Then he’s just an audience proxy, reflecting our own patheticness. :)
I’m not saying everyone has to like 1984, I’m not saying there is one concrete experience of it. I’m merely pointing out that unlikable protaganists are a choice, and there can be a strong narrative experience when that choice is made.
I’ll definitely recommend Gurgeh from The Player of Games as a great unlikeable protagonist. It helps that his friends call him on his bullshit, and that he’s quickly put in a situation where he’s one of the best people around. It helps us believe that the Culture’s idea of a doofus is quite a bit better than most civilisations’ idea of a good person.
Then he’s just an audience proxy, reflecting our own patheticness. :)
I’m not saying everyone has to like 1984, I’m not saying there is one concrete experience of it. I’m merely pointing out that unlikable protaganists are a choice, and there can be a strong narrative experience when that choice is made.
I’ll definitely recommend Gurgeh from The Player of Games as a great unlikeable protagonist. It helps that his friends call him on his bullshit, and that he’s quickly put in a situation where he’s one of the best people around. It helps us believe that the Culture’s idea of a doofus is quite a bit better than most civilisations’ idea of a good person.