On Mon, 15 Feb 1999, David Johnston wrote:

Choices: Dilemma

Actually I think you are wrong.  The reason why Akane is getting little
sympathy from the reader is because she is getting all the sympathy from 
the characters in the story.  Ranma is getting all the blame and making 
all the apologies.  Nobody is standing up for him, except Kuno, sorta.  
(A mixed blessing at best.)  Akane isn't making any apologies, or even 
accepting Ranma's apology.  Even his parents are on Akane's side.  Now, 
that's pretty standard for Ranma, but it doesn't inspire a lot of 
sympathy for how hard-done-by Akane is in this story.  This isn't a 
story where Akane is unbelievably cruel or particularly unfeeling or 
totally to blame.  But she isn't getting any of the blame she deserves, 
even from Ranma or Hiroshi.  (We won't consider that scumbag, Daisuke, 
who deserves to die a slow and painful death).

	Very true, and point well made.  To be honest, I'm not sure Akane
has even realized her own blame in the whole incident.
	I would argue that, to a certain degree, this is somewhat in
character.  Judging by the manga (and even more by the anime) she can at
times be quite spiteful, stubborn, and blind to her own faults -- and
strangely, people seem to back her up.  It's not fair, but the blame
always seems to fall squarely on his shoulders (although he often doesn't
help himself much by actually deserving some of that blame).
	Of course, that's a very one sided view of Akane -- one that seems
strangely popular in fanfics.  Because she _can_ be understanding at
times, and is usually pretty quick to forgive.  I just haven't given
her those opportunities yet, I guess.  I suppose you could say she's had
some things on her mind.
	But you're absolutely right -- she's not an extremely sympathetic
character at this point.  Reading your comments, I realize I'm going to
have to address that soon.  The next chapter'll probably begin with a, I
hope, convincing portrayal of what's driving her -- why what happened at
the party angered her so much, why she's been slow to forgive, what's
she's been thinking about so much -- and make her a likeable character
again.  I'm making it a personal challenge...
	<blink> And... you don't seem to like Daisuke much.

	-Mike Noakes
	(Thanks for the feedback, BTW.  Very useful stuff, and much
appreciated.)