Who is the loneliest fictional character?

[Fran]

Came across this question in The Guardian during the week and OK there are lots of likely candidates for the "accolade" but I was dumbfounded to find my beloved Heathcliff did not feature. Surely a major oversight?

So who would you give the accolade of Loneliest fictional character to?

[samuyama]

I'd have to say those kids from "Series of Unfortunate Events"

[gali]

Heathcliff is certainly one. Also Inspector Rebus (from Iain Rankin's books).

[Intellijock]

I would have to say Ender, from Ender's Game. He is literally the only human to have experienced a connection with an alien civilization, one that he is solely responsible for annihilating.

[samuyama]

I would have to say Ender, from Ender's Game. He is literally the only human to have experienced a connection with an alien civilization, one that he is solely responsible for annihilating.

I hadn't thought of him, but I think you're right... Dunno if you read through the whole series but he truly was a lonely person.

[randolphfine]

Wow, the Xenocide (Ender) is a great choice. I was trying to think of a character, but when I saw his name all others failed to compare.

[Sarah1]

I agree, all else fail to compare.

[Winter]

Karana from Island of the Blue Dolphins was pretty lonely. Not sure she is the loneliest character ever, but still pretty lonely.

[emilyxwebster1]

I would have to say Ender, from Ender's Game. He is literally the only human to have experienced a connection with an alien civilization, one that he is solely responsible for annihilating.

I totally agree with this! I really love Ender's character.

-- 17 May 2014, 16:46 --

In addition to my other post, I would say that Leonard Peacock from Matthew Quick's novel - Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock - is the loneliest fictional character. I feel I can relate to him because even though he isn't necessarily alone, he is lonely.

[tangowithParis]

Sorry, Fran, but compared to Quasimodo, Heathcliff is about as lonely as:
1. White on rice.
2. A bur on a saddle.
3. A pint on Pat's Day.
4. Fish and chips on Friday.
5. A colleen.......anywhere.

[SidnayC]

I would say Tyrion from George R.R. Martin's a song of fire and ice series. He is surrounded by family members who want him killed and friends and lovers prepared to sell him out at the drop of the hat. He is surrounded by many but alone because no one truly cares for him.

[raindropwriter]

I would say Tracy from If tomorrow comes is the lonliest character among the novels I have read till date. Though a con man hero enters and pulls her out of the darkness but I just love how tracy fights her own battle when she has absolutely no one to trust.

[Whitshat1]

Heathcliff of course!

[flowergirl4801]

I'm going to have to agree with many of you! Heathcliff is the one that jumped immediately to mind.

[mandap24]

Do you have a list or something from the guardian article?

I actually think of Gatsby he seems like a pretty lonely character to me.