Admit it – sometimes, real people are just not doing it for you. It may be time to curl up with a book containing one of these dreamy characters and be whisked away for a romantic getaway! Here are some fictional men and women we would totally date.
He’s the epitome of a tall, dark and mysterious hero. Described by Tolkien as lean and tall with shaggy dark hair “flecked with grey”, grey eyes and a grim pale face, Aragorn cuts an intimidating figure (Viggo Mortensen, in the picture above, portrayed him well). However, under that stern exterior, he has a warm heart.
Despite having royal blood, Aragorn is humble and modest – he never talks down to others. He also has a brave soul. Although there is no guarantee that he would come back alive from the impending trip with Frodo to Mount Doom to destroy the ring, Aragorn went ahead anyway.
A plus point: He is a great King too, whose reign was marked by harmony and prosperity. You would think that after the devastating War of the Ring, it would take a miracle for the inhabitants of Middle-earth to rebuild. But Aragorn fostered an era of cooperation and communication between Men, Elves and Dwarves.
A mysterious man who is brave, kind AND a great King? Yes please!
It’s not just sword-wielding heroes that are oh-so-attractive. What about a man who is both intelligent and brave? Sure, Atticus is blind in one eye and may not have been able to tackle a football, but he is courageous and honourable.
He takes up the case of a wrongfully accused black man at the risk of being ostracised because he believes:
“Before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself.”
And let’s not forget that he’s kind, well-mannered and civil. That gentleman attitude is what makes our hearts flutter. Who says justice can’t be sexy?
No list of dateable fictional men would be complete without the ultimate boyfriend material. Tall, dark, brooding and mysterious, Mr Darcy is the man of our dreams. And did we mention he’s also rich and handsome?
Superficiality aside, there is lots to love about Mr Darcy. While he may seem arrogant and aloof, he is fiercely protective of his sister and falls head over heels with Elizabeth Bennet – the passionate, outspoken and intelligent protagonist of Pride and Prejudice.
In true romantic fashion, he is willing to risk it all for the woman he loves. Even if it means facing the scorn of his family and society for pursuing a woman far beneath him in status. He risks giving up his social world for her and does all he can to conquer her heart.
Don’t we all wish we have a Mr Darcy to sweep us off our feet?
Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
It’s not just Mr Darcy that we’d like to date! For those looking for a girlfriend, his other half is someone swoon-worthy too.
Passionate, adventurous and outspoken, Elizabeth Bennet is a modern woman for her time. She refuses to marry for money in a time when women married for financial security, and is so confident and sure of herself that even someone as imposing as Mr Darcy couldn’t intimidate her.
She is also fiercely protective of her family and has a close bond with her father and oldest sister. We find it really endearing! And to top it all off, Elizabeth enjoys reading and doesn’t mind if people make fun of her for it. How can we say no to a bookworm?
No, but seriously. This girl is sweet, curious, smart, loving and brave. Although she lost her mother when she was only nine, she didn’t let that harden her or turn her cold. In fact, she was warm and kind – when Harry was feeling isolated from his friends and school, Luna was the one who reached out to him with understanding and sympathy.
She also shows a keen sense of self-awareness that is both endearing and surprising. She knows full well that people make fun of her eccentricity, but she doesn’t let that get her down.
The best part? She has an incredible imagination and is very open-minded. Luna will consider just about anything if there is nothing to disprove it. This leads to her charming quality of believing in a number of magical creatures that many in the wizarding world believe to be imaginary, like the Crumple-Horned Snorkack. Although it ended up being imaginary, it was Luna’s open-minded outlook on life that resulted in her discovering and classifying many new species of animals during her career as a Magizoologist.
Now, imagine looking for some Nargles on your date night!
Described by author Stieg Larsson as a pale, skinny young woman who has hair as short as fuse, and pierced nose and eyebrows, Lisbeth Salander strikes a dramatic figure.
She may seem like just another misfit, but don’t be quick to cross her out.
She’s a ferociously intelligent computer hacker with a photographic memory, which is totally kickass. She also manages to overcome a traumatic childhood to solve an old family mystery – picking yourself up after being abused takes a lot of courage and determination, and it’s difficult not to respect and be drawn to Lisbeth’s bravery.
And while she doesn’t always follow societal norms, Lisbeth operates on her own uncompromising moral code, such as being particularly hostile to those who abuse women, and committing herself to exposing and punishing them when the law doesn’t.
Lisbeth Salander is provocative, intense and unapologetic of who she is. Yes, we may be a little intimidated by her, but at the same time, we can’t help being intrigued by and attracted to this compelling character. She’s no damsel in distress and is incredibly independent. Those of you who love your independence while being in a relationship, Lisbeth will be perfect.
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