The Heroin

NUBIAN SMITH

It's always difficult to create a protagonist. As a writer I try to avoid stereotypes and your typical cliche characters. So I had to search for Nubian within myself, I had to search beneath the rocks in my heart and it was very difficult creating her because she was effectively made up of tiny broken pieces of myself.

We all go through times in our lives when we feel like we don't fit in, or sometime we do but for all the wrong reasons. Nubian represents both sides of that spectrum. She has an unusual complexion which signifies the many tones of our personality and as much as we try to deny it, we are all psychologically impaired in some way shape or form. Her flesh is extremely powerful, it is what she is govern by because it's initially the most potent sign of who she is and where she comes from.

In terms of sexuality, Nubian's skin tone is also symbolic. She has inherited a deep sense of passion and love both of which are good and poisonous. She is a child who quickly blooms into a young woman and her sexuality is one she finds hard to control, and is also another avenue through which she explores herself and her true identity. Nubian is stubborn and irresponsible, she is dramatic and at times provocative and frustrating.

Initially she a confused young woman who just wants to rebel, and with all the dangers that surround her she finds it difficult to sustain a healthy mind. Nubian becomes infused into the world and all its glitz and glamour and she is desperate to forget and deny what she really is. During the first stages of the novel it is clear that young Nubian is torn between two sides, she yearns to be free and at the same time craves power.

The reason why I created Nubian in such a complex way is so that readers become equally as frustrated and confused. Nubian endures a lot of heart ache and rejection and her life is very isolated. I want readers to experience her metamorphosis, because it's not only mentally and emotionally challenging, but it's also physically painful and traumatic.

Despite being young and self conscious, Nubian is a fighter, she is determined, she is brave and courageous. She is full of joy and laughter yet she is also sinister and during the novel there is a real inner fight.

Readers may to react to Nubian negatively or positively. It could be In a negative way because of the choices that she makes, and the impact she causes on the lives of those she comes into contact with. Some may react in a positive way perhaps because of what she represents as a character, which is freedom. She is a woman that lives her life in various forms of bondage and she struggles intensely and desires is to be free. Some may respect her choices on that basis and others may not.