Ugly/plain sympathetic characters

[sunlit_music]

Yeah. I've come across more than more than my fair share of ugly/plain characters portrayed as weak, pathetic, villainous or stupid. I'm sick of those harmful stereotypes.

Let's hear it for ugly/plain sympathetic characters!

Ugly/plain sympathetic characters I love or find fascinating:

Quasimodo (Disney HoND movie version) - he's adorable! So kind and innocent. He turns out a great person, despite how Movie!Frollo raised him.

Quasimodo (book version) - tough, scary. Yet he was unfailingly loyal towards Frollo until near the end of NDdP. I was appalled by his actions (like pouring molten lead onto people from the top of Notre Dame Cathedral, and killing Frollo).
Yet he made huge sacrifices to save Esmeralda, and loved Frollo deeply.

Brienne from Song of ice and Fire - Many men tell Brienne over and over that she's an abomination. That she's no knight. Which is ironic, because she's one of the few true knights in the realm. She actually inspires one of ASoIAF villains to reclaim his honour in a real way. Brienne is a fighter and an idealist. She can also be sweet and vulnerable at times.  

Miles Vorkosigan - 'Nuff said! Miles can be rude, spiteful, petty. Sneaky, domineering (towards Ivan, at times) and manipulative. He can also be compassionate, driven, brave, and totally hilarious! He's the type of guy who can charm the birds off the trees. What I love about Miles is that he feels for the underdog because he *is* one. I don't like him, but he's a delight to read about.

Beauty, from a retelling of Beauty and the Beast I read on Elfwood. Here Beauty is ugly, but she has a good heart. She's tough, practical and proactive. She doesn't take rubbish from anyone. Beauty also feels compassion for people who treat her badly, and helps out people in rough situations.

Agnes Nitt - Agnes is in two minds about everything. I like how she has sharp brains, and is tough in her own way. She has hilarious commentary inside her own head. She can be petty and rude at times (she has her moments of being cold and ruthless in Carpe Jugulum). And yet, she can also be kind in her own way (e.g. how she treats Mightily Oats at the end of CJ). I  don't like how Pratchett portrays her being part of a multiple system as a joke, though - multiplicity is nothing to joke about.

Severus Snape - I don't think JK Rowling intended for him to seem sympathetic. Yet lots of things about him resonated with other people. His smarts, fighting spirit, calm, biting wit. Snape was deeply flawed, but truly admirable in other ways. He is cruelty, bigotry, courage and honour rolled into one. He's a man who struggles to find redemption. I think that he's finally achieved it. He deserved a happy life for the great things he's achieved, and the misery he's been through.

Worst ugly/plain characters that were supposed to be sympathetic: Hmm, I can't think of any right now. Let me know of your favourite/not so favourite plain/ugly sympathetic characters!