Monday 30 September 2013

Which fictional character would you like to be?

When I was a very small child I was in love with Superman.  I wanted to marry him.  I have always been fascinated by superheroes and their abilities to fight injustice.


Being a shy, reserved, bookish child and teenager, I wasn’t exactly superhero material and I wouldn’t have fared well in a fight.  However, having said that, I remember several occasions when friends were being bullied and instead of running, something inside me snapped and some primitive instinct took over and I attacked on their behalf.  Not quite the Incredible Hulk, but I understand where that comes from.  I still get angry when I witness bullying, whether that takes the form of selfish aggressive drivers or multinational corporations squeezing their small business suppliers to the point of bankruptcy.  Bullying can take many forms. 

I was in my mid-forties when I first encountered Buffy the Vampire Slayer.  I fell in love with the character.  I wanted to be her – to have her looks, her style, her youth, her friends, and – most of all – her super abilities to kick ass!

The show itself combined so many of the elements I loved - great characters, fantastic dialogue (which really influenced my writing style at the time) and vampires!   I looked forward every week to a new episode, and when it was on, everything else got ignored, including the phone.  For that hour, I could immerse myself in fantasy and wish fulfilment.

I did manage to get myself a Buffy sweatshirt hoodie from ebay and wore it when I was teaching, to the amusement of my students.  But that was the nearest I came to being Buffy.

2 comments:

  1. I love Batman and put him on a pedestal among heroes because he fights without powers and always comes out on top, but I wouldn't be a female version of him at first pick (maybe second). I'd switch over to Marvel and take on the power of Storm. She wise and powerful, a leader through and through.

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    1. Hi Toinette - I also loved Batman - I'm a big fan of superheroes. I also liked Xena Warrior Princess!

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