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Last month, one of my Facebook friends posted a challenge to come up
with four fictional characters that I identified with. It was great fun
putting my list together. You should try it. It's a great way to tell
your readers more about who you are and what you enjoy reading or
watching. I am a brand new cactus rose. Following are the ones I
selected as most like me.
Jo March in the novel
Little Women--Like Jo, I grew up in a financially challenged home. Jo
works outside the home to help support her family. I worked at any job I
could get—babysitter, tennis instructor, car hop, waitress, store
clerk. Jo and I are both strong and determined; although I am better at
controlling anger than she is. She spends some time in New York City. I
worked there for twelve years during my thirties and forties. Jo is a
writer. I am, too. It wasn't my profession, but I wish it had been.
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Jing-mei
Woo (June) in The Joy Luck Club—I remember identifying with June
throughout the novel, notably when her mother praises her for never
taking the best quality crab. I try to respect the needs and wants of
others which includes bypassing crab claws for body meat, or taking the
smallest piece of cake on the plate. Like June, I was pushed to excel
(at school rather than piano). My mother and Suyuan Woo were both
critical mothers. Mine was especially critical when it came to socially
acceptable behavior and physical appearance. I came to realize this
wasn’t because she was mean, but because she wanted the best for me and
my sisters. I know she loved me, and I loved her with all my heart.
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Mary
Richards in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”--A single woman who, at age 30,
moves to Minneapolis after being jilted by her boyfriend of two years.
I, a divorced woman of 30, moved to New York City after being cheated on
by my husband of seven years. Mary ends up with a career in TV; whereas
I worked in the apparel and cosmetics fields. Mary becomes friends with
her next door neighbor in the boarding house she lives in. I became
friends with one of my roommates in the New York apartment I rented. We
are still friends to this day.
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Anna from the movie
“Frozen”--Although I am the oldest of three sisters rather than the
younger of two, Anna is as devoted to her sister Elsa as I am to my
sisters Karen and Susan. I am also optimistic and caring like she is and
have her never-give-up attitude. I, too, was separated from my sisters
for a long time, not because we had grown apart, but because I lived
across the country for many years. Now we spend as much time together as
we can.
Ginger Dehlinger
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