--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There's something to be said for a…" description: "\"There's something to be said for a likable character, but fiction has a way of upending our ordinary standards.\" — Ben Dolnick" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/ben-dolnick-16441_character_there-s-something-to-be-said-for-a-likab_1492616.jpg" --- # There's something to be said for a likable character, but… ![“There's something to be said for a likable character, but fiction has a way of upending our ordinary standards.” quote by Ben Dolnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/ben-dolnick-16441_character_there-s-something-to-be-said-for-a-likab_1492616.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/ben-dolnick-16441_character_there-s-something-to-be-said-for-a-likab_1492616.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f3/ben-dolnick-16441_character_there-s-something-to-be-said-for-a-likab_1492616.jpg) > “There's something to be said for a likable character, but fiction has a way of upending our ordinary standards.” [Ben Dolnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-dolnick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A likable protagonist can be appealing, yet stories often challenge our usual expectations of character. **In simple terms:** Stories can make us rethink what we like in characters. Key Takeaway Embrace complex characters. Themes character storytelling expectations Mood thoughtful analytical Type literary critical When to use this quote - reading fiction - writing workshops - character analysis - media criticism Key Concepts narrative subversion moral ambiguity Questions to Reflect On - How do you react when a favorite character behaves unexpectedly? - What does this say about our own biases? A Different Perspective Complex characters may alienate some audiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Character Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-fiction-936684/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Likable Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/likable-character-1180403/) [Said Likable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-likable-5456427/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Standards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/standards/) [Upending Ordinary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/upending-ordinary-5456426/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [It's rather disconcerting to sit around a table in a critique of someone else's work, only to realize that the antagonist in the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-richmond/it-s-rather-disconcerting-to-sit-around-a-table-in-a-critique-of/) [Michelle Richmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-richmond/) > [I think you've really got to cling to what makes sense to you. 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