Character meme

[bop_radar]

*takes a deep breath*

OK, radioreverie wheedled effectively... and clearly I don't have enough to do (*hysterical laughter*), so I'm doing that meme that's going around.

Name a character (from a show I'm familiar with) and I'll give you three (or more) facts about them from my personal canon/fanon. (Personal amendment: with characters you think I know well, you may also choose an aspect of their lives so I have a focus.)

ETA: You can ask for a character that's already been asked for--I don't mind. It might take me a while to get to them, but I promise I will do so.

Comments

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Jonathan
1. Jonathan is so used to feeling angry that he feels strange when he's not experiencing that emotion. Anger drives him, and when he needs a reason to get up in at 3am to bring in the cows he reminds himself of the way city folk look down on him and his lifestyle. He secretly feels a man who hasn't had dirt under his fingernails or grease on his jeans isn't a real man. And this helps him leave the warm sleeping form of Martha beside him for the sharp morning air outside.
2. Jonathan loves his son with a fierce determination. He never admits, not even to himself, that when Clark broke the door off his nursery as a toddler Jonathan experienced a deep primal fear. Jonathan told himself that day that with the right influence, Clark could be the most amazing person the world had ever seen, a perfect son, a model of honour and purity and strength. And Jonathan set out to make him that man because the alternative was terrifying.
3. Jonathan doesn't waste time feeling sorry for people whose lives are less than perfect. His own life hasn't been easy and yet he has things he can be incredibly proud of--his farm, his marriage, his son. He's heard all the arguments about the 'disadvantaged' and 'abusive childhoods' and all those other excuses, but as far as Jonathan is concerned once you're an adult, you're accountable for your actions and can be judged by others accordingly. Jonathan spares his love for the good people in this world, not the bad.

[isilweth.livejournal.com]

Ooh, very interesting! I completely agree with 2 and 3. You've really articulated Jonathan's fear, loyalty, and self-righteousness. My personal fanon for Jonathan's anger and daily motivations is different, and probably not as harsh. I appreciate your perspective, though. I could see that fitting Jonathan quite well. Thank you for sharing!

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

I am a little harsh with Jonathan--I never warmed to him, I'm afraid. I would be interested to hear what your fanon is though! I'm too biased where he is concerned.

Part 1

[isilweth.livejournal.com]

Oh, well, I could go on and on about Jonathan. *peeks behind fingers* Like I said, I totally agree with your last two fanons, but, IMO, Jonathan's fear guided him much more than his anger. Here's my fanon for him:

Jonathan loved being a farmer. He loved the earthy smells and the feel of the wind, sun, or rain against his face. He loved getting his hands dirty and feeling the strain of his muscles working hard. He loved knowing that his labors feed people and did a bit of good in the world. He was happy being alone with his thoughts and only the fields, the animals, and his family for company.

His father wanted 'more' for him. He pushed for him to go to college, even though the family couldn't afford it. Jonathan resented it because it was never something he wanted for himself. It's one of the things he had in common with Martha that formed their initial bond. Part of the anger he felt with his father's passing, was mixed up with the relief he felt at not being able to disappoint him any more.

He loved Martha with all his being. He loved his son, but if he was honest with himself about it (which he never was), he loved his wife more. He rarely thought of her as a city girl, but he never forgot she wasn't really a Smallville girl, either. When they were first together, it worried him that the farm wasn't enough for her. That worry mostly went away when Clark arrived.

At first, Jonathan only allowed himself to like Clark for the joy and focus he brought to Martha. Once, he'd finally allowed himself to bond with the boy, he feared being usurped as Clark's father, never quite feeling fully adequate. He was perpetually aware of the cost his selfishness had brought to the town, and of the tenuous hold he had on Clark.

Jonathan trusted his gut more than any other sense. This was the major reason he didn't particularly like the city or 'city folks'. Being in the city never felt right in his gut. It made him feel off kilter. He couldn't trust his instincts there, and it made him wonder about the inner workings of those who claimed they could.

Part 2

[isilweth.livejournal.com]

Jonathan was raised in a culture where boys were expected to scuffle, rough each other up, and outright fight to establish pecking order, territories, and to settle petty grudges. This was so ingrained that those who didn't participate in the fisticuffs and hazings were shunned and ostracized. For him, a Man must fight to defend his home, his honor, or his loyalties. He fully recognized that violence was never to be used against women or children or anyone 'weaker' than oneself.

He didn't find violence objectionable in and of itself. To him, the natural world was a violent place, and it was only fitting that human society mimicked this. It was best one knew where he stood in it and be willing to do what it took to keep oneself there.

He was, however, well aware that his anger brought out physical violence in him and that this was not a good thing. He did his best to suppress it, although Martha told him this wasn't good, either. It never occurred to him to seek out healthy ways to release his anger. He wasn't about to go off seeking advice from others. If he couldn't find it within himself, it wasn't to be helped.

He knew that Clark looked to him as role model. This scared him more than anything else in the world. He knew, for instance, that Clark couldn't afford to indulge in physical violence when angry. He knew that Clark couldn't deal with the typical male hierarchical issues of their small town in the same way he had done. He knew Clark had few friends, and he worried for him, but in his gut he knew it was right for Clark to hold himself back. The trick was in figuring out when it was right to let go. Jonathan, if he was honest with himself (which he wasn't), didn't know where that line was.

So, basically, I believe Jonathan was a self-righteous, close-minded man motivated primarily by fear and pride. However, I think he also honestly valued those things and people he loved. He knew he was selfish and tried very hard to be selfless. Like Clark and Lex, he was a product of his environment and came by his prejudices honestly and without malice.

I doubt that would help you warm to him at all, but I hope my fanon at least makes a little sense. :-) Thanks for asking me. :-)

Re: Part 2

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's fantastic! Thank you for responding. Yes, it's a very coherent view of Jonathan. You credit him with a lot more self-awareness than I do, and for that reason I find 'your' Jonathan a lot more sympathetic than 'mine'. ;-) Where I think we do agree though is that he genuinely valued the things and people he loved--he was a sincere man, most definitely, though perhaps I did not focus on that in my own fanon statements.

(You should share this with others since you've put so much care and thought into it--unless you already have?)

Re: Part 2

[isilweth.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm glad it made sense outside my head!:D "Rogue" and "Legacy" are two of my benchmark episodes for Jonathan. The introspection he vocalized to Clark in the jail scene and the graveyard scene, respectively, indicated to me that he's more self-aware than we usually see. I think he keeps most of his thoughts about his failings to himself, part of the 'alone-ness' of farming.

he was a sincere man
YES! That's the PERFECT word to describe him. *nods emphatically*

I haven't shared this. I'm kind of scared of this meme. I appreciate the encouragement, though! Maybe I'll post this.

Re: Part 2

[bop-radar.livejournal.com]

That's great--you drew on two scenes I don't remember all that well, to be honest. I freely admit that Jonathan is not a character I'm very tuned in to, and clearly I missed those nuances.

I was scared of the meme too but friends kept telling me it was really rewarding and now I'm really glad I did it though I was very nervous to begin with.