STORY TELLERS
A page for readers to share their thoughts, views and stories.
Josephine March, the second-oldest March sister, who is often called Jo ( Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott). Jo’s dreams of being a writer are based on the author herself, which makes the story semi-autobiographical. Jo has a quick temper and tongue, just like I do, although she works hard to control both. She is a tomboy, and reacts with impatience to the many limitations placed on women and girls. While her sisters are busy trying to be as ladylike and feminine as possible she fights for gender equality. In some parts of the world women are still not given the rights they deserve. Jo is an inspiration for such women and girls. This is why she is my favourite literary character. Khushboo Rathod How is it possible to choose just one favourite literary character, when there are so many from which to choose? How does one take that call? On what basis? It is like Sophie’s Choice, and it almost makes me wish I had properly read that book so I could write about Sophie Zawistowska just to add a pseudo-intellectual poetic ring to this piece. However, I have not read it cover to cover; so after much deliberation, I have finally been able to zero in on one character to write about.
I was all of 11 years old when I first met a young red-haired orphan girl (also all of 11 years old) named Anne Shirley. She came to live on my bookshelf by accident, just as she came to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert, at their farm, Green Gables, in the fictional town of Avonlea; and just like them, I did not realise that that accident would turn out to be as serendipitous as it did.
Anne Shirley played a huge role in the process of me growing up. Even though she was written 90-odd years before I met her, she felt just like a (to borrow a term she taught me) kindred spirit. She was as talkative and boisterous as I was, and possessed the same remarkable ability to put her foot in her mouth as I did, so reading about her social misadventures provided me with some much-needed solidarity. Not only that, she also taught me a number of important life lessons; and while she was never able to fully convert me from the realist I am to the hopeless romantic she is, she did influence my outlook and help shape my personality in more ways than I can count. Mehvash Peerbhoy One character that has stood out for me is the girl on fire, Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games. Her personality is extremely inspiring. She protects the ones she loves, even at the cost of her life. For instance, she volunteered for the Hunger Games to save her little sister, Prim, and she altruistically decided to die to save her friend Peeta. Katniss is an independent, strong survivalist, lethal yet kind. I strongly believe that Katniss is symbol of feminism, and a crucial step towards woman empowerment. Isha Kumthekar