I've been re-reading classic novels lately, and I'm struck by how much of the canon centers on characters who are fundamentally unlikeable—think of Raskolnikov, Emma Bovary, or even Hamlet. I wonder if we're drawn to these flawed figures because they reflect our own moral struggles, or if we simply fetishize tragedy and misery. Is there real value in spending hours inside the minds of people who make terrible choices, or would we be better off reading stories that model healthier behaviors? I lean toward saying yes to the canon, warts and all, because these characters force us to confront uncomfortable truths about ourselves that feel-good fiction often glosses over. But I'm curious if others think the literary world has overcorrected in celebrating darkness for its own sake, and whether we should push back with more aspirational narratives.