Thursday, 15 December 2011
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Points of View and Different Realities
Welcome to the Sleigh Bells and Ink Wells Blog Hop, and thanks for stopping by. Shortly after I was asked to participate, and before I had enough time to scramble anxiously for a topic that might titillate and inspire, a friend asked me a fascinating question: Have you ever wondered what a story would be like written from a different character’s point of view?
The more I thought about the question, the more interesting I found it to be. As a psychotherapist, I’ve spent a lot of time examining issues from alternate points of view, but in works of fiction? What an intriguing exercise. For example, what if Moby Dick had been written from Moby Dick’s point of view?
Rrrrriiiiinnnnggggg!
“Coast Guard. How can I help you?”
“Help!” (forceful panting noises, as if panting through a very large nostril) “These crazy freakin’ fishermen…they’re everywhere! They’ve been stalking me! And they’ve got harpoons! You gotta help me!”
Or, as suggested by a poster on a forum I sometimes visit, how about Three Little Pigs written from the point of view of the wolf?
“Little pig, little pig, you’re three months behind on your rent. As your landlady, I’m ordering you to pay up, or I’ll be forced to huff and puff and blow your house in. Times are tough all around. It’s either the money…or you. I’ve got a starving litter to feed.”
Kind of presents it in a whole new light, doesn’t it? What was Katherina really thinking in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew? Or what about Coyotito’s doctor in Steinbeck’s The Pearl? A despicable character, no doubt, but what could we learn – about society, bigotry, and even ourselves - from studying his point of view?
Some characters, like Billy May Platte of Appalachian Justice, work hard to share their thoughts. Quite often, Billy May woke me from a sound sleep or made me dash from the shower, soaking wet, to write down something she wanted to say. You wanted me to talk, so I’m talkin’, but you got to get to writin’.
Others, like Beth, the protagonist in the work in progress, are harder to get to know. It makes for slow writing, but I can only go
as far as the characters will take me. As long as the characters are willing, I want to make sure I represent their points of view, even if I don’t particularly like them. That seems only fair.What about you? Are there any characters you’d like to hear from? A different side of a story you’d like to see represented? A new spin on an old tale?
While you ponder those questions, I hope you’ll check out http://SweetMusicOnMoonlightRidge.blogspot.com/
with Ramey Channel, the next stop on the blog hop. Happy hopping!Melinda Clayton is the author of Appalachian Justice and the sequel, Return to Crutcher Mountain.
The full lineup of blog hoppers:
Smoky Zeidel http://smokyzeidel.wordpress.com/2011/12/16/sleigh-bells-ink-wells-give-a-little-happiness/
Patricia Damery http://www.patriciadamery.com/
Debra Brenegan http://debrabrenegan.blogspot.com/
Malcolm R. Campbell http://KnightOfSwords.wordpress.com
T.K. Thorne http://tkthorne.wordpress.com/
Anne K. Albert http://Anne-K-Albert.blogspot.com
Elizabeth Clark-Stern http://elizabethclarkstern.com/wordpress/
Collin Kelley http://collinkelley.blogspot.com/
Sharon Heath http://www.sharonheath.com/
Melinda Clayton http://AuthorMelindaClayton.xanga.com
Ramey Channell http://SweetMusicOnMoonlightRidge.blogspot.com/
Leah Shelleda http://www.leahshelleda.com/
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Comments (10)
Exploring and considering all those points of view makes our storytelling more three dimensional and true. Of course, doing that adds to the number of voices chattering inside our heads while we're working on a novel. I'm thinking though that as a psychologist, you probably don't tell your clients that you hear voices. But, within the safety of a blog hop, we're okay with hearing that.
Malcolm
@Anne K. Albert@facebook - I had no idea, Anne, thanks for letting me know. Now I have to go look it up and check it out!
@Malcolm R. Campbell - LOL, Malcolm, they might be surprised at all sorts of things about me!
@AuthorMelindaClayton - Excellent thoughts! I, too, love stories from different perspectives. My favorite is Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys, which is a "retelling" of Jane Eyre from Bertha's perspective. Fascinating! -- Debra
I love the retelling of the King Arthur myth in Mists of Avalon. Thank you for this blog and your thoughts!
Ah, Melinda, a provocative question, and I love the knowledge of literature and your ability to take on different voices! Since I am a poet, not a writer of fiction, I am often awed by the ability to create character, plot and narrative.I just finished reading The Cat's Table by Michael Ondaatje, and he quotes a film maker who says that we don't know more about the characters in his work than the characters know. As though we don't imagine our way through works of art!
Thank you, everyone, for all the thoughtful comments. This has been fun, and I've so enjoyed "meeting" new people. I look forward to checking out all the books, not just those people have mentioned they've enjoyed, but also those written by those who have commented.
Melinda, I so relate to your words, "I can only go
as far as the characters will take me." No kidding! Do you ever wonder if it's we who are creating the characters, or they who are using us? Your lovely post brought to mind Jonathan Franzen's Freedom, in which he so deftly, so painfully enticed us to experience the story from each character's point of view. I often feel like I'm called to be an actor of the old school, entering into my characters and finding their truths so that they can blast me open to further dimensions of myself I hadn't known existed. Thanks so much for such a provocative essay.
Very interesting thought--to imagine the story from another's POV. That is, in fact, what I guess I did in Noah's Wife. I'm glad to know I am not the only one whose character's demand time in the most awkward moments! LOL.
I know I've wanted to hear the story of The Grapes of Wrath, only from the point of view of the simpleton brother, who ended up staying behind at one point, and walking away down the creek. I wonder what happened to him.
@plantinthewindow - That one would be really interesting!