I'm reading Catch 22 again these days, and I was struck by just how strong my feelings toward some of the characters are.

Colonel Cathcart, mostly, but not only him.

I actually have to stop reading occasionally and try to calm the urge to grab the bastrad by the neck and squeeze the life out of him down.

And this despite knowing that he's a caricature.

I can't think of anyone else worth mentioning right now. But i'm sure I'll be back to this thread.

there are loads of characters i find unbearable while reading a book. but i wouldn't manage to remember who they are once the book's finished, even if my life depended upon it.

darn.

*tries some brainstorming*

Nurse Ratched <sp?> in One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest (film). Every time at the end I hope that Mac would succeed in throttling her...

Daisy, from Great Gatsby (stupidspinelessbitch)

the book police in Farenheit 451. don't really remember any names, but they've stuck with me since high school, so about 10 years [blushes].
darn, now i'm showing my age.

Marius and Cosette. (They show that whining is the only way to stay alive in times of Parisian revolts.)

Jason.

The Wizard (of Oz).

For most hated group, I'd also add the firemen of Farenheight 451*, or the party from 1984.

*Note my english teacher that uear was a weird headcase that everyone in the class was absolutely sure came to class coked up, but she did have her moments, one of them being presenting the captain of the firemen, (I think it was Captain Beatty), the one who had read extensively, as a rather tragic character. He knew what he and the world was missing, and he basically committed suicide because of it. (One does not generally taunt someone aiming a flamethrower at you if you want to live).

For specific characters, I'd say Joffrey Baratheon and Cersei Lannister from George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.

Also, every character from Terry Goodkind's The Sword of Truth series.

beverly d'onofrio from the movie "riding in cars with boys" annoying egocentric whiner, she is.

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Originally posted by Ronin:

For specific characters, I'd say Joffrey Baratheon and Cersei Lannister from George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.

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I thought you might nominate a few SoIaF characters. Did you really hate those two more than Viserys, or did you just forget about him?

I admit to hating Joff more than Viserys, probably because Viserys was so pathetic while Joff was more spoiled. Both were mean spirited, though.

I also must admit to feeling a strong loathing for AG's Laura Moon.

Off the top of my head, I am going to go with Jar Jar Binks of the Star Wars prequels. I can't stand listening to him/her/it speak. I am hoping for less, if any of him in the next Star Wars.

Napoleon from Animal Farm (epitomizes all thats frightening about government)

Iago from Othello (but thats a villain you love to hate)

I'm reading the Lemony Snicket books right now and have to say that I can't stand Mr. Poe. What an oaf.

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Originally posted by Alinda, the lost girl in long stockings:
beverly d'onofrio from the movie "riding in cars with boys" annoying egocentric whiner, she is.

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(the book's much better)

might give it a try perhaps. is beverly slightly more bearable in the book?

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Originally posted by FatPigeon:

quote:

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Originally posted by Ronin:

For specific characters, I'd say Joffrey Baratheon and Cersei Lannister from George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire.

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I thought you might nominate a few SoIaF characters. Did you really hate those two more than Viserys, or did you just forget about him?

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Trying to avoid spoilers for futre/current readers:

A little bit of both. Viserys was a side character that one POV dealt with, while the other two were central characters that everyone has to deal with, and whose existence have tortured me for three books, (and ongoing, for Cersei), while Viserys got killed in about as ironic and painful a manner halfway through book 1. Definetly Cersei and Joff.

Peggy from King of the Hill. i know she's intended to be preposterous and annoying, but i just can't seem to find it funny. that character makes me not want to watch the show, despite how good the rest of it is. i wish she'd died when she fell out of that plane.

Merlin, from the second half of the Amber.
although I'm not sure if he was hated, and not just irritating
and exhausting.

Oh, and Christine Daea for the Phantom of the opera (both the stage version and the movie). What a simpering little twit.

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Originally posted by Cobalt:
Peggy from King of the Hill. i know she's intended to be preposterous and annoying, but i just can't seem to find it funny. that character makes me not want to watch the show, despite how good the rest of it is. i wish she'd died when she fell out of that plane.

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someone on a another board quoted by someone on another board *phew* who's a professional cartoonist (i think) called her 'the most evil woman on television'
yea, i really hate her
oh, and O'Brian from 1984
Judith from Half-Life 2. can't say more without spoilers, but she's nasty. can't say i like Breen, either
and Sephiroth, for what he did to Aeries

Dandelo and the Crimson King in the last Dark Tower book. wow... lame antagonists when they should be cool. hell, throw in Stephen King in that version, too