Characters tell all

I appreciate skill in all of its forms. I enjoy watching a quality films, I am often captivated by a great play, and I find myself being sucked into a book if, and only if, the character and the emotions are able to pull me in. The depth and emotions of characters are the most important parts of any form of entertainment, but especially in writing. If a author wants to successfully persuade me to his way of thinking he must do so in creating a character that I can empathize with. For those who have ever read The Outsiders, Ponyboy, the main character is able to accomplish this. I grew up in the suburbs of a major city, quite on the " other side of the tracks" from the setting of Ponyboy's life, but the author is able to pull me in to his life in such a way that I cannot help but to begin seeing the similarities between myself and Ponyboy. This connection creates a completely new way of thinking for me, helping me to put my self in the shoes of another and think about our culture and social structure in a way that i never have before.

It is only through the emotional connection with the character and the character's credibility that I am at once persuaded to the Authors point of view. For me it really has little to do with the Authors credibility as that its not what sticks with me long term. After all who do remember most? Lenny and George, or Steinbeck? Jean val Jean and Javier or Hugo? Frodo and Bilbo or Tolkien?