Characters Quote by Pierre Bayard
““Our relationship with literary characters, at least to those that exercise a certain attraction over us, rests in fact on a denial. We know perfectly well, on a conscious level, that these characters “do not exist,” or in any case do not exist in the same way as do the inhabitants of the real world. But things manifest in an entirely different way on the unconscious level, which is interested not in the ontological differences between worlds but in the effect they produce on the psyche. Every psychoanalyst knows how deeply a subject can be influenced, and even shaped, sometimes to the point of tragedy, by a fictional character and the sense of identification it gives rise to. This remark must first of all be understood as a reminder that we ourselves are usually fictional characters for other people […]””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Will to Write by Pierre Bayard, 2007
Literary characters influence us unconsciously, shaping our psyche despite knowing they are fictional.
In simple terms: Fictional characters affect us deep down.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and reflect on how fictional identification shapes you.
Themes
identity
psychology
fiction
influence
unconscious
Mood
reflective
introspective
Type
analytical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- reading novels
- therapy sessions
- creative writing
- personal reflection
Key Concepts
psychoanalysis
ontological denial
identification
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you differentiate fictional influence from real-life decisions?
- What boundaries do you set with characters you identify with?
A Different Perspective
Fiction may not replace real relationships; overidentification can distort self-perception.
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