Subject: Re: BANANAFISH digest 8
From: Bruce Hartman (bwhartmanjr@iname.com)
Date: Mon Jun 16 1997 - 10:24:00 GMT
helEna,
> Why is
> it that characters always go on journeys to self-knowledge, and real
> people don't? (or if they do, they don't talk about it.)
I think it comes down to "who would want to hear?" Of course, we all (I
hope) have friend who we share these types of things with, but on the
whole, would YOU really want to hear about MY journey? It wouldn't mean
very much to you, whereas with my friend, he understands where I've been,
where I'm going, and why. . . for me to make all of that clear to you, I'd
have to write a book.
Characters, the eternal ones anyway, get away with it because a writer's
job is to make the grandest connection they can with their readers. With
the use of emotional tactics to draw the reader into the story. How do so
many DIFFERENT people identify with character like Holden? Because
Salinger has achieved that level of universality with the character.
Another thing, my story (and most others) wouldn't be that exciting to you,
unless I exercised the poetic license that is inherent in a good story.
And if I did that, I'd then be a liar.
yours,
Bruce
bwhartmanjr@iname.com
http://www.geocities.com/~tranestation
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