Favorite Character In 'Harold And Maude'

Favorite Character: Maude

The text defines characterization as, “the author’s presentation and development of the traits of the characters.” (WEAL, 60) It is important to understand that characters are the heart of a book and good characterization is essential in order to make them real to the reader. Imagine for a moment, reading a book and having a hard time to connect with any of the characters, this would instantly make the reader lose interest in the story. In order to keep the reader’s hooked, it is vital for the author to not only create but also develop the character and make it easily relatable to the audience. The character Maude from the book “Harold & Maude” by the author Colin Higgins definitely satisfies this criteria. Higgins

molded the character Maude from the personality of three different women he encountered in his real life and has developed her personality throughout the book. Maude is what the text would define as a “round and dynamic” (WEAL, 61) as this character keeps getting fascinating and intriguing as the story evolves. This is what sets Maude apart; she is multi-dimensional with many different facets from her happy-go lucky persona to the struggles, all of which makes her real, making her such a lovable character.
The first thing to consider is the character Maude is easily relatable. Relatable in a way that, the readers connect with the character on a more personal level. It gives the reader a feeling of “she is just like us” because her personality is rather normal and generic rather than something out of this world, which can make it difficult for the reader to comprehend. Humanity is the key that makes the reader bond with Maude because she is in no way perfect; she has her struggles and flaws just like any of us. On the surface, Maude’s portrayal is an upbeat happy go-lucky and free spirited hippy, however as the story evolves the reader learns that Maude did not always have an easy life. Besides surviving the Holocaust – the darkest time in human history, Maude’s also lost her husband. Even though as a reader, you may not fully understand her personal struggles, it is how she copes with these struggles makes her so easily relatable. This piece of background information helps the reader assume that perhaps this is the reason why she enjoys the simple pleasures in life like, “love(s) to watch things grow” (50) or her passion for music “Everyone should be able to make some music…” (60) This is because her past experiences allowed her to understand the fragility of life and does not want to let a single moment go to waste. Maude like all of us has her flaws. One might consider Maude’s bold personality as a flaw because she does not seem to care about breaking the law and appears to be taking undue liberties. However, there is no denying that this very flaw makes Maude a real badass, which is the next reason why she is so lovable.
Maude’s badass personas in the positive sense of the term, helps not only inspire, the readers but, also learn valuable lessons.

Wiktionary defines badass [1] as,” a person who has extreme attitudes and behavior and admired by others.” Maude a seventy-nine year old woman did not let age be a factor from holding her back. She follows her heart, does what she knows to be right, and in her small way tries to make the world a better place. However, to some this behavior can appear crazy and erratic, but the matter of fact is, all of her actions have a valid explanation that serves a very important message to the reader. For example, Maude loves to “borrow” people’s car’s because she wants to act as a “gentle reminder…here today, gone tomorrow, so don’t get attached to things.” (30) This message is especially apt for today’s modern society because we live in a technological driven age. We depend so highly on our “things” that we cannot imagine what we would do without them. Maude helps the reader take home the message that things will come and go in your life so learn to value what’s more important and that is human relationships. Then there is the time Maude breaks multiple laws in order to transplant a tree. Here the message is not so much about breaking laws, but standing up and doing the right thing when something is wrong. For example, our generation in particular is facing the threat of global warming, following Maude’s belief to continue, “…fighting for the Big Issues,

but… in my small, individual way.” (59) This can inspire us (the reader) to do our small part like conserving water and plant more trees. This way we are no longer bystanders, but actively doing our part to help stop global warming. The take away from Maude’s actions is the reason she is so well liked because it sends a positive message, which inspires people to make a change in their own lives.
Finally, Maude is a role model for women everywhere. The character Maude stands out because her portrayal is not a cliché of a fragile old woman. In fact, she is just the opposite; independent, strong and has the capacity to take care of herself without the help of a man around. On many occasions, female characters are so often portrayed as helpless and weak like for instance the female characters From a Buick 8, that Maude is a breath of fresh air. For example, the time when Maude poses nude for Glaucus she is sending a positive body image because despite her age she is not embarrassed by her appearance. This is the line from the book, “I don’t have the time. But I do like to keep in practice, and poor Glaucus occasionally needs to have his memory refreshed as to the contours of the female form.” (44) In society, women are constantly being body shamed through media and other platforms encouraging plastic surgery and other drastic measures all in the name of beauty, so a character like Maude helps remind women that they are beautiful just the way they are. It is a common perception to stereotype women to be dependent and to constantly seek the approval of men. However, what is great about the character Maude is, she is not only independent, but also does not seek the approval of any male characters; Maude does not care of what people think of her. Period. She does not let society dictate her actions or her life. So much so, she is in a relationship with a nineteen-year-old boy, sixty years her junior and a far cry from societal norms. This is why Maude is such a perfect role model because she is not constrained into a box based on gender stereotypes and she has the capacity to inspire women to break away from what society expects from them and do what they feel is right.
As a reader, in order to truly enjoy the storytelling experience narrated by the author, the character plays a key role in shaping the story.

The way the author portrays the character is an important factor too. Can you imagine if the author portrayed Maude to have a model life close to perfection and without any sign of struggle? Would you, as a reader be able relate to Maude? The answer would be no because this scenario is far from the reality of a real life. Remember real life is messy and far from perfect and this element is needed to make the character more human and relatable and adds authenticity. The subtle hints of her past hardships add to the dimension and help to build her character. Even though Maude is no ordinary girl next-door, her character is a complex and deep and closely mirrors real people. It is important to understand that real people, are unique and the one-size fits all approach to characterization can limit the character personality. Higgins made sure to stay away from the clichés when portraying Maude and this added to her individuality. A real life example of Maude is Dorli Rainey [2], who shares many similarities, she is an eighty-four year old woman, born in Austria and raised in the Nazi-era. She is an activist and considered a hero after the image of cops spraying her with pepper spray during the Occupy Seattle demonstration went viral that displayed her sheer determination to fight for the unjust causes. Even though Maude is a fictional

character, Dorli is a real life inspiration; age was not a barrier when it came to living her life and she shows absolutely no signs of backing down. What makes Maude such a great character is the fact that she is has many layers and not just a quirky, carefree spirit; she is a strong, bold and independent woman. In fact, Maude is a role model for young women who idolize her and hope to become like her one day. It is characters like these that have the power to inspire and motivate its readers; hence, Maude’s character is still relevant and popular even today despite it being 45 years since the book Harold & Maude was published.