#1 Elinor Dashwood of Sense and Sensibility
#2 Marianne Dashwood of Sense and Sensibility
Mary Smith, I think, is one of the sweetest heroines in all of classic literature. She is very loyal and is very attentive and helpful to Miss Matty when her sister dies, and does everything she can to help when Miss Matty falls on unfortunate circumstances. I think she is the ultimate example of a constant companion, and the ladies of Cranford, especially Miss Matty, were very fortunate to have her there. I also think that she's very pretty in a quiet, sweet sort of way; not strikingly beautiful, but very pleasant in countenance. She also has a very soft and pretty voice. She is an excellent role model and I hope I can one day be as constant as she is!
Margaret Hale is so strong and sensible. To some it might seem she has a rather unfortunate life, and I suppose that is true in part. She has a brother who is on the wrong side of the law and whom she may never see again. She lives in beautiful Helston with her mother and father, but then her father gives up his positon and she moves to a dreadful gray industrial town in the north. First her mother dies, then her best friend dies, and then when things couldn't possibly get any worse, her father dies too. But she bears it remarkably well and never loses her strength! I think she was fully deserving of John Thornton and I was so happy to see them end up together (of course, we all knew they would!) I've never read this book, but I think the miniseries was very well done and the music was just gorgeous. It suited Margaret and John's very passionate personalities very well.
Jane Eyre is nothing less than a saint. Really, her childhood was nothing less than horrific, and her life didn't get much better for a while- in fact, it may have gotten worse. There is no doubt that hers is a very tragic story indeed, but for the most part, I think she bears her troubles very well and is remarkably loyal and good, given her unfortunate circumstances. She was mistreated as a child and mistreated as a young woman, but still she is kind and gentle and courageous. In truth, I'm really not sure what to think about Mr. Rochester. Part of me wants to like him, because I think that underneath all his prickles he is an honorable man, but he is also deceitful and secretive. I can very well understand why Jane left- I would've done the same. But I was very happy that they were able to reunite at the end of it all, and that Jane had a pleasant ending to her mostly miserable life.
Esther is my favourite Dickens heroine. She is very sweet and kind, but also strong and capable and sometimes even shrewd, which makes the character very believable and endearing. I admire her very much for bearing up against all the sorrow in her life, and for accepting her blemishes gracefully after the smallpox took its toll. (I wanted to slap that Mr. Guppy's wrinkled face when he told her to forget he ever proposed!) At first I wasn't entirely sure if I liked Mr. Woodcourt, but then I was very glad to see that he did, indeed, really love Esther and that they were able to get married after all. As much as I loved Mr. Jarndyce, it just wouldn't have worked for Esther to marry him. She loved him as a father, not as a husband, and Mr. Jarndyce eventually realized that as well. In short, I was very pleased with the ending of this story and that Esther recieved all that she deserved.
Emma is different from most of Jane Austen's heroines because of her social station. Unlike the others, she is wealthy, and does not need to marry but could remain happily at Hartfield for the rest of her days if she wished. Of course, she is also a bit arrogant and that may be attributed to her social standing, but she is also endearing and clever and sweet and overall a very kindhearted young lady. She makes mistakes, of course, but so does everyone, and that makes her seem like a real person rather than a lofty storybook character. She and Mr. Knightley are so perfectly matched and the story is just so sweet. Jane Austen wrote that Emma was a character whom "nobody but myself could like", but I disagree. Everyone loves Emma!
Anne Shirley is just a classic. I have yet to meet anyone who does not like her. She is imaginative, bright, witty, clever, and kindhearted. Of course she is also very mischevious and gets herself into a lot of unnecessary trouble, but that only makes her more dear. She is strong and capable and does what she needs to, and is always trying to help others. I have always admired her greatly, and never understood why she didn't like her red hair! Anne is probably one of the first literary heroines I was ever introduced to, and I have been watching the movies with my sisters ever since I was very young, so she has a very special place in my heart.
Mattie Ross has true grit. There's no question about it. She is probably the strongest and most capable fourteen-year-old heroine in all of literature. I watched the movie two years ago and was absolutely amazed, and I have just started the book and am about halfway through. The story is brilliant, and Mattie is a very rare kind of character. I, being fourteen myself, very much doubt if I would go off into the wilderness with a hardened U.S. marshal (with an affinity for drinking) and a pompous Texas ranger to avenge my father's death. It sounds honorable, but in reality I'd be far too frightened. But not Mattie. In fact, she doesn't seem to be frightened in the least. I admire her for her strength and courage, and of course, her true grit. :)
Adieu,
Emma Jane
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