--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our relationship with literary…" description: "\"“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 ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/pierre-bayard-29513_characters_our-relationship-with-literary-character_2016296.jpg" --- # Our relationship with literary characters, at least to… ![“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…” quote by Pierre Bayard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/pierre-bayard-29513_characters_our-relationship-with-literary-character_2016296.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/pierre-bayard-29513_characters_our-relationship-with-literary-character_2016296.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/430/pierre-bayard-29513_characters_our-relationship-with-literary-character_2016296.jpg) > ““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 \[…\]”” [Pierre Bayard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierre-bayard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-sense-3627845/) [Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters/) [Characters Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/characters-exist-1120111/) [Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fiction/) [Fictional character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fictional-character/) [Fictional Characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fictional-characters/) [Literary characters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literary-characters-109223/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Real world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-world/) [Relationship Literary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship-literary-3627847/) [Sherlock holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sherlock-holmes/) [Tragedy Fictional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragedy-fictional-3627846/) ## Related quotes > [A writer often wants to change a reader’s perception about the world, which is a political act. 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