The results are in! I have whittled down the list of fictional boyfriends for Kayleigh. Twitter provided an excellent forum for some very insightful and spirited discussion about what #literarybf to choose, but let me walk you through my thought process (scary).
Kayleigh stipulated that her top three qualities were intellectual curiosity, kindness, and devotion (and rough-hewn, masculine features wouldn't hurt either). In my (completely biased opinion) she is smart, incredibly well-rounded, and has a heart as golden as Jason's fleece. I think she would benefit from someone who challenges her, isn't threatened by her strength but won't take advantage of her soft side, and who can wax poetic but not live in the clouds. To that end:
Bachelor #1: Newland Archer from Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence.
Smart, young, successful, Newland is seemingly quite the package. He could converse on a multitude of subjects, sweep Kayleigh off to Europe, and if he looks anything like Daniel Day Lewis…yum.
Ultimately though, he is too angst ridden; torn between societal expectations and his own desires. Wharton describes him as "at heart a dilettante, and thinking over a pleasure to come often gave him a subtler satisfaction than its realization." That would not be satisfying enough, so on to the next stud.
Bachelor #2: Benedick from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing
I think KG would love the mental sparring she and Benedick would inevitably engage in. He would indeed challenge her as they battled to outwit, outsmart and outlove each other; he vows to be “horribly in love" with his leading lady, and as they say love is a battlefield. Kayleigh could also get to wear pretty awesome dresses. Verdict: While this would be fun for a time, it sounds exhausting and like way too much strife/work. Soooo….this leaves the winner. Drum roll, please.
Bachelor #3: Aragorn from J.R.R Tolkein's Lord of the Rings Trilogy
He is a perfect combination of manly and sensitive; he's confident, thoughtful, brave and loyal, and ummm…A KING! I think he would also fit in splendidly in modern day Brooklyn. Can't you see him sporting flannel, drinking locally distilled whiskey and rocking un-ironic facial hair? You know you can…
So concludes this installment of The Literary Matchmaking Game. Stay tuned for tomorrow's final chapter when Kayleigh reveals who she chose for me.
– Annie