--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Maybe I'm perverse, but the question of…" description: "\"Maybe I'm perverse, but the question of \"rooting\" for a character, or setting out to write a character for whom other people will root, has never had a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/james-lasdun-29180_alive_maybe-i-m-perverse-but-the-question-of-r_3006692.jpg" --- # Maybe I'm perverse, but the question of "rooting" for a… ![“Maybe I'm perverse, but the question of "rooting" for a character, or setting out to write a character for whom other people will root, has never had anything to do with why I read or write fiction. As long as the writing and story remain alive, intense, invigorating, provoking, the characters can…” quote by James Lasdun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/james-lasdun-29180_alive_maybe-i-m-perverse-but-the-question-of-r_3006692.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/james-lasdun-29180_alive_maybe-i-m-perverse-but-the-question-of-r_3006692.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e5/james-lasdun-29180_alive_maybe-i-m-perverse-but-the-question-of-r_3006692.jpg) > “Maybe I'm perverse, but the question of "rooting" for a character, or setting out to write a character for whom other people will root, has never had anything to do with why I read or write fiction. As long as the writing and story remain alive, intense, invigorating, provoking, the characters can be as demonic or saintly as the author wants.” [James Lasdun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lasdun/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The appeal of a character comes from the story’s vitality, not from audience approval; characters can be any moral extreme if the narrative stays compelling. **In simple terms:** A good story makes any character work, regardless of moral tone. Key Takeaway Focus on story energy, not audience expectations. Themes character development storytelling authenticity Mood intense provocative reflective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - novel writing - screenplay drafting - creative workshops - literary criticism Key Concepts moral ambiguity narrative vitality Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep a morally extreme character engaging? - What narrative techniques sustain audience interest despite controversial protagonists? A Different Perspective A character’s moral nature may alienate readers if the story lacks depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Demonic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demonic/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Intense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intense/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Roots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/roots/) [Setting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/setting/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know how exactly but I'm maybe perverse in the sense that I like being disappointed in something on a daily basis. Because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-mcgowan/i-don-t-know-how-exactly-but-i-m-maybe-perverse-in-the-sense-that-i/) [Rose McGowan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-mcgowan/) > [The measure of your character is not what you do when people are looking. It’s what you do when you think no one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/the-measure-of-your-character-is-not-what-you-do-when-people-are/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [I am a writer who has written about the life of my people, the character of my people. What I can say is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-amado/i-am-a-writer-who-has-written-about-the-life-of-my-people-the/) [Jorge Amado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-amado/) > [As with the butterfly, adversity is necessary to build character in people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/as-with-the-butterfly-adversity-is-necessary-to-build-character-in/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [When you have a chance to play a character people can relate to, it's rewarding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karine-vanasse/when-you-have-a-chance-to-play-a-character-people-can-relate-to-it-s/) [Karine Vanasse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karine-vanasse/) > [I never agree to do a character that molests a woman. I have been very conscious not to do such roles. I believe that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babu-antony/i-never-agree-to-do-a-character-that-molests-a-woman-i-have-been-very/) [Babu Antony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babu-antony/) > [I never want to overstay my welcome for any character. I would rather people are excited by the ideas a character generates in them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-friend/i-never-want-to-overstay-my-welcome-for-any-character-i-would-rather/) [Rupert Friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-friend/) > [“You carry people around with you in your character; all the people you have been close to have made you a little bit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabine-durrant/you-carry-people-around-with-you-in-your-character-all-the-people-you/) Sabine Durrant > [The so-called incorrigibles were not the way people said they were. I found a lot of character in some of these people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-brown/the-so-called-incorrigibles-were-not-the-way-people-said-they-were-i/) [Jim Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-brown/) > [It is fortunate to be of high birth, but it is no less so to be of such character that people do not care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/it-is-fortunate-to-be-of-high-birth-but-it-is-no-less-so-to-be-of/) [Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/) > [What happens if you're the guy who's been on the show ten years and is highly paid but they have nothing for you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-shackelford/what-happens-if-you-re-the-guy-who-s-been-on-the-show-ten-years-and/) [Ted Shackelford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-shackelford/) > [I'm interested in character and people and motivations and things like that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-helberg/i-m-interested-in-character-and-people-and-motivations-and-things/) [Simon Helberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-helberg/) > [“Be a person of character people can count on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-hurdle/be-a-person-of-character-people-can-count-on/) [Amber Hurdle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-hurdle/) > [It's always really cool as an actor to have a character that people want to see the best for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-kelechi-watson/it-s-always-really-cool-as-an-actor-to-have-a-character-that-people/) [Susan Kelechi Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-kelechi-watson/) > [Vince was so great at the 'Mr. McMahon' character that some people think he wouldn't want to help people in real life, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/vince-was-so-great-at-the-mr-mcmahon-character-that-some-people-think/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) ## More by James Lasdun > [I am not a supporter of Israel's military policy, let alone any kind of Zionist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lasdun/i-am-not-a-supporter-of-israel-s-military-policy-let-alone-any-kind/) [James Lasdun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lasdun/) > [“She waded into the water, splashing it on her waist and shoulders before kicking herself free of the ground and plunging in. She swam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lasdun/she-waded-into-the-water-splashing-it-on-her-waist-and-shoulders/) [James Lasdun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lasdun/) > [I consider myself a writer. I don't favour any type of writing. I sometimes wish short stories came more easily to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lasdun/i-consider-myself-a-writer-i-don-t-favour-any-type-of-writing-i/) [James Lasdun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lasdun/) > [The short story seems like the best of all possible worlds. I do feel it is closer to writing poetry than to writing a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lasdun/the-short-story-seems-like-the-best-of-all-possible-worlds-i-do-feel/) [James Lasdun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lasdun/) > [“People are always in various stages of different dramas when you encounter them: freshly embarked on some, halfway or more through others. 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On the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lasdun/i-don-t-think-i-could-with-a-straight-face-describe-myself-as-a/) [James Lasdun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lasdun/) > [For a long period of history, you were what people said about you, and if your reputation was stained, you were in very serious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lasdun/for-a-long-period-of-history-you-were-what-people-said-about-you-and/) [James Lasdun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lasdun/) > [I got into online trading. It was alarmingly easy to do. I went through the whole cycle of emotions, from supreme self-confidence to total…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lasdun/i-got-into-online-trading-it-was-alarmingly-easy-to-do-i-went-through/) [James Lasdun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lasdun/) > [The nature of fiction is to make one distrustful of any character who lectures and castigates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lasdun/the-nature-of-fiction-is-to-make-one-distrustful-of-any-character-who/) [James Lasdun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lasdun/) > [America as a setting seems inexhaustibly fascinating to me, and I think there's something about the outsider viewpoint that works for me. Being of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lasdun/america-as-a-setting-seems-inexhaustibly-fascinating-to-me-and-i/) [James Lasdun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lasdun/) > [There is something uncannily adaptive about anti-Semitism: the way it can hide, unsuspected, in the most progressive minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lasdun/there-is-something-uncannily-adaptive-about-anti-semitism-the-way-it/) [James Lasdun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lasdun/) > [“And then finally there was that sense of almost supernatural kinship that exists often between people who seem on the surface quite unalike but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lasdun/and-then-finally-there-was-that-sense-of-almost-supernatural-kinship/) [James Lasdun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lasdun/) [Explore all 18 James Lasdun quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lasdun/) ## More Alive quotes > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) > [I can't say that there are 'things' that make me come alive. There are thoughts that make me come alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/i-can-t-say-that-there-are-things-that-make-me-come-alive-there-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [We're like the wicked witch. 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We, all of us alive today, are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krieger/peace-is-an-ongoing-process-it-begins-with-the-first-step-and-it-does/) [David Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krieger/) > [I think adoption becomes complicated whenever the biological parents are alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haven/i-think-adoption-becomes-complicated-whenever-the-biological-parents/) [James Haven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haven/) > [The pain of love is the pain of being alive. It is a perpetual wound.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-duffy/the-pain-of-love-is-the-pain-of-being-alive-it-is-a-perpetual-wound/) [Maureen Duffy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-duffy/) > [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [If Melanchthon were alive today, he might not weep because of controversies that surround the Lord's Supper, but he might well sorrow because of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-w-lutzer/if-melanchthon-were-alive-today-he-might-not-weep-because-of/) [Erwin W. 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"That is perhaps the most childishly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-goldman/you-re-alive-fezzik-cried-the-man-in-black-sat-immobile-like-a/) [William Goldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-goldman/) [Browse all 7,282 Alive quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alive/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Maybe I'm perverse, but the question of \"rooting\" for a character, or setting out to write a character for whom other people will root, has never had anything to do with why I read or write fiction. 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