Classics Club April Meme: Who is your literary hero or heroine?

“Who is hands-down the best literary hero, in your opinion? Likewise, who is the best heroine?”  (Taken from the last nineteen classics I have read.)

Nominees for best literary hero:

Razumikhin in Crime and Punishment

Lenin in Anna Karenina

Diggory in The Return of the Native

Ralph Touchett in The Portrait of a Lady

Huckleberry Finn in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Tom Sawyer in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Martin Donovan as Ralph Touchett

All of these men or young men demonstrate exceptional moral character, which makes them worthy of the honor.  But if I must choose one, I choose Ralph Touchett.  If anything good can come out of The Portrait of a Lady, it is he.  Ralph is infinitely altruistic, considerate, and kindhearted.  He selflessly loves his cousin.  He is a good man.  Too bad for Isabel; she does not deserve him anyway.

My extremely close second is Tom Sawyer.  Naturally a mischievous, naughty boy, yet when called to do what is right and good, he shows his ability to be honorable.  He affectionately tends to, protects, and cares for Becky when they are lost inside the cave; and once they are found, he does the right thing by alerting the authorities about Injun Joe being locked in the cave – albeit too late for Joe.  There is something about a person who can rise to the occasion and demonstrate honor and courage when the time calls for it.

Nominees for best literary heroine:

Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice

Eva in Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Darya Alexandrovna  (Dolly) in Anna Karenina

Henrietta in The Portrait of a Lady

Keira Knightly as Elizabeth Bennet

My favorite literary heroine is between Elizabeth and Henrietta.  Henrietta had a smaller part in The Portrait of a Lady, and at first I detested her; however, by the end of the novel she was proactive and took loving charge to care for Ralph in his greatest time of need.  It showcased her feminine side. 

However, Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice discovered a great and important lesson in her life, and she admitted her indecency with noble gentility and graciousness.  Plus she was the main character, so there was more of her to experience than with the other contenders.  I would have loved to be in her shoes.  So I suppose in the end Elizabeth is the deserved favorite.