Ciao, amici. Charles E. Yallowitz has been writing a series of posts on his site, Legends of Windemere, about bad boys in fiction. (You should have seen my links to the first two posts on Friday’s list of links.)
Today, he asked for reader interaction. I thought it would be fun to play along, answer his questions, and encourage you to do the same. All he asks is that you answer the questions in his comments section or create your own post and link back to him.
Here are his three questions plus my answers:
- Who is your favorite ‘Bad Boy’ from fiction?
Rick Blaine from Casablanca.
He’s a rogue of sorts when the story begins, but his arc is one of my favorites. Ever. - If you had to design a ‘Bad Boy’, what would be a necessity?
Intelligence.
I think if a bad boy isn’t smart, he runs the risk as coming off as a thug. Maybe a thug with a hidden heart of gold, but still a thug. I think a smart bad boy elevates the character. (Then again, I’ve always found intelligence sexy, so I have to admit this is a strong personal bias.) - Why do you think the ‘Bad Boy’ is so appealing to audiences?
Jealousy.
This is probably very heavy in the personal bias range, too, but here goes. For those of us who follow every rule and strive to live up to everyone’s expectations, we envy the freedom with which bad boys live their lives. They don’t seem to worry about any of the stuff that bogs down the rest of us. To me, those rough edges add interest. And hold a certain appeal.
That’s my take. What about you? Answer Charles on his site or create a post and link back to him. I think we’re both interested in your thoughts.
Happy Saturday!
Great post, Staci! Fave bad guy? There are so many… I like the thought of Rick in Casablanca. The only parts of that movie that always bugged me were the closeups of Bogey saying: “Here’s lookin’ at you, kid.” I mean, one or twice is plenty. I should watch that movie again ….
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Watch it again. It’s my favorite (or one of them)!
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I love this! I am a HUGE sucker for the bad boys in fiction and in life. It would be hard for me to pick just one. 🙂 Patrick Swayze in “Roadhouse,” Warren Beaty in “Bonnie and Clyde,” and Jax in “Son’s of Anarchy” would be at the top of my list. What trait would my bad boy have? Intelligence is good, but he would also need to be a romantic at heart. 🙂 Why do I think bad boys are so appealing? Because they dare to do things that others only secretly dream about! Great post, Staci. Sorry I’m late seeing it, but I found all of my blog notifications going into a black hole, so I’m in the process of retrieving them.
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My subscribed posts are lost in the aether, too. I finally gave up, canceled all my notifications, and started visiting my reader every morning. (Yours is one of the ones that disappeared, so if I’ve missed some, my apologies.)
It goes without saying my bad boy needs to have a romantic streak. Otherwise, he’s just any random guy! I love your list, by the way. Patrick Swayze played a wonderful bad boy. Loved him in Road House; adored him in Dirty Dancing. Johnny Castle is one of my favorite movie characters (of the modern era). We lost a good one when he passed.
Thanks, Jan.
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I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve never watched Casablanca – always meant to, but the opportunity just never came up. With the bad boys – intelligence, absolutely. Like everyone else, the heart of gold is something I look for.
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You have to make time for that at some point. It really is the perfect story.
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I’ve been immersed in editing today (yesterday was reading) so I’m playing catch up with the blog posts I missed. The quality that always draws me to “bad boys” is when they have a sliver of redemption lingering underneath. I guess I’m just a sucker for that. And dang, now I REALLY have to watch Casablanca!
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I think redemption goes without saying in a bad boy. Otherwise, they’d be a villain.
Nora Roberts writes wonderful bad boys. I haven’t read her in quite a while, but several of them stand out to me as favorite characters. I always seem to like them over the too-good-to-be-true heroes.
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Great post (both Charles and Staci). I’m limited for time right now, but I intend to write a post addressing this, as the Bad Boy is very near and dear to my heart. Stay tuned 🤗
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Looking forward to it, Jess.
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Enjoyed this, Staci. For me, it’s finding the heart of gold under the bad boy image that wins my heart 🙂
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That’s the payoff, isn’t it?
I’m now wondering if my Nightforce series isn’t all bad boys. I thought they were heroes (all ex-military; all working security), but now, with all their rough edges, I’m thinking maybe they’re all bad boys (to a degree, anyway). Makes me like them all the more now. (I really need to get back to that series.)
Thanks, Jacquie.
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Ooh, so do I! 🙂
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❤
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An interesting post… A good way to develop a bad boy character. 🙂
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Thanks, Kevin. I have to give all the credit to Charles. He always comes up with fascinating takes on fiction.
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Nice one, Charles! 🙂
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A fun post, Staci. I completely agree about the intelligence vs thug remarks. I hadn’t really thought about the jealousy answer, but I can see that is true. Hugs!
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I think there’s something to be said for rule-breaking. I don’t have it in me, but I admire those who do. (Assuming they break stupid or arbitrary rules and nothing that makes them bad people, of course.)
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I agree with your answer, Staci. When I put my teacher hat on, I love that child with so much energy, enthusiasm and curiosity that he can’t sit still, questions everything, and has trouble following lock step. In them, I see our future problem solvers!
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Beautifully said, Jacqui.
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I also stopped by Charles’s place earlier today. I have a hard time hearing the term without the old “love triangle” concept in my mind. Once distanced from that all my answers were either about Merv from Sin City, or Clovis from my own stories.
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I haven’t seen Sin City, but you know I love Clovis!
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I suppose he does have his own romantic angle, tiny flecks of one.
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Great answers, Staci. I agree about the character arc of Rick Blaine. Best ever!
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I can’t say enough good things about that movie. 🙂
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I love your answers, Staci. I’m fully behind Rick Blaine and intelligence:)
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I first watched Casablanca in college, then I immediately bought the VHS. (Talk about old.) I no longer have a VHS player, but it’s recorded on my Directv receiver, and I watch it all the time. I don’t think anyone will ever make a better story.
Thanks, Denise.
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Great answers. The jealousy aspect is definitely interesting. I can see that being the case for some people. It’s like the opposite of those who would want to tame the bad boy.
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Yes, I suppose it is. I definitely don’t want to tame my bad boy characters.
This was fun, Charles.
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