants, but **Lord Ruthven** of “The Vampyre” was an aristocrat whose victims were also members of society, which remained the standard for many years. **Varney the Vampire** seems to have established the idea that vampires have hypnotic powers, unusual strength, and fangs, and leave puncture marks on their victims’ necks. **Graf Orlok** (who was based on Stoker’s Dracula but predated Lugosi’s) may have been the first vampire to be destroyed (as opposed to weakened or repelled) by sunlight. I don’t think mythological figures whose names became common nouns should count. Being mythological, their origins can’t really be pinned to a specific work of fiction. I was going to mention Faust, but a few seconds of research revealed that Faust was a real person, so I’ll mention **Mephistopheles** instead. The name appears in a text ascribed to Faust. But the concept of Mephistopheles as a demon with whom a mortal enters into a Faustian bargain appeared in an anonymously authored collection of stories (“the Faust chapbooks”) which is not nearly as well-known as Marlow and Goethe’s versions. ---
**Author:** ![Malienation](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@Malienation](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malienation)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/47 "2008-10-22T20:51:25Z")
Every time something in politics appears to be happening over and over to no good end, you can bet the pundits will make sure the movie **Groundhog Day** gets mentioned. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/48 "2008-10-22T21:00:30Z")
Scrooge. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/49 "2008-10-22T21:03:08Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > I think Little Nemo knows that. Yeah, I misread his post. I mistakenly thought that he said that “ride of the Valkeries” WAS the Lone Ranger theme. On rereading I see that he didn’t say that. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/50 "2008-10-22T21:25:07Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > \I wouldn’t count Dracula, since the novel is well-known and continues to be read, especially by people with even a casual interest in vampires. Instead, I’d look to his predecessors whose names may be forgotten but who left their mark on their genre. Vampires of folklore might be found among peasants, but **Lord Ruthven** of “The Vampyre” was an aristocrat whose victims were also members of society, which remained the standard for many years. **Varney the Vampire** seems to have established the idea that vampires have hypnotic powers, unusual strength, and fangs, and leave puncture marks on their victims’ necks. **Graf Orlok** (who was based on Stoker’s Dracula but predated Lugosi’s) may have been the first vampire to be destroyed (as opposed to weakened or repelled) by sunlight.\ You forgot **Carmilla** and all the lesbian vampire genre. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/51 "2008-10-22T22:03:45Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Right. Which long ago became “The one with the cannons!” > > But that’s a bit beyond the scope of the OP. That must result in a lot of confusion for fans of the 1812 Overture. > [@detop](#): > > You forgot **Carmilla** and all the lesbian vampire genre. I thought about it, but I think lesbian vampires may have been inevitable with or without her. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/52 "2008-10-22T23:05:01Z")
> [@TWDuke](#): > > That must result in a lot of confusion for fans of the 1812 Overture. Dammit, I knew I was going to do that! ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/53 "2008-10-22T23:20:58Z")
Simon Legree (from Uncle Tom’s Cabin). Also Uncle Tom. Both are now archetypes (that may not bear great resemblance to the originals), and although the name of the work is probably still pretty well known, how many people have actually read it? Roddy ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/54 "2008-10-22T23:42:16Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > I disagree that the short story “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty” is still as well known as the titular character. > On gun-oriented discussion boards there is an endless stream of “Which gun for \_\_\_\_” threads. When \_\_\_\_\_ is something too fanciful or bizarre, I frequently reply with > > Nobody _ever_ gets it. > > Ta-pocketa-pocketa, all. With any known make of gun I could have killed Gregory Fitzhurst at three hundred feet with my left hand. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2008, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/55 "2008-10-22T23:54:29Z")
It’s not quite a character as such , but I suspect that many more people will recognize what Lilliputians are than have read . . . . (thinks for a bit . . . not Robinson Crusoe . . . ) Gulliver’s Travels. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/56 "2008-10-23T00:01:05Z")
> [@Billdo](#): > > It’s not quite a character as such , but I suspect that many more people will recognize what Lilliputians are than have read . . . . (thinks for a bit . . . not Robinson Crusoe . . . ) Gulliver’s Travels. Odd that the name Gulliver probably won’t be recognized nearly as much. But Gilligan, however… ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/57 "2008-10-23T00:14:04Z")
Oh! **Gulliver’s Travels** also provided the name for the Internet behemoth **Yahoo!** \ [http://yhoo.client.shareholder.com/press/history.cfm](http://yhoo.client.shareholder.com/press/history.cfm) \ > **[Homework Help and Textbook Solutions | bartleby](https://www.bartleby.com/)** > > Reach your academic happy place with access to thousands of textbook solutions written by subject matter experts. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/58 "2008-10-23T01:22:29Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Dammit, I knew I was going to do that! I honestly thought you did that on purpose. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/59 "2008-10-23T02:37:24Z")
I’m sure more people know who or what a Man Friday is than have ever read “Robinson Crusoe.” And everybody knows who Jeeves is but few have read Wodehouse, though probably more than a few have seen a bit of Fry and Laurie. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2008, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663/60 "2008-10-23T06:21:27Z")
> [@acsenray](#): > > I honestly thought you did that on purpose. We’ll go with that then. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ficitional-characters-whose-influence-far-exceeds-that-of-the-work-they-are-part-of/468663.md?page=2)