Have These Fictional Characters Influenced You?

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

19 Oct 2006 10:51 AM

There was a lively debate going on between the co-hosts of NBC's "Today" show regarding the influence Santa Claus, the Loch Ness Monster, and Paul Bunyan had on modern society. After some chiding and a lot of elbowing the "Today" foursome concluded that characters influenced everything from how we look and act to the way we eat and speak-even though none of them are real.

Later I found out that the source of the co-host's "debate" was a list of "The 101 most influential people who never lived," which is featured in a new book that was released Tuesday.

So what fictional character tops the list? I thought for sure it would be Santa Claus; after all, without him businesses would probably go broke. But, I was wrong. According to the book, the number one most influential person who never lived is... the Marlboro Man--a macho American cowboy who emerged in the 1950s and helped boost sales of Marlboro cigarettes.

Coming in at number two on the list is "Big Brother" of George Orwell's widely read book 1984. Holding down the number three spot is King Arthur who the authors say embodies for many "the ideal monarch." Surprisingly (to me anyway) Santa Claus came in at number four.

Other noteworthy characters making the list include: Barbie "the bodacious plastic babe who became a role model for millions of little girls, setting an impossible standard for beauty and style." She came in at number 43.

Beating Barbie by a mile was Rosie the Riveter, the buff, blue-collar factory worker who the authors say helped jump-start the women's liberation movement. She came in at number 28.

As for the Loch Ness Monster... it made the list at number 56. Why did it make the list at all? According to the book's authors: "As the most popular tourist attraction in Scotland, Nessie's influence on the cash flow of that country has been significant."

And just making the list by a hair-at number 101-was Paul Bunyan a mythical lumberjack who the authors say was created by U.S. lumberjacks during the 1800s "to bring some good cheer, and esteem into their lives of drudgery."

Were you influenced by any of the characters that made the list? In what way?

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger

Megan Bayliss (3586) 19 Oct 2006 02:18 PM

Did Mary Poppins make the list? I'd love to see the list of the 100. I've been influenced by Hermoinie Granger from the Harry Potter books. I want to be like her when I grow up.

Michele Cheplic (37339) 20 Oct 2006 09:59 AM

Megan I didn't include the link to the complete list b/c it kept crashing. Here's a link to a partial list: http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2006-10-16-influential-people_x.htm. I didn't see Mary Poppins name.