In the spirit of St Patrick’ Day everything that’s Irish is a subject of our interest. If Irish, then red hair, as one cannot simply go without another! Below, a ranking of the red headed literary characters has been presented and they all happened to be females. Read through this mixture of genres, from a variety of countries of origin and times of creation. Has any famous character been overlooked? If you have any other redheads on your mind – comment! You are also welcome to challenge this list and propose fiery male characters. Let the countdown begin…
Lena earns her tenth position for knowing how to wear green and red properly with her fiery hair. An eccentric actress is on continuous runway. Having a fixed address, regular job and a man to come home to is against her agenda. When her mother dies, she returns to her hometown to deal with past. She earns extra points for mother-daughter issues, knowing how to use an empty staircase effectively and seducing her school ex-boyfriend and former priest without even moving her finger.
Not long ago you had a chance to get to know Hella fairly well so it is going to be just a little reminder. Hella belongs to Devil’s entourage and appears in the plot as a witch and vampire both wrapped up in one deadly seductive body. Her ninth place in the rank she owes to unfailing service and perfect vampiric dentition. She gains extra points for her sense of style – yes, skimpy apron proves to be just enough!
Anaid is a fourteen year old girl that wishes to be normal. Just like most teenage girls she finds herself unable to, but it’s not due to mundane reasons. Her fate is inevitably tangled with big, yet undisclosed, events to come. Anaid slowly realises that she is a witch, but as if it wasn’t more than enough to bear… not just any witch – the chosen one that will play a big part in a silently on-going war between hostile clans of witches. She is in a great danger and when the time comes, she is going to prove how fearless and unstoppable for a redhead she really is.
We all know this vicious and infamous vampiress; so much trouble she has brought upon our lovely “Bellard”. It would not be an exaggeration to say she might have taken all the worst traits that stereotypically come with fiery hair. Being vengeful, unforgiving, dangerous and unyielding, on top of that she also is a born liar and manipulative alpha female. She gains extra points for her spectacular death; without a doubt her detached head (thanks Edward) had beautifully flown in the air with the red curls dancing in the wind and snowflakes falling.
Let this sixth collective win be a tribute to all victims of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, who had an extremely unusual and illegal hobby. Most of his targets, young women including the first and very last one - Laure Richis – described, were redheads. There is something so sensual about the women with fiery hair, that it’s almost justified why he was another man in the history that could not resist having them. Let’s say that desiring their scent was an acceptable fetish; however, his twisted idea of bottling them was beyond the wrong-possessive form of appreciation.
Ginny figures in this ranking as a representative of the whole redheaded Weasley family. Do we have any of her fans reading this rank? Throughout the series she’s secretly in love with the main character and makes it from a little shy girl that admires her older brother’s friend to become his number one. Her affection for Harry doesn’t really interfere with her idea of kissing other boys somewhere on the way and changing partners a lot, but we must excuse her. Redheads have needs, they say.
Villemo is one of many in her family tree having red hair. Judged by her spirit, approach to life and actions she surely is redhead to the bone. Trouble should be that girl’s middle name. Or should it be desire? She is impetuous, impulsive, reckless and hungry for life. When she loves, it’s all or nothing. Her passionate affection (even if not fulfilled) always gets an extension in a form of stubborn holding-on to the past and demonstrating to the rest of the world a heartbreak and suffering that obviously no one can understand or cure. She belongs to chosen ones from her family and inherits powers.
The rank couldn’t have existed without this character from classic literature. Anne is a young orphan living amongst a fictional community of Nova Scotia. Being joyful, bright, talkative and imaginative in non-ordinary ways she very often is the first red-headed literary character to think of! With her pale face, freckles and most of the times braided red hair she proves to be a timeless creation. She gains extra points for her futile attempt of dying her hair black and ending up with green instead.
She claims her full name as being Pippilotta Delicatessa Windowshade Mackrelmint Ephraim's Daughter Longstocking. Pippi is most often associated with her red hair made into pigtails so tightly wound that they stick out sideways from her head and mismatching stockings. She lives on her own in a big house in a small Swedish village, her main companion being a monkey - Mr. Nillson and a horse living indoors. There are no parents, no school or responsibilities in her routine. One could doubt whether it’s the best example for the target audience, since they are little ones themselves. On the other hand, a person can’t get any cooler, relaxed and more adventurous than Pippi and therefore she should be an inspiration for children bullied for their red hair.
It’s not about size, it’s all about the temper and Little My with her fiery personality wins this ranking. You don’t mess with that chick! Little My has the unique ability of taking over every dispute and challenging logical arguments with her own undocumented conclusions. You won’t see her scared, defeated, resigned or admitting she was wrong. She is all over the place and no adventure can go on without her getting involved. Eventually “adopted” by the Moomin’s family, she’s the definition of a disrespectful, mischievous, arrogant and stubborn little sister that will never miss a chance to stick her nose into others people's business.