What I find particularly interesting are protagonists who are
apparently normal but never did develop a strong character
(they are essentially confused adolescents, often resentful
and selfish ones). When something disrupts their lives, their
dormant amorality can erupt and they become monsters.
Great examples of such characters in recent or fairly recent
novels: the protagonists of Westlake's _The Ax_ and Jason
Starr's _Hard Feelings_, as well as Dave Zeltserman's PI
Johnny Lane.
As to Parker, I can't see him as a fully formed character. He
has been given a perfect functional description by Stark, but
besides planning and executing heists, I can't tell what he
thinks or believes in, or why. That Westlake has succeeded
time after time under such limitations is a miracle, a
glowing example of the "show, don't tell" method.
Best,
MrT
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