Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Most Memorable Secondary Characters

It's once again time for The Broke and the Bookish's Top Ten Tuesday!

This weeks theme: Top Ten Most Memorable Secondary Characters.

I love secondary characters, sometime better than the main characters!  They typically get to be the plucky comic relief or the cool character or the one with the best vision of reality. So....here is my list:

1. Mercutio from Romeo and Juliet: I was heartbroken the first time I read this play (ok so its not really a book, but oh well) and not because of the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. I was heartbroken when Mercutio, the only one who seems to fully understand what is going on long BEFORE anyone has to die, died. And let's face it, he is awesome (and please let's ignore the movie with Leo....see previous TTT).


2. Charlie Weasely in the Harry Potter Series: I am a late starter of the Harry potter series (boycotted for years) and am now through the fifth book. And I adore Charlie Weasley. I realize there are a TON of other secondary characters with much larger roles than Charlie, but come on!  He works with DRAGONS!  What a stud!

3. Major Major Major Major in Catch 22: Besides the fact that he has one of the most ridiculous names ever, Major Major Major Major was a fun character. Without even trying, he advances in the army and makes a ton of enemies. And all because he is a nice guy with a ridiculous name.

4. Boo Radley in To Kill a Mockingbird: Do I really need to explain this one?

5. Fermín Romero de Torre in The Shadow of the Wind: I was into the story before he appeared, but I was hooked the second he showed up. He has this dark, mysterious past that haunts him.  But he's loyal, hilarious, and tries to look on the bright side of life.  He's the perfect sidekick for Daniel as he unravels a mystery.

6. Renfield in Dracula: He's insane, in an asylum, and no one understands him.  But in a way, he's smarter than them all. Renfield knows what's going on, but has no way of really conveying it. He tries to do good before the evil takes over.  He's amazing and underrated.

7. Abbé Faria in The Count of Monte Cristo: Faria is just like Renfield, but he's not insane, well....not in the asylum kind of way.  He's been trapped in an isolated prison all by himself for years. Despite his escape plan, he knows he'll never get out alive, but he still doesn't hold back.  He knows he can live through someone else and he puts everything he has into that man. 

8. Marvin in The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy: Only Douglas Adams adds a depressed android to a story for some comic relief.  I love it!

9. Isaac in The Fault of Our Stars: Everyone talks about the strength of Gus in this story, but I love the strength of Isaac. He's about to lose his eyes and he loses the girl he's in love with.  Shortly after, he loses his best friend. But he never loses his sense of humor.  What a great character.


10. Boxer in Animal Farm: Boxer is the horse that always want to believes that what is happening is for the best. He knows its not, but he never stops caring about making sure everyone else is taken care of and doing his part. He felt that way before the animals took over, he felt that way after Snowball disappeared, he even felt that way after the rules changed and he knew it. But Boxer never worried about himself, he always worried about others. He may have been betrayed and some may view him as stupid, but not me. Boxer had an amazing work ethic.  He wanted something better from everyone and he did everything he could to get there.  He never accomplished what he wanted, but I don't think that makes him any less amazing and kind.

What about you?