Who are your favourite fictional heroines? Are there any particular qualities you like to see in a fictional heroine? Personally, I like heroines who are far from perfect, in fact they’re often quite flawed. But they must be strong and independent. I hate wimpy characters! Choosing five favourites was difficult but here we go:
Scarlett O’Hara from Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell.
Whilst I wouldn’t necessarily want to be friends with Scarlett O’Hara, she’s a perfect example of the flawed heroine I like to see in a novel. When the book begins she comes across as selfish and vain, almost dislikeable. She ruthlessly casts aside anyone who gets in the way of her goals and yet, as the book progresses, her inner strength and courage in the face of extreme hardship and danger shine through. By the end of the book I was cheering for her.
Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
I loved Elizabeth’s independence and intelligence and yet she also has a stubborn streak which makes her seem more real, somehow. She isn’t afraid to speak her mind. Apart from her witty banter with Mr Darcy, I loved the way she stood up to the snooty Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Emma Woodhouse from Emma by Jane Austen.
Another heroine I don’t think I’d want to be friends with. Emma has never had to struggle in life and is quite a stubborn and vain character. After a marriage takes place between her former governess and Mr Weston, Emma gets a taste for matchmaking but unfortunately her meddling in other people’s lives doesn’t always go the way she planned, mainly due to her lack of experience and her conviction she’s always right. However, by the end of the book she’s grown as a person and fallen in love, despite her earlier declaration that she’ll never marry.
Sophy Stanton Lacey from The Grand Sophy by Georgette Heyer
I remember listening to, rather than reading, this book after I’d been forced to wear an eyepatch following a sporting incident which resulted in an injury to my eye. This was definitely a book to lift the spirits, I can remember laughing out loud during this book. I loved Sophy’s independence, wit, lively and somewhat quirky, personality which posed such a contrast to the rather depressed household where she’s currently staying.
Bridget Jones from Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding.
I love Bridget Jones! She’s a character I’d love to have as a friend. I can imagine many women would see parts of themselves in her character. She’s physically not perfect, is on a continual bumbling quest towards self-improvement while trying to find a boyfriend. She makes tons of mistakes along the way but she’s never afraid to give things a go whilst hanging on to her sense of humour. All in all a very endearing character.
Who are your favourite fictional heroines? Add a note in the comments section.