Keeping your promise no matter what can be really foolish at times. Sure, looking at it from the point of view of “what a nice father” seems really heart warming, but blindness is never a good trait, even if it’s “positive blindness”

I think Vimes is a great character because of his ability to change (hence recovering alcoholic) and his ability to judge himself well. In some cases he is a violent man inside, but restrains himself and does the right thing by doing so.

Being violent, being stupid is in itself not a sin. If you know you are violent or stupid you can deal with it and change, I think this is the main message of the character.

Samuel Vimes — made a promise and he’ll be damned if he does not keep it. A man that always keeps his word is something to be admired, no matter what that word or promise is.

Batman’s obsession is best described in Frank Miller’s “Dark Knight Returns” — especially at the end of the first chapter when he tells Harvey Dent that he sees a reflection. It’s a brilliant story.

I don’t think of the Doctor as such a one-track character. He works with the Master in Logopolis, with Ice Warriors on Peladon (after a bit of skepticism) and, no doubt, with others. He doesn’t think in absolute terms. The Doctor can accept being wrong and change his mind. Having to act without all the facts doesn’t mean making a promise you keep no matter what.

A bit of an odd-one-out in the foursome. Do I win a prize?

“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.” — Bertrand Russell

The Doctor comes closest to being wise by that reckoning. Been a long time fan — as you can probably tell by some of those references!

In answer to your questions, I’m no expert but my thinking is that part of the role of characters is to provide vicarious success–we create characters who face our problems (and worse) and win, who are like us but just a bit better, who get to go on the adventures we’d like. That’s the good guys anyway. I think a lot of stories (the ones I like anyway) function to provide the ‘happily ever after’ endings that real life doesn’t always, be it Mills & Boon or cop shows or SF. I don’t think it’s all wishful thinking though. I’m probably not old enough to judge, but I hope I will eventually become like the characters I admire.

The characters I find inspiring tend to be leaders, people who are confident, capable and moral, and who give up a comfortable and safe life to instead risk their lives doing good. They have to be human as well though (not necessarily in the biological sense)–perfect characters get boring. Really witty characters deserve positive attention too I think, if more for being entertaining than inspiring.

Sorry for long comment…