Which RotE character is your favourite? (spoilers all RotE books)

[Paragon-Athena]

When I said that I couldn't stand Fitz, I meant his attitude irked me and I wouldn't get on with him in real life.
Also when I said the Fool was beautiful in every respect I meant that the character was so "perfectly" rounded, full of depths and hidden mystery that I instantly loved him/her,and I admired his courage and devotion from the bottom of my heart.

[Farseer]

Perhaps lack of flaws can actually be construed as a flaw in itself?

A perfect character who is perfect to the point of blandness?

Sounds like Chivalry...at least until Fitz showed up!

['thul]

chivalry was far from flawless, even before fitz...

one example: first thing he did when learning that chade lived, was to tell verity, which he was not supposed to do...

[Farseer]

Too true 'thul, not to mention other instances eg being with Fitz' mother, choosing Patience against Shrewd's wishes etc, but Chivalry was considered as coming across as too perfect a person by the majority of the SD population, until they saw Fitz as physical and undisputable evidence to the contrary. Even Verity was surprised and I think he said something like, "Who would have thought it of him?" (will confirm that!)...

This previously perceived perfection proved (crikey, talk about illiteration!) to actually be seen as a flaw in Chivalry's character, when he was considered from the viewpoint of others (not so much as that he was a flawless character as created by Robin Hobb but a supposedly flawless character of flawless reputation within the Six Duchies). Rather than be seen as an asset, his 'perfection' and perfectionist nature made him appear aloof and untouchable to others, and it was also something to be jealous of. He made other men question themselves and thus he was resented.

I'm not sure if there is a term elsewhere in the world but, here in Australia, we call it 'tall poppy syndrome' (okay, I call it that...other Aussies may not...Nuytsia?!). Tall poppy syndrome is basically when people are criticised or cut down (like poppies) once they achieve the height of success (they become superior or elevated in comparison to others so are then likened to tall poppies). It doesn't tend to matter how much the successful person actually deserves his reward or social status, once he attains success he is fairly quickly disparaged for it. The greater the height of excellence, or the length of time that the successful person stays in a successful positon, the greater the chance of being a victim of tall poppy syndrome.

Still, your observation makes me again wonder why Chiv didn't share any of it with Verity either straight up or via the Skill somehow...even by accident. He and Verity were very close as brothers, monarchs and as Skilled Ones...so why keep such a thing as his relationship with Fitz' mother a secret?

EDIT: I just realised I used 'his' and 'he' as gender-neutral pronouns in this post!

[Paragon-Athena]

As an Aussie myself, I call it tall poppy syndrome...

[Nuytsia]

This previously perceived perfection proved (crikey, talk about illiteration!)

Hehehehee

I'm not sure if there is a term elsewhere in the world but, here in Australia, we call it 'tall poppy syndrome' (okay, I call it that...other Aussies may not...Nuytsia?!).

Tall whaty syndrome???

Nah just kidding, I HAVE heard of that one!

---

When I said that I couldn't stand Fitz, I meant his attitude irked me and I wouldn't get on with him in real life.
Also when I said the Fool was beautiful in every respect I meant that the character was so "perfectly" rounded, full of depths and hidden mystery that I instantly loved him/her,and I admired his courage and devotion from the bottom of my heart.

Wow really!
I am not sure what I really would think of Fitz if I met him in real life..... but in the books he just felt kind of 'neutral' to me for most of the time.. I didn't find myself really judging or analysing his actions, as if I really was seeing through his eyes.

Although I must admit I didn't like/understand his actions towards the end of Tawny Man ...... (see other thread, 'The ending doesn't make sense')

[danieladamsmith]

Hard to believe so many folks dislike Fitz? I mean you I understand it's not like he's the main character or anything.....Fitz is flawed as are many of the characters. Sure you find yourself at times going...calm down. Tell Patience you're alive, Tell Burrich you're alive but most of his flaws have their origins in good intentions. I think he's a wonderful character. I feel like character's development is a little hamfisted in Tawny Man as compared to Farseer...but hey...who am I...just a reader. I think Night Eyes really helped the Fitz character in terms of fullness. I was broken hearted to lose Night Eyes...really.
I think Verity is a great character. I even think Will was a great character. Whether the characters were actually good or bad is irrelevant. As evil and cruel as Regal was...after a time you could almost understand why.

[Omie]

Fitz is flawed as are many of the characters.

It's hard not to love the surly, uptight, drug-addled bastard.

Sometimes I wonder if I must be a bit of an oddball fangirl in that my favourite character is Amber, as opposed to the Fool. Amber wasn't as funny as the Fool, but she also lacked some of the nastiness and childishness of both the Fool and Lord Golden. But I can't say she was my favourite character, because she comes wrapped in a twin-pack with the Paragon. The Paragon and Amber are my joint favourites. Their friendship is just a thing of beauty and bizarreness. That, too, I prefer in Amber - that you see a side of that character that can have a completely no-strings-attached friendship with another being just for the sake of being friends. It's like: 'I'm an inscrutable prophet of indeterminate sex, race and species. You're a mentally-unstable animate ship with multiple personalities. Let's be BFFs!'

And also... Chade. And Nighteyes. And the Fool. And Fitz. And Thick. And Kettle. And Ophelia. And Jek. Ah, Jek, you she-perve of the seas.

[Farseer]

Sometimes I wonder if I must be a bit of an oddball fangirl in that my favourite character is Amber, as opposed to the Fool. Amber wasn't as funny as the Fool, but she also lacked some of the nastiness and childishness of both the Fool and Lord Golden.

Insightful stuff, Omie! I also like Amber (and found I would flick forward through the books to her parts, no matter if it was a first, ninth or twentieth reading!) though I guess I just throw her in as 'Fool'?

But I can't say she was my favourite character, because she comes wrapped in a twin-pack with the Paragon. The Paragon and Amber are my joint favourites. Their friendship is just a thing of beauty and bizarreness. That, too, I prefer in Amber - that you see a side of that character that can have a completely no-strings-attached friendship with another being just for the sake of being friends.

Yes!

It's like: 'I'm an inscrutable prophet of indeterminate sex, race and species. You're a mentally-unstable animate ship with multiple personalities. Let's be BFFs!'

['thul]

These beings still stick to Tarman being one of their favorite characters. it takes a bit more understanding to like a character like him. (or it?)