But the depiction is in itself a mode of thought. If I have a story depicting a character doing something morally distasteful, then going to sleep in her beloved's arms, that can be interpreted as a condoning of the actions, no?
No. Most emphatically. Maybe I read (and write) more stories from the point of view of out-and-out bad guys than you do, but I think there is a definite separation between wanting the protagonist to be happy and agreeing with their actions if the story was taking place in reality. I like Harry Starks in The Long Firm, and wanted him to get one over on the police (not read any other Jake Arnott books, so can't comment on later stories), but I apply completely different rules to the Krays et al (in my case the jury's still out on having reformed gangsters in as experts when reporting on major crime for current affairs programmes as happened recently).
A story needs to play by the rules of that world and the main characters, which is why I also take issue with your reading of Jane Eyre.
(no subject)
Date: 2006-05-19 05:32 am (UTC)No. Most emphatically. Maybe I read (and write) more stories from the point of view of out-and-out bad guys than you do, but I think there is a definite separation between wanting the protagonist to be happy and agreeing with their actions if the story was taking place in reality. I like Harry Starks in The Long Firm, and wanted him to get one over on the police (not read any other Jake Arnott books, so can't comment on later stories), but I apply completely different rules to the Krays et al (in my case the jury's still out on having reformed gangsters in as experts when reporting on major crime for current affairs programmes as happened recently).
A story needs to play by the rules of that world and the main characters, which is why I also take issue with your reading of Jane Eyre.