And maybe he's a jerk around town or whatever, so what?
Being surly and grumpy doesn't make you a bad person, after all. Actually this reminds me of something: there was a really good short animated Doctor Strange movie (which came out before the Benedict Cumberbatch film), which I put on for some kids to watch - we're talking kids aged about six to ten. In the movie Dr Strange is a rude and cranky person who is a jerk to people, and one kid immediately assumed that meant he was the villain. I explained to the kid that no, he's not a bad guy - he's cranky because he's sad about his sister dying. Like most little kids, this one didn't understand that grief and depression can manifest as anger and hostility. Given that he lost the love of his life, it's perfectly understandable that Sloan would be grumpy and miserable, and even more so that he'd be terrified of losing his only child as well. And that level of fear makes irrational behaviour perfectly understandable, if not justified.
In other words Sloan's motivations and behaviour make complete sense and are sympathetic. Eragon's behaviour only makes sense in the context of his being a nasty little spoilt brat whose upbringing never taught him any goddamn humility. Which is, surprise surprise, not sympathetic in the slightest.
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Being surly and grumpy doesn't make you a bad person, after all. Actually this reminds me of something: there was a really good short animated Doctor Strange movie (which came out before the Benedict Cumberbatch film), which I put on for some kids to watch - we're talking kids aged about six to ten. In the movie Dr Strange is a rude and cranky person who is a jerk to people, and one kid immediately assumed that meant he was the villain. I explained to the kid that no, he's not a bad guy - he's cranky because he's sad about his sister dying. Like most little kids, this one didn't understand that grief and depression can manifest as anger and hostility. Given that he lost the love of his life, it's perfectly understandable that Sloan would be grumpy and miserable, and even more so that he'd be terrified of losing his only child as well. And that level of fear makes irrational behaviour perfectly understandable, if not justified.
In other words Sloan's motivations and behaviour make complete sense and are sympathetic. Eragon's behaviour only makes sense in the context of his being a nasty little spoilt brat whose upbringing never taught him any goddamn humility. Which is, surprise surprise, not sympathetic in the slightest.