Saturday, April 7, 2012

Secondary Character Saturday (4)


I've started a new weekly post here and I'd love for you to join me. Saturdays are now dedicated to honor the characters that don't always get their voices heard, who support (or work to destroy) our beloved protagonists. This is for the third wheel in the love triangle (can you have wheels on a triangle?), for the BFFs, the family members, or even just the kind and loving (or deceitful and creepy) stranger who shows up and changes the game. We all know these stories wouldn't hold up without support so I'd like to take the time to highlight the best secondary characters I come across. This is an opportunity to talk about what makes these characters special, maybe to speculate what their world would be like without them, or maybe cast them in their own primary roles. If you'd like to create a SCS post leave your link in the comments and I'll check it out!

So today I want to honor:

Sophie from The Infernal Devices

Cassandra Clare does secondary characters better than most. I could talk about any of her characters here - from the strong and silent to the delightfully wicked, each character has deep shades and layers and every single one is important to the story in some way or another. But Sophie has to be one of my favorite characters. She's a Victorian maid who is supposed to be quiet and submissive, but this girl is just one surprise after another. She's so sweet, but man alive, she's a force of nature.



Sophie could so easily be pitiable. She's had a really hard lot in life with her position and a violent past. She's then thrust into this world where her life is constantly in danger, and while she has slightly more freedom, she's still in a serving position. But I don't think I ever pitied Sophie. Instead, she comes across as a survivor. And with her ability to turn a hand mirror into a weapon, no one would ever call her weak.

When they ask Sophie to step up or just to be able to defend herself, she goes above and beyond.  She's strong, she's loyal, and if I were ever up against anything evil I think I'd want Sophie on my side.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Secondary Character Saturday (4)


I've started a new weekly post here and I'd love for you to join me. Saturdays are now dedicated to honor the characters that don't always get their voices heard, who support (or work to destroy) our beloved protagonists. This is for the third wheel in the love triangle (can you have wheels on a triangle?), for the BFFs, the family members, or even just the kind and loving (or deceitful and creepy) stranger who shows up and changes the game. We all know these stories wouldn't hold up without support so I'd like to take the time to highlight the best secondary characters I come across. This is an opportunity to talk about what makes these characters special, maybe to speculate what their world would be like without them, or maybe cast them in their own primary roles. If you'd like to create a SCS post leave your link in the comments and I'll check it out!

So today I want to honor:

Sophie from The Infernal Devices

Cassandra Clare does secondary characters better than most. I could talk about any of her characters here - from the strong and silent to the delightfully wicked, each character has deep shades and layers and every single one is important to the story in some way or another. But Sophie has to be one of my favorite characters. She's a Victorian maid who is supposed to be quiet and submissive, but this girl is just one surprise after another. She's so sweet, but man alive, she's a force of nature.



Sophie could so easily be pitiable. She's had a really hard lot in life with her position and a violent past. She's then thrust into this world where her life is constantly in danger, and while she has slightly more freedom, she's still in a serving position. But I don't think I ever pitied Sophie. Instead, she comes across as a survivor. And with her ability to turn a hand mirror into a weapon, no one would ever call her weak.

When they ask Sophie to step up or just to be able to defend herself, she goes above and beyond.  She's strong, she's loyal, and if I were ever up against anything evil I think I'd want Sophie on my side.