Idealism vs. Realism, Dream vs. Reality, Crush Expectation vs. Crushed Truth...
Oh, How many times have we built sandcastles in the air, only to be poof-poofed back to the harsh solid ground. How many times have our rose tinted glasses been smashed into a tiny million pieces? Why? Why did we set the standards so high against which no mortal man can measure?
These are the men why! From ever, we have been listening, watching and reading about the fantasized alpha male. The perfect specimen, whose attributes have been compounded a 100 times over in our chemically hyper-charged brains. Thus, rendering us incapable of accommodating any lesser being. These near perfect men are the reason why...
Here are 15 Demi-Gods who pop up in my head whenever I dream of the perfect man. Hold tight 'cause this ride will sweep you right off your feet.
1. Mr. Darcy, Pride And Prejudice
"You have bewitched me body and soul and I love, love, love you." - Mr. Darcy. Honestly, this dialogue should have been in reverse. I mean, Liz was great and all! But can you just contemplate that face and those lines...Forget the face, that character! Was Mr. Darcy for real? He loves ardently and selflessly, who does that? I cannot wrap my head around him and my heart will just implode, so, let's just make it definitive that Mr. Darcy is the beginning and the end of all lists ever made.
2. Jaime Lannister, Game Of Thrones
Cock-sure, Arrogant, Self-assured, Over-confident, Vain...who doesn't like these qualities in a guy? Just Kidding, while any one of these dreamlike qualities would have been an instant turn-off in a normal human, in Jaime (my middle name is Gold) Lannister, they shine like the sapphires from Tarth. He is arrogance personified and it works ridiculously well for him! And if looks could cut, sigh...
3. Aragorn, Lord Of The Rings
Pure. That's the word I feel when I see Aragorn. Pure-heart, noble intentions, deadly warrior and a painfully loyal lover. He is the King who is content to remain in the shadows, but when nobility pours out every orifice of your being you cannot cover it up for long, "Set aside the ranger, become who you were born to be" - LOTR. Viggo Mortensen sure lent his rugged charm to Aragorn. But the character in himself is so heartrendingly glorious. No wonder he was so popular among the ladies of Middle Earth.
4. Karna, Mahabbharata
The original tragic hero. Oh, the number of misfortunes that this warrior has been dealt with in a single lifetime! Forsaken, Avowed, Cursed and Insulted. An identity kept in secret, a soul that roamed its life tortured and confused, the epitome of sacrifice and charity. It's like his story is the fire and us the moth, drawn inexplicably to the sadness of it, Sympathy, empathy, pity and above all a strong attraction to the doomed archer.
5. Hector, Troy
Hector, the humble elder brother of Paris, who cared for his sibling like a father for son. Hector, the handsome, when you fell at the hand of Achilles you broke a million hearts. Hector, the brave, the faultless, why is it that the innocent are always the first to fall? Hector...
6. Robert Langdon, Da Vinci Code
Look at him! Casually suave, surrounded by his books. If intelligence could have its own party, Professor Langdon would have been its chief guest. With him, we traversed the historical depths of Italy, Paris and Venice. He made geekiness hep. And how about his total contribution in making a Mickey Mouse watch the coolest accessory forever?!
7. Severus Snape, Harry Potter
Another tragic hero! I can't get enough of them! Who knew that he was nothing but a man in love? Who all were sobbing and in denial after coming out of the Pensive in the final book? Of all the revelations, to know this, that a character you lived with for 7 Books, who everyone assumed was the villain! Was actually the true hero...The Hero who did what he did for his love. And please do not forget 'Unrequited Love'. Alas...
8. Tyrion Lannister, Game Of Thrones
I maybe small but I am the biggest differentiator in the kingdom of Westeros. Tyrion Lannister, not everyone is about the looks (although he has a roguish appeal to him), it is about the wits and sense of humor! Without Tyrion, GoT would have been, I don't know I can't fathom. His presence up-jumped everything 1000 times over. Peter Dinklage, Hats off! You are one sexy man!
9. Neville Longbottom, Harry Potter
Classic case of cute kid flowering into a total bombshell. Who would have thought? Neville Longbottom! The chubby, fluffy slipper'ed, flowery pajama'ed, toad clutching, stuttering baby boy would explode into this thing, this hot potato right above! He even started overshadowing Harry's popularity in the later movies!
10. Odenigbo, Half Of A Yellow Sun
If you haven't read 'Half Of A Yellow Sun' yet, go read and then come back. Odenigbo is a Nigerian caught in the war between North and South Nigeria. He is a professor, who organizes the intellectuals of his community against the opposing faction. A true Alpha male - strong family man, who saves the community from devastation. This character radiates energy and reassurance that calms you. He radiates solidity and dependence and needless to say a lot of heat waves too ;)
11. Tom Riddle, Harry Potter
Excuse me, I am not talking about Voldemort! In fact there is not going to be a list of redeemable qualities here, actually no qualities at all! But just an appreciation for the young Tom Riddle and his good looks, good looks Aaaanndd good looks! Total doll.
12. Amahl, Not Without My Daughter
Disclosure: This is Rob Morrow (actor), the reason I have used his photo is because I could not find any picture of Amahl, and in my mind he looks as close to Rob Morrow as in this photo. F.Y.I, Amahl is a real Iranian male who I was introduced to in the book - 'Not Without My Daughter'. A discreet businessman who enters Betty's life while she is trapped in Iran against her will. He is like an angel from heaven, who rescues Betty and arranges for her to flee illegally from Iran. In an alien land where everyone is enemy, he was the embodiment of virtue and trust. The best part is, they are not even romantically linked, just a man trying to do the right thing! (of course based on true events).
13. Rhett Butler, Gone With The Wind
He loved Scarlett and that destroyed him. 'Gone With The Wind' is epic in its proportion, the lead - Scarlett O'Hara is the most conflicting character I have come across. You love and hate her, and so did Rhett. The mysterious, charming gentleman who rescues Scarlett from her self-destructive path, only to be destroyed himself. He is a man who can make you feel completely protected and completely vulnerable at the same time. For ladies who get a kick out of the unexpected and the unpredictable, Rhett Butler is the perfect recipe for one hell of a scary but thrilling ride!
14. Jacob, Twilight
Team Jacob or Team Edward? I'm not a sucker for vampires so it's Jacob for me. And hands down, the best time Bella had in the books was in New Moon minus Edward. Jacob and Bella became homies, he was her go-to guy who could cheer up her sullen moods with his natural humor. Plus, it can't hurt to look at that ripped physique :D
15. Abdullah, Princess Series
Princess Sultana's Princess Trilogy is not your average Princess book. It is the real account of her life as a Saudi Arabian Princess chronicling the horrors that she suffered, despite being a royal (female royal) in a sexist society. But what am I talking about? Where's the sex appeal in that? Hold your horses, because our Princess in the second book gives birth to her son Abdullah! And Lo Behold! He is the answer to Sultana's lifelong struggle against the toxic masculinity in her society. Sultana raises a gallant and soft young Prince, who proves, that even in the harshest of deserts can a rose bloom, if tended with care. Prince Abdullah is caring, emotional and sensitive and a royal in the truest sense...
F.Y.I. The man in the photo is Prince Hamdan of Dubai (the real Prince Abduallah's photo is unavailable, as is his real identity, for his own safety. But, I took the liberty to imagine that he would look exactly like Prince Hamdan...What a charmer!).
Pheww..to just write about these supercalifragilisticexpialidocious men was an exhilarating exercise!
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Happy Reading!
its very unique