By Tessa Pulyer Posted on

Are You The Main Character Or In The Background? #BookBloggerHop #coffeeramblings

The Book Blogger Hop was originally created by Jennifer @ Crazy-For-Books in March 2010 and ended on December 31, 2012. With Jennifer’s permission, Billy @ Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer relaunched the hop on February 15, 2013. Each week the hop will start on a Friday and end the following Thursday. There will be a weekly prompt featuring a book related question. The hop’s purpose is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to their own blog.

If you were in a book, would you rather be the main character or in the background?

(submitted by Julie @ JadeSky)

All the world’s a stage,

And all the men and women merely players;

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts,

– William Shakespeare’s comedy As You Like It, spoken by Jaques in Act II Scene VII Line 139

I think background characters are more fun because anything is possible if you are in the background. The main character’s path is set, good or bad, but the background characters – who is really paying attention to what they are up to? They have a world of possibilities at their fingertips. No one is directing their life, their goals, or their decisions. They can be anyone and do anything. I like the thought of having options and of being able to blend in or stand out at will. For these reasons, I choose to be in the background.

Which would you rather be – a main character or in the background?

21 Replies to “Are You The Main Character Or In The Background? #BookBloggerHop #coffeeramblings”

  1. kat says:

    Since I mostly read fantasy, I think, even though it would be incredibly scary, I’d rather be the main character. Background characters have a bad habit of meeting bad ends and I think I’d really like to live, haha. Fun question!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      Haha – red shirts!!! I didn’t think about that 🤔 I definitely don’t want to be expendable.

      Like

  4. Staci Troilo says:

    I love your answer. I want to steal it and use it as my own.

    I have no idea how to answer the question. If I was a MC, I would either be evil or in peril. Neither sounds fun. But if I was a background character, I’d be easily expendable. (Think of the poor redshirts in Star Trek.) I think I’d want to choose my character on a per-book basis.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      Another response reminded me of the red shirt potential too😳 I don’t want to be expendable. But I also want the freedom to move. Such a conundrum!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Mischenko says:

    Wow, this takes some thought for me because it would depend on the plot and setting for me I think. I’m not a person who likes to be in the limelight though, so maybe leaning more toward background? 😆 Thought-provoking for sure! Hope all is well, Tessa.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      All is wonderful. Hope all is well with you too 🤗. In real life I always end up the MC when I want to be in the background, so I think that’s why the background is so appealing to me. Being the MC never seems to work out that well 🤣

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Teri Polen says:

    Like Staci, I definitely don’t want to be a red shirt in Star Trek. I also think it would have to depend on the story. Then I think about how it’s the supporting characters that usually wind up dead. Tough choice.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lady Tessa says:

      Poor support characters. Maybe that’s how I always end up as the reluctant MC in real life – it’s all about surviving. ❤️

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Books Teacup and Reviews says:

    I also will be in the background. Main Character has lot of problems and difficulties and I get that enough in real life. In book world, I would love to sit back and watch the show and be helpful to main character whenever required.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. Jonetta (Ejaygirl) | Blue Mood Café says:

    What a great question! My first instinct was to say in the background because that’s my nature. However, if I peel away that fear that sends me to the sidelines, my heart would like to have something great destined for my character by design. I love how you described the possibilities for the secondary characters, though, and that’s appealing.

    How’s that for a wishy-washy answer😏

    Liked by 1 person

  10. WendyW says:

    So much stress being the main character! Sometimes you have the weight of the world. Side character for me too!

    Liked by 1 person

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