Why are people so bothered by a protagonist for being short?

[Novicewriter34]

Is there something so unappealing about a protagonist being super short, due to torturous experiments done to them by the main villain, who happens to be much taller than the protagonist? Why is this such a terrible idea?

 

[Banespawn]

I've never heard of anyone being bothered by a short protagonist. Of all the books I've read, and all the characters in those books, I couldn't tell you whether most were tall, short, average or whatever. Height is usually only mentioned when the character is extra tall or extra short. It's just not important in most cases.

As a short person myself, I probably have a tendency to make my protagonists a bit shorter than other characters, but I honestly don't even mention it for most of them. And if I do mention it, it's typically as a comparison to someone else rather than providing a specific height.

If you're talking about extremely short people, they probably aren't well represented in most genres. Tyrion in Game of Thrones is one of the most well-known. But I wouldn't view that lack of representation as people being bothered by it. If you want to write about a very short protagonist, go for it.

 

[Homer Potvin]

Is there something so unappealing about a protagonist being super short, due to torturous experiments done to them by the main villain, who happens to be much taller than the protagonist? Why is this such a terrible idea?

Like, how do you mean? I've never noticed a character's height unless I've been forced to pay attention, like with Tyrian Lannister or the dwarf in that Shirley Jackson novel I can never remember the name of.

 

[big soft moose]

Never did bilbo and Frodo any harm

 

[Naomasa298]

Because the short, angry man is a stereotype, and potentially a lazy one if that's what you're writing, somewhat like a villain being fat. Some people are going to be offended by it.

due to torturous experiments

Take this, for example - it suggests PTSD from the physical trauma would be at the forefront of his mind, rather than his height.

I mean, there's nothing to stop you from doing it if you feel you can portray it accurately.

 

[Luxuria]

....you seem really caught on this height thing. You mentioned it in your last post, too. I don't think I have ever heard a reader or writer complain about a character being too short.

 

[Novicewriter34]

If you're talking about extremely short people, they probably aren't well represented in most genres. Tyrion in Game of Thrones is one of the most well-known. But I wouldn't view that lack of representation as people being bothered by it

That’s the whole twist in my story, he’s stunted from growing at a young age, but as time goes on, he then continues to rapidly shrink to going beyond extremely short.

Like, how do you mean? I've never noticed a character's height unless I've been forced to pay attention

It’s a major plot in my story, that at a young age, he continues to rapidly decrease in height, before he’s cybered up. But before that he continues to shrink due to a failed experiment done on him.

Because the short, angry man is a stereotype, and potentially a lazy one if that's what you're writing, somewhat like a villain being fat. Some people are going to be offended by it.

But he’s not a villain and he’s definitely not the angry short man syndrome stereotype by no means. And he ends up taller through augmentation, which saves his life.

I don't think I have ever heard a reader or writer complain about a character being too short

It’s because it’s a major plot point and I want to make sure others will be ok with it. He stops growing at a young age, and continues to shrink each year which is noticeable to others around him and how he’s treated.

 

[Homer Potvin]

Sounds fine to me then, and it doesn't sound like it would be an issue for anyone else either. The execution might not work, but that goes for anything. Have you written any of it yet? I wouldn't wait for approval. Just get it going if you haven't already. The proof is always in the pudding. Or the bolognese.

 

[Kiraann]

It didn’t seem to be an issue in the Miles Vorkosigan books. Similar to your protagonist, he suffered as a youth and is shorter than average height with brittle bones and other issues.

 

[GlitterRain]

Why is this such a terrible idea?

I don’t think it’s a terrible idea. I think the worst you can do (which you obviously want to avoid doing this) is write this in a way that harms or is insensitive to shorter people and the struggles they may face in their lives, like when people write what they don’t know and use stereotypes in a harmful or insensitive way towards POC, women, immigrants, disabled people, etc. As long as you are not being insensitive and harming shorter people by perpetuating stereotypes, you are probably fine.

It’s a major plot in my story,

Again, should be fine. If it was not a major point in your story, I would ask why it is necessary, but as long as you’ve got a solid reasoning for it, I think you’re good.

 

[Casket]

Some martial arts movies like to make someone's shortcomings into some sort of advantage. Blind,one-armed....I once thought of creating a martial artist who has an advantage because of his very short height but didn't go through with it as a short swordsman already existed. Yoda. Well, not exactly a sword but a light sabre.

 

[Naomasa298]

Yoda.

That's more of an angry hamster than a short swordsman.

 

[JT Woody]

I remember this from the last forum.
You have a long detail synopsis of it and the height barely came in to play. So much more was important than the height. His abuse, his "sleeper" status. His social awkwardness (which is attributed to his abuse). All of these things take president.... but the character is worried about his height because he cant get a girlfriend?
That was my only issue.
The character has such an interesting story that his height isnt even an issue. It can be an issue for the character (he feels he is inferior because of his height), but it doesnt take over the story and should not be the main focus for readers. He should be more angry and upset that he was abused, experimwnted on, and brainwashed.... not upset that after all of it, he is short?
If you WANT it to be, though, the other bits about his back story, in my mind, need to take a back seat so that the ONLY focus is about his height difference. Because as it is right now (or, at least... from what i remember from the last forum), the height wasnt important.

 

[big soft moose]

All of these things take president....

Precedence

 

[Naomasa298]

The Grey Mouser was much shorter than Fafhrd.

 

[JT Woody]

Precedence

Thank you.
I stared at it, shrugged, and said 'Merica

 

[Stuart Dren]

I was editing my first chapter today and one line made me think of this thread:

[his] crown only reached the chin of most men, but even...

Bothered. Pah. I forgot my protagonist was short.