Wittier Than Thou - a look at identifying with characters too clever to be believed

[idiosyncreant]

Several more of the people on my F-List have come around to sense and read some of Megan Whalen Turner's work, so I've been skipping around making verbal parries about Tricksters, and love of rascals, and all sorts of things. Golden days, really!

rhinemouse  made some excellent, excellent points over at her post about characters Smarter Than Everyone Else

Comments

[rhinemouse]

You make many, many good points, and I need time to digest them all.

I will say this: to the extent that the Witty Ones are compensating for some kind of disadvantage/insecurity, I empathize with them. (Especially insecurity. I will never stop falling for the Poor Little Prodigy Is Secretly Insecure trope.) And I also love them when they're showing off against equally (or almost-equally) brilliant nemeses. It's when they're contrasted with Poor Mortal Schlubs that I start losing empathy.

So for instance, I loved Holmes in the recent movie and I greatly enjoyed watching him strut his stuff against Lord Whatsisface. But when he starts mocking Lestrade, I get rather annoyed at him.

But let's talk about the important stuff now: I had forgotten how pretty Miyazaki-Howl was. Clearly I need to watch the movie and read the book all over again.

. . . Seriously, that screencap is hypnotic. How does he make staring at bacon and eggs look like an act of profound genius???

[idiosyncreant]

He's got amazing eyes, which does seem to be one of Miyazaki's geniuses. Making eyes alive in line-art style.

I don't get at all annoyed by them taking potshots at bystanders (though I am greatly amused when Lestrade gets his own back. Also, the cute young underling with the "My wife is a chamber-maid" quip. HAH, and Holmes is just trying to Ace-bandage his sprained dignity...).

I do get frustrated with them when they stone-wall people they should trust. But sometimes I really understand that, too. Example: in Iron Man 2, Tony misses his moment to make his confession because of his weird approach. I so relate. However, it's pretty obvious he's being a little selfish about what is going to be a painful conversation, and isn't making that much of an effort.

...people talk about these fellows being frustrating to be around in real life, but they are the kind of people I have spent way to much energy trying to impress. I know who the smarter people are in this case. Thought I'd disclose that, however.

[timeripple]

You both make extremely good and interesting points!

What I identify with is having only intelligence as a weapon, of prizing it as my best possession. Being quick on the uptake, sensitive to nuance. What I long for, that they have, is being quick on the draw, shameless about using it to their advantage.

THIS. Archie is my favorite character in The Chocolate War (inasmuch as one can have a favorite character when one hates them all) because he is the mastermind, the manipulator, and because there comes a moment when his fate is completely out of his own control

[idiosyncreant]

Right, Alan is so right up my alley (disclosure: only have read the first book) but it's almost like every interaction with him is telegraphing You think this lad is cute and trust-worthy, but don't do itSomehow lanky megane-boys who are secretly dangerous don't bother me, but yanno. Not everyone can take the uber-sexiness of demons in stride. I don't have that kind of self-confidence

[farrandy]

I always thought the that the biggest mystery about Sherlock Holmes (no matter which incarnation, even starting with the original stories) is how Watson ever refrained from putting a bullet in that massive ego. And yet still a character that continues to endure and fascinate. BTW, I don't know if you've seen the BBC series SHERLOCK which is a 21st century updating of the character, but the guy who plays Holmes makes Downey's Holmes almost look like a gentleman by comparison--and he's STILL fascinating!

Another Smartest Guy In The Room character is Blackadder from the BBC comedy TV series. But in that case, Blackadder is the smartest guy because everyone around him truly is a complete idiot. Easy to identify with because we've all been in that place a time or ten.

Two more Smartest Person In The Room characters are Granny Weatherwax and Lord Vetinari from Terry Pratchett's Discworld books. Their story arcs have never crossed and that's probably a good thing.

And then there's Howl. Hmmm... Why are the Brits so good at this

[idiosyncreant]

"Why are the Brits so good at this character