They asked, "Why does everyone think Leia is suicidal?"
Really, when I looked at the review, I had to think about it myself. Leia is, in every situation, a very strong character. She's not the kind of person to just give up. So why is it that we DO write as if Leia wants to end her pain...but Han always, for some reason or another, comes to the rescue and stops her?
I think a large point of it is because it seems logical to us...and this is the part where I really do disagree with the reviewer. Think about everything Leia has gone through up to the point of "40 Days." She's lost her planet, her family, her life, and now Luke is missing and she's stuck on a ship she doesn't want to be on because she's so frustrated with how Han is treating her. I feel that Leia would have the thoughts of suicide just because it would end her pain. Yes, it has been three years, but you have to remember that the other characterization of her nightmares comes into play. Plus...she is pretty much constantly "picked on" by members of the Alliance...mostly Han...but none the less she is. Just look at the bets, which do come into play BEFORE she attempts suicide in "40 Days." If you add everything together, how would you feel? There are plenty of circumstances where even the strongest character will commit suicide just because of how terrible they feel their life is...and the fact that they have nothing to live for.
Now, aside from the fact that I do believe that at some point in the years between "A New Hope" and "The Empire Strikes Back" she would have had some sort of suicidal thoughts...I honestly HATE how I wrote the beginning of "40 Days." I, personally, feel that my writing improved 100% between the beginning of those 40 chapters and the end. The characterizations were closer and I just felt like I WAS the characters...an attitude I didn't have until about half-way through (actually, I think it started around the time of the "Rogues.") It's for this reason that I completely disagree with this reviewer's point that my characterizations are all off..because they didn't get past about chapter 4 or 5 of "40 Days"...a long time before I personally feel the characterizations were more on.
This reviewer also mentioned how they disliked how I wrote Han and Leia, both, as characters that need each other so much. I think we all know that Han and Leia are very independent people, and it goes back to the fact that I feel my characterizations weren't quite right yet. The story of "40 Days" focuses around the changes in the relationship between Han and Leia...and I do believe that some of those changes must have occurred previous to the trip...otherwise it seems largely impossible for them to go from fighting 24/7 to in love with each other...to the point where they tell each other (kind of LOL).
So, I guess what I'm saying is this: If I rewrote "40 Days" I probably wouldn't include a suicide attempt by Leia. Not because of what the reviewer said, and not because I don't think she would have had such thoughts...but because I personally don't like my characterization in the early chapters. It seems like something for another story...not "40 Days." I'd also change those beginning chapters based on the idea that I brought them together too quickly. Leia may have resisted more...but she fell quickly due to the suicide attempt. You see how all of this changes?
But for any guests out there, or anyone reading "40 Days," do remember that it was largely a learning experience for me, and luckily I see myself as a stronger writer after that project than when I started...and that's how it should be. I've been working very hard on getting Leia's characterizations correct in "Promises" and I can guarantee that there won't be any other suicide attempts...although the conversation might come up. Leia is a strong person...and I'm certainly going to use the knowledge I gained from "40 Days" to make "Promises" better...introduce new characters and create the new storyline that so many are wondering about. And above all, I hope to continue learning as I write "Promises," because I know at the end my characterizations will, once again be closer to the characters in the mind of George Lucas.
Then again...remember...this is Fanfiction...and "40 Days" wasn't originally intended to be a super-serious story...but it evolved into that, along with it's sequel...which is, in all reality, quite a bit more serious than "40 Days" ever was.
So what's you're opinion? Feel free to send me a message on Fanfiction or comment here...either one! And if you have any other questions on why I wrote something the way I did, or how I feel about a classic fanfiction characterization of Han or Leia...let me know...I'd love to discuss it. =)
