How have authors prevented readers from disliking characters in literature with invasive character flaws, such as the misguided obsession belonging to Arabella in The Female Quixote?

“Many writers, for the sake of following nature, so mingle good and bad qualities in their principal personages, that they are both equally conspicuous; and as we accompany them through their adventures with delight, and are led by degrees to interest ourselves in their favour, we lose the abhorrence of their faults, because they do not hinder our pleasure, or, perhaps, regard them with some kindness for being united with so much merit.”

The Rambler page 2

“If the gentleman was surprised at this address, he was much more astonished at the beauty of her who made it: her stature; her shape; her inimitable complexion; the lustre of her fine eyes, and the thousand charms that adorned her whole person, kept him a minute silently gazing upon her, without having the power to make her an answer.”

The Female Quixote page 99

            The first quote above describes a facet of literature present in The Female Quixote, one that allows the reader to have a positive perception of an imperfect character. As mentioned in the quote, writers humanize their characters by giving them both positive and negative traits. In doing so, readers view the characters to be more similar to human beings and can enjoy their troubles and accomplishments with a human understanding of their natures. Their flaws can be disregarded with consideration of their qualities. In the case of Arabella in The Female Quixote, her appearance is one of the qualities that are used to balance her intensive obsession with ancient romantic novels. After addressing a stranger in an extensive, dramatic manner that would be proper only in ancient romances, she receives the pleasurable description quoted above. An understanding of Arabella’s innate belief that reality is one in nature with romantic novels is paired with an extremely flattering description of her appearance. This structure gives the reader a sense that the character is neither solely good or bad, and can even lead the reader to view her trials with a perspective of fond concern.