13 Romantic Characters Who Actually Aren’t The “Prince Of The White Horse”

Male characters in classical literature often seem to us to be exemplary representatives of the genre. Readers fall in love with the proud Mr. Darcy, by the handsome Edward Rochester, or by the persistent Rhett Butler. However, if we carefully analyze the actions performed by these characters, they will no longer seem so perfect to us.

we, from awesome.club, we take a closer look at the heroes of our favorite novels and discover a blemish on each of them’s past. As a bonus, you will find one of the most popular romantic characters today, who we also have questions to ask.

When Edward Rochester first appears in the novel, the main character has much sympathy for him, and does not consider that, due to the social distance between them, Mr. Rochester behaves arrogantly and at times tactless. At the same time, more than once he boasts about raising someone else’s daughter, however, the coldness with which he treats the child is evident to the reader.

Later, Mr. Rochester resorts to manipulation and plays with Jane’s feelings, sometimes showing attention, later declaring his love for another woman. The victim of his intrigues is not only the protagonist, but also a lady to whom he gives false hopes of marriage. And all this Mr. Rochester does in the presence of his wife, a woman suffering from mental disorders. Of course he does seem to have real feelings for Jane, but his love is selfish.

The treacherous and rude Rochester doesn’t look like the prince of a girl’s dreams. © Vasilis / LiveLib

The beginning of the book feels like a fairy tale. Mr. de Winter — imposing, mysterious and wealthy — falls in love with a poor girl and asks her to marry him. However, upon bringing the young wife to his mansion, her joy quickly fades, as everything around her reminds her of her late predecessor.

Throughout the novel, Maxim remains blind to feelings and fears of the protagonist. He shies away from her attempts to talk frankly, claiming it’s all just a conflict, due to the couple’s age difference. Thus, Maxim points out that she is not his equal and that his current wife’s thoughts and feelings are worthless.

Maxim doesn’t arouse any sympathy, he treats his wife like a pet. © MrsBee / LiveLib

Falling in love with the Master is not difficult, because he is an interesting and sentimental man. But like many creative people, detachment from everyday life is inherent. He doesn’t even remember his ex-wife’s name when a roommate at the hospital asks him about her. This suggests that, during the marriage, the Master focused only on himself and his creative activities, and his wife was not important at all.

Relate to people like the Master requires some sacrifice🇧🇷 Your loved one should not expect protection or support from him, because who really needs it is himself. He finds happiness only at the side of Daisy, who is willing to give up everything she owns, just to protect her beloved from enemies and from herself.

The Master is so pathetic. All he does is mumble, “Leave me!” ‘And suffer the fate of the book he writes.’ © Velary / LiveLib

Gatsby’s love for Daisy is mesmerizing. To win his lover, he engages in a huge social climb, makes a fortune and tries to attract attention with loud parties. Even the fact that his crush is married doesn’t make him give up on her. However, the reader is alerted because Jay doesn’t know Daisy well.

Probably Gatsby didn’t love the real Daisy, but rather its idealized image. After all, he hadn’t had the opportunity to get to know her properly during those fleeting encounters in his youth. We can conclude that Gatsby when relating to Daisy would have a disappointment, if the author wrote a different ending.

The image of the beloved Gatsby created for himself has made him a blind fool, over whom the lesser creature called Daisy has power. Did he really love her body and soul? Or did he just fall in love with an image? © Tasha_Gaster / LiveLib

The naive Prince Myshkin arouses the reader’s sympathy. Being surrounded by people of questionable moral qualities, he demonstrates the nobility of his soul. Furthermore, the prince is gallant towards women. However, it’s hard to call him an enviable groom and here’s why.

Lev Myshkin is easily led and also has an unhealthy attraction to people who, in his opinion, need saving🇧🇷 Therefore, when there is a choice between two women, he chooses not the one he truly loves, but the one with a more difficult fate. This excessive sacrifice does not bring happiness to anyone.

In my opinion, he is not the wonderful person that most readers think. On the contrary, he exacerbates all problems by giving false hope to people who are in a completely hopeless situation. © chipotle / LiveLib

According to the plot of the novel, the protagonist — Tess — after an extramarital affair with an immoral man, meets Angel — kind and sincere. We have a feeling that such a noble person can finally make the long-suffering Tess happy. However, this does not happen. When Tess tells Angel his past, he changes.

Considering the peculiarities of the time in which the novel unfolds, Angel could have just ended the relationship, because he wasn’t ready to go against his own convictions. However, Angel does not leave Tess, and with her disapproval only aggravates the girl’s anguish🇧🇷

He’d spoiled everything he could with his indecision. His love is strange. Can we really call this love? He was only attracted to Tess, and as soon as the ideal image dissipated, all his love fell apart like a house of cards. © lerch_f / LiveLib

Doctor Zhivago is an intelligent man and has a good soul. He is a gifted doctor who also writes poetry. Despite living in the midst of difficult historical events, Yuri retains his good and human character.

However, Yuri Zhivago is a weak-willed person. He tends to just go with the flow, without taking any decisive action to put himself in more favorable conditions. He remains passive even when, due to circumstances, he loses his loved ones at different stages of his life.

This is the story of a very weak man who acts as a parasite on strong and determined women, ruining their lives. © tawarwaith / LiveLib

In the story, a noble bacteriologist takes his unfaithful wife Kitty to a Chinese village, where there is a major outbreak of cholera. Observing her husband’s selfless work, the woman for the first time begins to feel love for him.

Kitty’s actions lead to fair condemnation by the reader, but Walter’s character is worth taking a look at. He always knew Kitty didn’t marry him out of love. After marriage, he pays no attention to his wife and is often silent in her company, so she cannot resist the urgings of an eloquent lover. And when Walter realizes the betrayal, decides to take revenge in a sophisticated way rather than walking away or trying to get the marriage back.

Yes, cheating is disgusting. But what did Walter expect from his wife, who didn’t love him? He didn’t fight at all to win her over. © tanya_nsk / LiveLib

The story of the relationship between Feride and Kamran has become a favorite for many fans of classic novels. A beautiful Turkish girl, with a very difficult character, goes through countless trials to finally be with her lover — the calm and balanced Kamran.

However, some readers believe that the couple’s life may not have been a bed of roses. After all, the protagonist are attracted to different women🇧🇷 And, it turns out, Kamran’s sincere remorse may just be a common type of manipulation. After all, he blames the circumstances for what happened, not himself. This means he can betray Feride again if the opportunity arises.

It seems that Rhett Butler is an example of perseverance and determination. He doggedly pursues the woman he is in love with, and yet he does not lose his prestige. Rhett doesn’t put Scarlett on a pedestal, but he considers himself an equal, which sets him apart from the others in love with the girl.

In the course of the plot, a more attentive reader may doubt the sincerity of the protagonist’s feelings. Rhett Butler is a womanizer but, for the first time, is rejected by the woman he desires. Scarlett’s Indifference stimulates your passion, then it goes to the end. But after winning her over, Butler is not satisfied with her love for him, which is evidenced by his dissatisfaction with his marriage.

I hate Rhett Butler. When I read that this is one of the favorite characters in literature for women, I want to scream and stamp my feet. © Villi_Lapsi / LiveLib

Angelica agrees to marry the Count of Peyrac at the behest of her father, but does not like the spouse, older than her and disfigured by wounds. However, over time, the young woman gets to know him better and falls in love, because, despite his appearance, he is intelligent, kind and interesting. Like Angelica, fans of the book and film series are also won over by the character.

However, the Comte de Peyrac has serious character flaws, such as frivolity and vanity🇧🇷 The Count ruins everything when, even knowing that this could bring problems for him and his family, due to pride, he starts to demonstrate his power to the king. After miraculously escaping death, Geoffrey starts from scratch, but now only thinks about himself. He does not participate in the lives of his loved ones, although they have to live with the consequences of his actions.

To consider yourself protected when the king constantly deprives even some nobles of all his properties is foolish to say the least. This is forgivable for young Angelica, but not for Geoffrey. © Fox_Of_Probability / LiveLibHe reminds me of a rooster. If he shows off too much, and that spoils his image. © Lisana / LiveLib

Mr. Darcy is presented in the novel as a snob. He speaks disdainfully of people below him on the social scale. In love with the less fortunate Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy…