Frodo Baggins from JRR’s Lord of the Ring Trilogy. Simple, quiet yet very detirmined. And no matter what he saw during his Quest, he came back to live a basic, simple life. Wonderful words in these stressing times.
When I was little, I would either imagine myself as one of the charecters in the book I was reading, or if I knew the story well enough I would create my own place in the story. I did this often in the Chronicles of Narnia series. I also stuck little peices of paper in books that said things like “Dear God, please, some morning soon, let me wake up in this book. Thank you.” I kinda had a lonely childhood.
Hijack over.
I’m not in my room at home, or I could give you a list, but for now, all I can think of is Valentine from Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game. It seemed to me that she had an unending well of love inside her. I admire her for that.
Trying… to… restrain… myself…
inor? I looooooooove Lestat…
Balance- yeah, i think you’re right, and I like the way you put it. Thanks, I like it when I get new insight.
Now give- who is it for you? And why?
r- I always wanted to either be the lion (I forget his name) or at least be his friend…
and I’d like to have parts of Valentine, definitely, and ender, and the hive mother- she was kinda god, past how humans think, and sometimes, better, I thought.
now, I got these velveteen pantaloons and this preternatural way about me, baby…
Sorry 'bout your early times- goopasmooch
Freyr
Never thought of it, or I did, but forgot- I’m with you.
Cman- k, I will, you sound serious.
ASLAN! I REMEMBER! FUCKIN ASLAN!!- brain is slowly recovering from years of yuck…
Eonwe I’m not familiar with this guy, but I like the traits and this is what I’m coming to think, reading this thread- to some extent, we already embody these traits, like that about ourselves, and wnt more! So, we’re doing goood!
Waddya think? Is there something there?
SRob- Excellent!
Cel- I think so too, on Ellen, and the mother from ‘Joy Luck Club’, except I’d never want to be put into that position. Although I have, in a way.
I’m not familiar with the others you mention, and can only suppose they are fine, from the two I do know…
You guys- This is the feel good thread of the month, AFAIC!
Thanks for making it so!
(Sorry I’m so talky- don’t mean to be arrogant or anything- I jsut see threads started and then let to ferment and I don’t care for that- I think the starter ought to participate, be a host, kind of, if you will…)
Reuben, I recommend that you read the Laurie R King series, starting with “The Beekeepers Apprentice.” It is IMHO the best Holmes “pastiche” ever written, and I think you will enjoy seeing him meet a woman after his own heart. If you DO read it, please try to read it in order of publication.
And please forgive this hijack, I just really loved the series, and so has anyone I ever recommended it to.
Scotti
I was always Lucy… Except when I made my own character. Then I was Peter’s girlfriend. 
Also, I feel like Petra a lot. Relyed on, but always feeling like I’m going to break…
[sub]my childhood wasn’t bad, just lonely. No kids in the neighborhood, and the 'rents were -still are- very overprotective.[/sub]
Smooch back. Our fellow dopers are gonna start throwing rotten veggies at us soon if we don’t quit!
Bruce Wayne and Fox Mulder. But mostly, I try to emulate the guy I want others to think I am.
Superman. I’m sorry, but it’s true. I’ve actually wound up asking myself, when tempted, “What Would Superman Do?”
I’m following the character of Shinji Ikari in Neon Genesis Evangelion with interest… he seems to have a lot of the same problems I do.
Also, some of my characters are (slightly) improved versions of myself…
Justin Bateman an acceptable answer?
Believe it or not, I was serious the first time. I don’t think there’s any question that Jame influenced the development of my rather quirky sense of humor or my notions of honor and duty. (What can I say? I got my first dose young, and it warped me.)
I can’t really think of any others I’ve tried to emulate right now.
LOL!
I’m afraid your speech was a little short, young Balance. You could have said…oh, all sorts of things, varying your tone to fit your words. Let me give you a few examples…Na!
I was thinking more of Cyrano’s less-tangible qualities. His creative fire and pride for his work contrasting with his self-hatred. This is one of those things that we seem to share. Also, I’ll fight for my ideas, but not literally (here we differ). I would also do anything for a friend. I could see myself easily giving up on something so that someone else could be happy.
celestina wrote:
Harriet Tubman was an actual person, not a fictional character.
Mr. Angel?
You are, without a doubt, one of the quality posters on these boards. This is IMO.
Most of us know about Ms. Tubbman, as, I think , did celestina. I think she threw that in there and didn’t think to clarify, which is fine, but thank you for the correction.
Now, please add to the thread. I would not like to miss the chance to hear what you might have to offer. I am perfectly serious, re: my first and second sentences.
Thank you
inor
I’m definitely going to want to hear the “why” for that one. (Unless that was a joke, in which case, damn you for piquing my curiosity.)
For me:
Spider Jerusalem, from Warren Ellis and Darrick Robertson’s TRANSMETROPOLITAN comic book. He is dedicated to truth and right above all else, even the well-being of himself and those he loves.
Atticus Finch, from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, who is also committed to do the right thing, regardless of what others think. However, he expresses it with love and dignity, in contrast to Jerusalem’s rage.
Joe Malik, from the Illuminatus! trilogy. Just skeptical enough, just gullible enough. (Though he strikes me as being a little slow on the uptake.)
Glenda (the Good Witch of the North)
Her outfit and mode of transportation are to die for!
I wouldn’t worry about it. I get taken for a fictional character all the time.
A few weeks ago, a friend of my mother’s asked me to track down a girl who owes her some money… my first thought was “What would Spenser do?” Lacking a Dunkin Donuts, I had to skip that part, and I didn’t have anyone who could’ve been Hawk, but I found the girl anyway 
Robin
Fabulous choice! Archie may be the coolest character EVER to walk the pages of crime/mystery fiction! And he certainly manages to anchor the bizarre Mr. Wolfe…the idea of a Nero Wolfe novel with no Archie is impossible; without Goodwin, Wolfe is merely a seventh-of-a-ton bundle of neuroses and eccentricities.
For better or for worse, my life seems to have been patterned after Johan Nilsen Nagel, the protagonist of Knut Hamsun’s second novel, MYSTERIES.
He arrives in the small Norwegian coastal town on the steamer, wearing a loud yellow suit and in a state of “extreme agitation.” While he oversees the landing of his luggage – “two small trunks, a fur coat (although it was the middle of summer), a satchel, and a violin case” – he fails to disembark himself, resulting in his being carried back off into the fjord.
So it also appears that I have a bit in common with the Baker from “The Hunting of the Snark.”
“Glenda (the Good Witch of the North)”
Ummm, Caj’ dear, are you thinking of Glenda from “Glen or Glenda?” Who had, of course, a wardrobe to die for (those cinch-belts!). But Mrs. Ziegfeld portrayed “Glinda” in the Wizard of Oz . . .
—That Know-It-All Girl
P.S. As for me, I try to be as much like Betty Boop, Dorothy (from “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes”) and Auntie Mame as much as I can . . .
Great question. Sorry I can’t think of a good answer right now, but I just wanted to say…
Cool book. At the beginning I found this character really exasperating, but by the end I really liked and admired him.