Famous Fictional Characters

It happens with us so many times that long after we have seen a film or read a book, a certain character in it remains with us. We are able to connect at some level with some of these characters. The aura and depth that these characters possess, makes them unforgettable and popular among people of all ages, centuries and societies. Below are some of the most popular fictional characters of all times, found in literature and films.

Hamlet
Hamlet, the protagonist in William Shakespeare's tragic play "Hamlet", is a character best remembered for his quick wit, intelligence, sound judgment, great tastes and his disgust for the opinion of others. Understanding Hamlet is a bit tricky because despite all his qualities, hamlet is always in an inner struggle, of how or if to take revenge for his father's murder. In this quest of avenging, he kills King Claudius, his chief counselor Polonius and Polonius's son Laertes. He is even accidentally involved in the death of his mother Gertrude and lover Ophelia. And, at the end of the play, he himself dies a tragic end.

Anna Karenina
A beautiful, intelligent, passionate and well read woman, who dares the norms of the society by having an affair in spite of being married, is popular even today for her feminist ideas. Anna Karenina is presented as a woman hell-bent on living her life the way she wants and thus, is condemned by everybody. Her insistence on following her heart and considering "love" being greater than anything else, has kept her alive in the hearts of people for so many centuries.

Madame Bovary
Madame Bovary or Emma, is a character who is unable to accept the realities around her. She has unrealistic notions of romance and when is faced with an ordinary existence, is unable to keep up with it. Madame Bovary is portrayed as a woman of immense beauty, with a long list of lovers. It is her morally corrupt behavior as well as non acceptance of an ordinary life, that ultimately leads to her financial ruin, with her ending up becoming a prostitute to survive.

Elizabeth Bennett
The main protagonist in Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice", is not particularly known for her beauty. It is her other qualities like intelligence, grit, quickness of mind and playful disposition, so uncommonly found in women of that era, that appeals and endears to the readers even today.

Joe Gargery
In Charles Dickens "Great Expectations", Joe is married to pip's (the protagonist) sister. He is a character known for values such as honesty and hard work. He fills in as a parent for pip when he is small. Joe is portrayed as someone who is very down to earth and who does not care about riches. He is strong yet mellow. He has a great understanding of his circumstances and that is why when Pip becomes rich, he does not visit him again. He is someone who knows how to love and support people unconditionally.

Humbert Humbert
Perhaps the most complicated character in literature, Humbert Humbert in Vladimir Nabokov's "Lolita", is self delusional, when he says that Lolita, his step daughter and he are in love. Humbert is portrayed as an intellectual and knowledgeable person, at the same time is a pedophile, who can resort to rape and murder. The most interesting thing about this fictional character is that with his language skills and word games, he is somehow able to convince the reader to sympathize for him, instead of hating him for the horrors he had committed.

James Bond
James Bond, the film and James Bond, a character in the famous book by Ian Fleming, definitely finds a place among the most famous fictional characters names. James Bond struck the right note with both men and women. Men identify with him for his love for cars, guns, cocktails and women. And women go all weak in the knees for this handsome hunk, thanks to his good looks, personal charisma and style.

Other popular fictional characters are Pip and miss Havisham of "Great expectations", Julien Sorel of "The Red and the Black", Sherlock Holmes, Tintin, Sir Lancelot of "The Lady of Shalott", Mrs Norris of Mansfield Park, Tom Ripley of "The Talented Mr Ripley", Molly Bloom of "Ulysses", Michael Henchard of "The Mayor of Casterbridge", Benjamin Trotter of "The Rotter's Club". The more recent fictional characters that are popular are batman, superman, Gandalf of "Lord of the rings" and Indiana Jones. If you feel that some more names should be added to this list, feel free to do that by way of the comments column below.