Conflicting morals

[DanielPotter]

How do you handle reading a novel with the main character whose morals conflict with yours, especially when you're already committed to the story? Do you drop it? Or push through despite the discomfort?

 

[lkal92]

I live with the fact that not everyone has to be exactly like me.

 

[winterecho]

How do you handle reading a novel with the main character whose morals conflict with yours, especially when you're already committed to the story? Do you drop it? Or push through despite the discomfort?

for me I try as much as possible to think like the character, not myself.
What about you? I'm curious too

 

[Eldoria]

How do you handle reading a novel with the main character whose morals conflict with yours, especially when you're already committed to the story? Do you drop it? Or push through despite the discomfort?

Well, I don't support Light Yagami who has a god complex, but I still follow him as the protagonist because I want to know the ending. Why?

Because the fictional premise goes beyond the protagonist's identity... Death Note is a fictional scenario about what would happen if a genius high school student was given the power to determine life and death and acted as the world's judge?

I wanted to see the final answer to this premise. And well, the ending of Death Note is truly satisfying and answers that premise completely.

Death Note might be a good lesson for us in fiction writing that an original premise can be very powerful as a fictional identity, more than just a relatable protagonist for readers.

 

[JordanIda]

To hell with my own morals. My beliefs. My ethics.

What I love about a great book is that I can be anyone.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

As long as it doesn't feel like the author is preaching to me, I rarely notice.
If it does feel like they're preaching, then every other aspect of the story has to be exceptional (even if I agree with the message), or I will drop it in frustration.

 

[VanVeleca]

If the character is interesting yea sure I'll keep reading, if not then duh of course I'll drop it...the same treatment as characters whose morals do align with mine

 

[AnonUnlimited]

It depends on how well the author represents the character. If the character is a Gary Stu, Mary Sue or some non-binary "I am always right and win" type character... then it'll get old and stale fast and there is no point reading.

If the character has different ideas than me, but his or her or they're ideas are challenged greatly, and they have to consider the caveats and other things around their morals, then I would still love it.

I'll give you an example, Spider-man and Batman both have a no kill rule. When I was playing Arkham Asylum, I was upset at the idea that the villains Batman doesn't kill, go out and kill a lot of other people, yet Batman just puts them back in jail. You would think you'd hate that your ideals clash, but as you play it more and more you realize... just how hard it is for Batman to keep to his moral fiber despite all the shit that hits the fan.

It's the same with Spider-man. Losing the one he loves and still forcing himself to do the right thing. I don't agree with his morals, but the fact he suffers, the fact he pushes through no matter how hard it is makes the entire theme extremely compelling even if I don't agree with how they handle everything.

 

[L1aei]

@AnonUnlimited You bring up a good point because I would be far more interested in the why. Those two characters have various alternative backstories that go into depth on explaining how those morals developed into what they currently are. If a story can give me breadcrumbs to follow where the characters are coming from with their morals, I'll keep on track with the novel until the end.

 

[Zagaroth]

I very rarely come across a character who matches my morals/ethics exactly. But most characters who lean toward at least reactive heroism are people I could be friends with and I won't have issues reading about them.

My definition of reactive heroism: they don't go looking for someone to save, but if they come across someone who needs help, they generally act and help out.

If it is a character driven story, especially for a slice of life or other long story, then they usually need to be within some variance of my own Morals. "Not how I would do it, but that's an acceptable response." There's simply a limit to how much time I want to spend in/near the headspace of someone whose ethics clash with my own too much.

If it is a plot driven story and it is as much about the events as the characters, that's a different situation. I can step back further and watch the show, so to speak. This also applies to shorter stories that are exploring the mindset of a character whom I do not like as a person. I don't have to be there too long, so I can look at the interesting stuff while I am here.

This is a situation where the lines are blurred and will also vary by how well the author writes the story.

 

[CinnaSloth]

I look more to their continuity than their personalities, morals, or actions while reading.
I dislike when they do something, but then the book itself can't even seem to remember why they are the way they are.
while writing, I give characters their own moralities, and personalities that differ from my own all the time.
I think separating oneself from written fiction is how you become a better writer in general, and a better person, broadening your morals, views, and understanding of your fellow man.. i also think making 'understanding' or learning these things makes for much more believable, and emotional plots in your writing.

 

[JordanIda]

As long as it doesn't feel like the author is preaching to me, I rarely notice.
If it does feel like they're preaching, ,,, I will drop it in frustration.

YES. The flip-side of what I posted above.

I chopped your quote Charles just for brevity, but you go on to say the rest needs to be exceptional. Personally I don't even go that far.

I don't want teachable moments in my entertainment. I don't want people telling me what to think, in my leisure time. I love transporting myself into great characters and plots that are nothing like me, purely for fantasy. But I don't want some snotty know-it-all blowhard telling me what to think, what to believe, and how to change myself.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

YES. The flip-side of what I posted above.

I chopped your quote Charles just for brevity, but you go on to say the rest needs to be exceptional. Personally I don't even go that far.

I don't want teachable moments in my entertainment. I don't want people telling me what to think, in my leisure time. I love transporting myself into great characters and plots that are nothing like me, purely for fantasy. But I don't want some snotty know-it-all blowhard telling me what to think, what to believe, and how to change myself.

I will finish a book but drop a series if it's good but preachy (like the Maximum Ride series became when it went from "Coming of Age (with superpowers)" to "Save the ENVIRONMENT from CLIMATE CHANGE and EVIL CORPORATIONS NOW!!!" in the third or fourth (of, I think seven) books.

 

[Devilish]

When a protagonist is ethically and morally different from me, it really depends on whether the writer crafted that morality because it was interesting and suited the character and their arc, or if the character merely reflects the writer themselves. And, I have one question would it be morally conflicting to write a protagonist who is a cannibal serial killer and also a defender of veganism?

 

[Jalvin]

If I like the story enough, it will not deter me... to a degree, though.

 

[JordanIda]

I will finish a book but drop a series if it's good but preachy (like the [redact] series became when it went from "Coming of Age (with superpowers)" to "Save the ENVIRONMENT from CLIMATE CHANGE and EVIL CORPORATIONS NOW!!!" in the third or fourth (of, I think seven) books.

ROFL
Careful with the global warming, friend. It's supposed to be science, but we can be banned for discussing it, on grounds of politics and religion! :D

 

[CharlesEBrown]

ROFL
Careful with the global warming, friend. It's supposed to be science, but we can be banned for discussing it, on grounds of politics and religion! :D

From the discussions I've had (on both sides of the issue, including actual scientists on both sides), it's closer to religion than politics. But that, too, is dangerous ground.