Should Characters Be Likeable?
People are always hyping up likeable characters. You'll see lists on how to make a character more likeable. How to encourage readers to adore your characters. How to let readers root for your characters.
But is making your character likeable important? Is it really as necessary as it seems?
Let's get to!
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What is likeability?
The first thing you need to know is what likeability is. Google defines it as: "pleasant, friendly, easy to like." It's true, but broad. When it comes to books, who does the character need to be pleasant and friendly to? Who needs to easily like them -- the characters or the readers?Here's the most common criterias. These are all valid ways of choosing likeability, but I'll be judging them on how necessary they are to a reader's experience.
The readers should like them in real life.
Importance Rating: Low
For a character to be likeable in this way, the reader wouldn't mind going out of hot chocolate and cake with them. The reader wouldn't mind them being a mate. Perhaps more, but that's a whole other box I'd rather not open.
If this was important, characters like Hyde, Azula and Darth Vader wouldn't be so well loved. Even in their peak of villainy. Chances are, you're probably really brave or really foolhardy if you want to go for a stroll around the park with them. I'd be betting on how long you survive.
But that doesn't stop fans, including myself, from loving every scene they appear in. Even with chills running down my spine, I enjoy the feeling and the presence of these characters.
Having characters who readers will want to hang out with in real life is a bonus. You may want to think about having some who can fulfil this. I'd go out for taters with Sam Gamgee any day. But it's not necessary.
Other characters should like them.
Importance Rating: Low
This means that this character is likeable to other characters. Everyone, or at least, most of the other characters, will want to catch up with them. Maybe have a sleepover where they belt to show stopping numbers.
Having other characters like Character A can help increase Character A's likeability. The other characters can help prove that there's something to like about Character A. But that doesn't mean that the readers will automatically like your character. If the relationship dynamic is not done well, readers may complain that it's contrived or forced.
While it's recommended for your character to have someone like them, having characters who don't like each other can make for better dynamics. More of a character's personality shows with conflict, and conflict is given when there's a force opposing them.
For example, Sophie has a horde of people who love her. I don't like Sophie, and neither do a lot of my friends. Take this, versus the Guardians of the Galaxy crew. They don't start out liking each other, and are alone for the most part, but they're irresistible. You can't not enjoy their humour.
In this case, the dynamics between characters is more important whether it's a positive or negative one. Check out this post for more: How To Character Chemistry: What it is, why it's important, 3 step method, and 2 favourite tools!
The readers should appreciate them as a character.
Importance Rating: Medium
Maybe the reader doesn't have to like the character, but they understand where they're coming from. They don't really care about the character, but they appreciate their craft. If that's the case, kudos to the author for creating a well rounded character and being brave enough to allow their character to be unlikeable.
It's important for a character to have agency, a goal they're working towards and compelling motives. That's how readers understand the character. But that's not the only thing the character needs to have.
Take Rand for example. I understand where he's coming from, and I appreciate his character. As for his story, I only care about the impacts of his actions on other characters -- the ones I actually care about.
Should you pay attention to this? Absolutely. The majority of your characters should be appreciated. Not necessarily all of them, but enough for grounded characters. Even still, there needs to be something more. Something that keeps readers wanting to know more about the characters.
The reader should be interested and/or invested in their story.
Importance Rating: High
This is my favourite definition of likeability. Here, the reader doesn't necessarily have to like the character's personality, but they're compelled to know what happens next. They want to follow this character around because they're interesting.
It's kind of a mix of the previous two definitions. This character should have strong chemistry with other characters. They should have their own goals, motives and agency. Readers should care about the character, rooting for them as they face up against challenges.
It should be a priority to make your story one readers will enjoy. Amp up the stakes and tension, throw your character into the pits of doom and force your character to crawl out by their own accords. Maybe they're a grumpy old grandparent no one likes to spend time with. But if they have goals and motives, readers will probably care about them. That's what matters most.
The bottom line
Should characters be likeable? The answer to the question is: it depends on your definition of likeability. Ideally, your character should have an interesting personality -- flaws with redeeming qualities. Readers don't necessarily have to like them, as long as they're engaged in the story. Characters should also have goals they're working towards, and reasons to work towards them. And something has to be in the character's way. This is what the readers are here for.
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