What is a comfort character?
A comfort character is a fictional character you turn to when you need to feel better: someone whose scenes you rewatch or reread because they make you feel safe. The term comes from fandom. A comfort character does not have to be a crush; many are simply steady, kind or funny.
What makes a comfort character
They are reliable. You know how they talk, what they would say, and that they will be the same tomorrow. On a bad day that predictability is restful. People describe them the way they describe a favourite jumper.
Why it works
Familiar stories lower stress because nothing in them can surprise you. Returning to a character you love gives some of the calm of being with a friend, without the effort of being good company yourself. It is a healthy way to rest.
Comfort character and book boyfriend
A book boyfriend is a romantic crush. A comfort character may be a grandfatherly wizard, a detective or a talking bear. The two can coincide, and when they do, readers tend to be very loyal. Elias, the gentlest of the men of Beau de Nuit, is written for that kind of evening.
Questions and answers
- What does comfort character mean?
- A fictional character who makes you feel safe, calm or happy, and to whom you return for that feeling.
- Is it normal to have a comfort character?
- Yes. Rewatching and rereading for comfort is common at every age.
- Can a comfort character be a real person?
- The usual term for that is comfort person. Comfort character refers to fiction.