A Glimpse of Starlight

After a bit of a delay, I’m here with the post on my favorite female characters.  Enjoy, and tell me who yours are, because I’d love to know!

1) Eowyn (Lotr)

I absolutely love the way Tolkien handles femininity with her.  In fact, I can’t think of another book that so sensitively and wisely depicts the minds and hearts of women and the struggle between what we think we want and what we really want.  I love how he shows that true freedom comes from submitting to your true role and purpose and that there is honor and fulfillment in other things besides fighting and being tough.

2) Scout Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird)

The way she sees the world, her love for Atticus, her simple, honest perception of things, her bluntness and yet sensitivity to how others are feeling … I just love Scout.  Harper Lee did a masterful job of capturing the way kids think and using their perceptions to highlight the hypocrisy and injustice of the world.  I also love seeing her grow and mature without losing her unique, spunky nature.

3) Maddie Kalladorne (Legends of the Guardian-King)

Because it’s not often where you find a girl character that’s not pretty or charming or your  typical alluring girl heroine. She doesn’t like socializing, she’s plain, she’s too smart for a girl, and she often sticks her nose where it doesn’t belong.  Yet, for all this, she’s also wise, devoted to the Light, and caring toward others.  Plus, I love seeing how her relationship with Abramm grows from annoyance on both sides to comraderie to love.

4) Una  (Heartless)

Because I am Una.  Okay, so I’m not the princess of Parumvir, my face doesn’t get blotches on it when I’m embarrassed, and I’ve never been to the Twelve-Year Market, but otherwise, I’m her.  I’ve ignored and rejected the only One who can ever love me perfectly, I’ve traded my heart for destructive fire, and yet I’ve been loved by the One with the sword that brings life. Una’s tale is so heartbreaking and beautiful and relatable.

5) Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)

I love how real she is—she made a mistake with Wickham and she has prejudices.  However, none of that diminishes how loving she is toward her family, her humility when she realizes she was wrong, and her spunky wittiness.