Er, it's called a character arc, people!
But seriously, does it?
Off the top of my head, I've written
stories about a detective who has hallucinations and may or may not be Jack the
goddamn Ripper; a teenage love-triangle with homosexual tendencies; and poems
about soldiers leaving behind loved ones, and a number of other delusional
things. Is there a part of me in some of these? Of course. But hey, everyone
loves an underdog! I would hope that they build character and make them
more interesting for the audience (whomever may read it), rather than make them
less lovable and life-like. Life is supposed to be about the good and the bad,
the highs and the lows which form our outlook on situations. Either this or you’re
taking away their very core of being remotely realistic.
People need role models; people need the truth. I wouldn't be
where I am now without my downfalls, flaws and all. Cheever for example, makes ‘a
lot’ of references to alcohol, no matter how subtle or obvious (take your
pick). His alcoholism in his personal life, however, does not have a direct effect
on his work. Taking ‘Swimmer’ as an example, it may have the underlining of his
alcohol usage, but it doesn't stop it from becoming a well-known and well
written story.
Actually, come to think of it, Emily Dickinson’s ‘Over the Fence’ doesn't make me love the protagonist any less just because she’s curious about her
womanhood.
Protagonist definition via http://dictionary.reference.com
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