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Should Readers Seek Role Models In Fiction?
Do Some Authors Write Their MCs To Be Role Models For Readers?
I was once asked whether Mukti, the heroine in my Soulmates Saga, is a good role model for young British-Asian women. I answered by saying that in some ways, she is, and in some ways, she isn’t. Mukti, who you first meet in Book 1 of this adult contemporary romance series, is resilient, hard-working, and kind. Great! However, she also has insecurities and they sometimes get the better of her. It’s not ideal, but it’s something a lot of us can relate to. It makes her real.
Either way, I never intended for her — or any of my characters, for that matter — to be a role model for readers. I don’t think I’m equipped to take that kind of responsibility for strangers, whose experiences and values I know nothing about, and say, “Hey guys, follow her lead.”
I once watched an interview with Stephenie Meyer (author of the Twilight Saga) in which she was asked how she felt about critics saying her female protagonist Bella isn’t a good role model for young girls. Many felt as though Stephenie intended for Bella to be a role model and to set an example for young readers; when I read the series, however, I didn’t feel that way. I didn’t get any preachy vibes from these books. The only agenda I would say the Cullens seemed to be…
