Similarities and Differences Between The Male Protagonists in "Collector" and The French Lieutenant's Woman"

The French Lieutenant’s Woman and The Collector are the most famous postmodern novels written by John Fowles. Male protagonists of these works are Frederick Clegg (The Collector) and Charles Smithson (The French Lieutenant’s Woman). When these two characters are compared, it may be said that they both have a tragic life over the concepts of freedom, existence, and love. Both are the characters who chase the things they love and desire and want to keep them in their own hands: in short collectors. When we look at these two love-seeking characters, we can see their differences as well as their similarities. 

The similarities between Frederick and Charles start with their interests. Both are interested in nature and are collectors of John Fowles. For example, Frederick collects butterflies and Chares collects fossils. They may be considered amateur naturalists interested in collecting something in their spare time. They are also similar in terms of fate and both are raised by their relatives, not their biological parents. Frederick is raised by Aunt Annie and Charles is brought up by Uncle Robert. Both are the characters who refuse to conform to society and they just do not care what others think. What’s more, although the way they both show is different, the path they follow is going to love. 

Despite their similarities, these two characters have some differences as well. One of them is their social status: Frederick Clegg is from the lower class and works as a clerk in London, yet he wins a prize in the football pools and quits his job. He is brought up by his relatives, Aunt Annie and Uncle Dick and so he feels different from other people raised by their biological parents. Therefore, his status in society affects his personality. Unlike Frederick, Charles Smithson is an upper-class gentleman interested in nature and fossils. His opinions and perspectives are valued and he is considered a respectable wealthy nobleman, yet towards the end of the novel, he loses his dignity because he cheats on his fiancée with Sarah Woodruff.

Judging by their appearances, Frederick has a shapeless face and when Miranda looks at his face, she cannot see any emotion and she thinks that his face mirrors his social status. However, Charles is a good-looking and young gentleman in his 30ies. Unlike Frederick, he is not dull and he can show his feelings with his face and mimics. Furthermore, considering their personalities, Frederick is antisocial, isolated, selfish, lonely, psychopathic, and timid. He is not interested in worldly things such as traveling, hanging out with friends sharing his ideas with others, and so on. He does not like going out and being in public places and he is lonely. He likes being alone and controlling everything as he wants and he tries to create his own life and world according to his decisions. He wants to be free, yet he escapes his lover Miranda and restricts her freedom. As for Charles, he is an intelligent, lazy, qualified, sensitive, self-aware, and social gentleman. He wholeheartedly loves traveling and feeling free. Most of the time, he misses traveling the other places and living life as his decision when he is engaged with Ernestina. However, Frederick chooses to stay at home with his captive lover Miranda. He has a desire to control her and keep her beauty for himself. He is like a psychopath man, not a lover because what he feels for Miranda is not love, but an urge to dominate.

Although they aim to chase their love, their actions are very different. When Charles thinks that he and Sarah love each other, he honestly breaks up his fiancée, gives up everything including his reputation, and dedicates his whole life to his love for Sarah. However, this dedication is not like Frederic’s imprisoning Miranda and himself in a house. Under the name of love, he locks her in a cellar, takes away all her freedom, and punishes her and also he tries to make her fall in love with him with a possessive perspective. Just as he kills and collects butterflies and keeps their beauty to himself, he does the same thing to his lover Miranda. In short, their views of love are completely different, Frederick obsessively wishes to keep the things and people he loves: butterflies and Miranda. He wants to keep the beauty in his hands. For Charles, love is sacrifice and fighting. He constantly tries to reach his love. Lastly, Frederick kills the alive one as he does to butterflies. In contrast to him, Charles brings the lifeless one to life. 

In conclusion, here are the similarities and differences between the male protagonists in The French Lieutenant’s Woman and The Collector written by John Fowles in the 20th century. Frederick and Charles are the characters who look for the answers to the puzzles and chase these questions. Both are the characters fighting against society and trying to create their destiny.