Characters Worth Remembering

I'm an English major, which means I've read a lot of books in my day. Therefore, last night as I held my darling baby in my arms and tried to block out his cantankerous caterwauls, a random question entered my mind: out of all the literature I've ever read, what five characters are my favorite and why? It was difficult to whittle it down (and I have more favorites) but here it is:

1. MAX from Where the Wild Thing Are by Maurice Sendak. This was one of my favorite books as a child. I have always been a bit of a tom-boy but at one point in my childhood I actually fancied myself a boy and would run around with my shirt off swinging one of my father's socks around with a tennis ball in the end. So when I read this story about a boy who was sent to his room for chasing his dog with a fork and growling at his Mom while wearing a wolf costume only to be transported to the land of the Wild Things where he eventually becomes King - well, what mischief making child wouldn't dream of such an adventure??

2. JIM HAWKINS from Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. I've read this book about ten times and it still doesn't get old. Pirates, buried treasure, sword play, treachery, and triumph. These are the perfect ingredients to inspire a child's imagination. Did I mention there are pirates? Are we seeing a theme yet? Child empowerment anyone?

3. ALGERNON ("ALGY") MONCRIEFF from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. Although he's a spoiled London aristocrat, he's just so incredibly witty and hilarious that his immoral and pretentious sensibilities seem like more of a virtue than a vice. I've always admired wit and being able to say exactly what you mean, when you mean to say it and in the cleverest way possible.

4. ELIZABETH BENNET from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin. I admire how Elizabeth is intelligent, witty and is able to stray (albeit slightly) from her society's expectations of her and still be rewarded for her deviation. Plus, I love how she is able to insult in a sophisticated way. If only I had that talent - not that I want to insult people.

5. SCOUT FINCH from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Even though she's fictitious, I have such an admiration for this little girl - her spunk and tenacity - as well as her adamant loyalty to her father and his morals. Plus, she's a tom-boy just like I was. There is just such an innocent charm to her rationale and a charming naivete to her narrative.

I'm curious. What are your favorite fictitious characters from literature?

J