Slobs Allowed?
There are two kinds of people: neat folks, and sloppy folks. Of course there are people who fall somewhere in between, but they likely show a tendency one way or the other. Not many books that I’ve read describe where the main characters fall on the neatness spectrum. In my book, Living the Vida Lola, I actually do talk about it. Lola, my heroine, cleans to relieve stress. Plus her mother’s a neat-freak, and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
When Lola goes into her wannabe lover’s loft (newspaper columnist Jack Callaghan) when he’s not there, she notices how minimalist his apartment is, and she’s astounded (and more than a little bit turned-on) to realize that he is neat. Even his refrigerator is relatively organized.
What about my favorite hero, Rhett Butler? If his room was scattered with stained cravats or last week’s jackets, it would take something away from his hero mystique. Rhett just wouldn’t leave his clothing about to get wrinkled; he’s much too refined for that.
A bad boy, or the absent-minded professor type might be more inclined to be sloppy, but even that sloppiness should be tempered by underlying organization. Indiana Jones always knows where his hat and whip are, after all. And even Sawyer, from Lost, has his loot sorted and organized in his makeshift tent.
When I think of other television shows or movies that I’ve seen, the heroes are all fairly neat. Maybe they drop their shirt after they’ve peeled it off, but hey, we’re busy admiring their six-packs, not looking at where they discarded their tee, aren’t we, ladies?
Question of the Day:
So here it is: Can a woman be attracted to a fictional hero who’s a slob? I’m sure they can (we do it in real-life, right? 
) and I’m sure there are plenty out there in books that I haven’t read, but when I think of myself, I’d say that, no, I wouldn’t want a hero to be messy. Somehow, the idea of his dirty socks or a moldy blender left laying around would be a turn-off.
What about you? Do you like your heroes to be neat? And are there any riveting heroes that are slobs?
March 31st, 2008
Misa 
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March 31st, 2008 at 11:58 am
What a great post, Misa! I definitely like my heroes to be neat. Not obsessively neat, just not gross or dirty or lazy. If he takes care of his stuff but can be loose enough to back off and go with the flow, I think it reflects how he’ll treat a woman! The only slobby hero I can think of is Oscar from the Odd Couple, but he definitely wouldn’t appeal to me. But neither would Felix. If I HAD to pick between them, I’d probably go with Oscar. He’s more fun. I’d just live someplace else and make him come to me.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:11 pm
LOL! I NEVER would have thought of the Odd Couple. :-0 Neither are ‘hero’ material to me, but I bet they are to someone out there. Oscar would definitely be more fun, but I bet Felix unbuttoned has potential, too.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:50 pm
I live with a neat freak and there are times I long for some chaos, if only for a moment. I was a slob in my pre-marriage days, but I knew where everything was, it was just everywhere. LOL Now that I’ve had 20 years with Mr. Clean I don’t think I could stand messy anymore.
In fiction it might be cool to have a Mr. Slob with a reason. Like rebelling against the neat and tidy dad, until one day he really needs something and it is lost in the chaos and he realizes he can be tidy and not turn into his very, very strict dad.
March 31st, 2008 at 1:48 pm
***In fiction it might be cool to have a Mr. Slob with a reason. Like rebelling against the neat and tidy dad, until one day he really needs something and it is lost in the chaos and he realizes he can be tidy and not turn into his very, very strict dad.***
This is great, Jill. Way to develop character and motivation based on a person’s cleanliness! My dad’s a total neat freak, but my mom is not. My husband and I are more compatible. It definitely makes life easier.
March 31st, 2008 at 2:59 pm
I don’t want complete control and neatness. But a total slob I wouldn’t find appealing. After all if he lived in chaos, it might be sign of things to come in a relationship. Somewhere in the middle would work best.
When I was single, I dated a man, who in appearance was neat and clean. And yes, very nice. When I went to is apartment, I was stunned by the mess. I couldn’t even use the restroom, it was so disgusting. Then he said to me, “You see why I need a girlfriend.”
It was such a turn off. Our relationship never went any further. He was looking for a maid, not a companion.
I use cleaning the house to relieve stress. But if worked right, a heroine could be very clean and hero, well not so, but not dirty. It could cause some conflict. It did in my real life, many moons ago.
April 1st, 2008 at 6:20 am
Messiness wouldn’t bother me. I’d pick up after him and enjoy it
…but I wouldn’t tolerate bad hygiene or grossness or filth.
I wouldn’t mind tending to him, though, picking up his clothes or cooking for him. I guess I’m just a pleaser that way.
April 1st, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Ew, Lee. That guy sounds awful. Did he seriously SAY that’s why he needed a girlfriend? Yuk.
April 1st, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I agree, LC, that bad hygiene and filth would be a MAJOR turn off. Messy, to a degree, wouldn’t be intolerable, but I’d rather have tidy (though not obsessive).