Square Peg In A Pentagonal Hole?
Where do you fit in Harry Dresden’s world?
As we all read (or listen) to books, or watch movies, we identify ourselves with characters we find in these mental diversions. Most often the stories are from a main character’s point of view and we are supposed to identify with them primarily. 
But well written and continuing works develop a greater number of in depth characters that broaden the possibilities. For The Dresden Files, having 11 books in print, there are a great many well developed and even more undeveloped, characters to echo our personal perspectives and thus identify ourselves with. In identifying ourselves with these fictional characters, we get to see a different perspective on how we deal with things. The real world does not let us blithely spray a hail of gunfire to solve our issues, nor mass mayhem and destruction to rid ourselves of pesky nuisances. Harry would have a hard time in our world, explaining, dealing with, and paying for the collateral damages that his general lifestyle tends to leave in his wake, but we still cheer him on, in his quest to best his foes. We all have urges that we can’t indulge in, due to social constraints and the legal system, so our beloved characters, help us unknowingly by venting our own steam along with theirs and we get to feel the rush of victory without paying the price.
In this article I would like to ask the readers to tell me who they most identify with, and perhaps why, within The Dresden Files. Are you a cop like Murphy, or Carmichael, or Stallings? Are you a wizard like Harry, Elaine, or Ebenezer? Are you a knight like Michael, Sanya, or Shiro? Perhaps you are more like Billy the werewolf, or Mac the bartender, or maybe Butters the medical examiner. This question sounds innocent but it actually does reveal a bit of our deeper nature, and can enlighten us about things that we might not consciously pay heed to within ourselves.
As I considered and wrote this, I asked several other Dresden Files fans I know who they most identified with. By now there is a veritable rainbow in shades of grey, of heroes, villains, sidekicks, and lesser known characters in the shadows. 
The answers I received ranged from Georgia the werewolf (pack mother), to Susan before the vampires (devoted investigator, and much more), from Murphy (gun toting, martial arts authority figure), to Charity Carpenter (the ultimate mom and wife). One very close friend surprised me by choosing Lara Wraith, because as she told me, “sometimes I’m just not a very nice person” and besides she likes the lifestyle that the Lara enjoys.(if it sounds like most of my friends are women, then your right) All of these characters are strong and a bit more extreme than their real life counter parts, but that is what we want from them, for them to be more than we are able to be. For myself, I obviously identify with Harry, as the main character and the classic hero, but I think I would actually be more of a supporting character, like Butters, who helps the best that he can in his own way, without diving into the line of fire, although when push comes to shove he stands his ground with the best of them. Butters is smart and inquisitive, but open minded and clever. I would like to think that I am like that.
So give it a bit of thought and tell me, Who are You?
Martin Lambert / Staff Writer
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Mouse.
No one knows quite what to make of me, I’m bigger than I should be, smarter than I am given credit for, and every once in a while I do something timely that impresses those around me.
I think I identify most with Butters. Although I’m more of a klutz.
Molly
I like Molly. I try to do the right thing, but end up screwing it up. And I like that Molly works so hard to learn, but forgets things like breathing. And I think that her character having magic has moved Harrys and Charity’s relationship do a different arena
I like Jared Kincaid, the mercenary who works for the Archive (Ivy).
There’s quite a penchant for melodramatic flair in supernatural circles, what with all the conjuring, chanting, and gesturing – Kincaid is the guy who’ll be confronted with some unearthly shambling horror and, without batting an eye, whip out a gun and shoot it in the face.
There are many characters I would have liked to have been like Murphy or Susan but I probably would be Susan’s boss at the Arcane. Can you imagine getting Susan’s reports? Even for a tabloid it would be a stretch yet good for circulation.
June, Isn’t Susan’s boss Tony Vinchenso,, Karl Kolshack’s old boss? LOL
I like Billy the werewolf myself
I totally relate to butters. In “Dead Beat” I feel like Butters and I were of one mind. He asked all the questions I woudda asked and reacted to Harry’s world in what I consider to be a relatively realistic way, considering that he works with corpses all day.
Tish Tosh. Tony Vincenzo or Maria Alphonsa what’s the difference? A chromosone and a trip to the salon
Maybe a Maria might have been more understanding. NOT.
Mostly I can sympathize with Harry. I often feel caught in the middle and there are other forces that are playing in the game and I don’t always have all the information. I’m doing the best I can with what I have. I soldier on and sometimes come out ahead, occasionally it’s by the seat of my pants, and it looks damn impressive to others.
I like Elaine, the girl Harry was raised with, but mainly I like her because it is my name and I can hear James Marsters say it and think of Spike.SIGH
Listening to James read these books is awesome and a better actor could not have been found..great job. I have them all on Audio and they are not coming out fast enough for me.
Butters, hands down. While I would love to claim to identify with Harry, the reality is, Butters is it. While I am not into Polka’s, or one man bands, I am certainly quirky, with solitary interests, that many would think strange/waste of time.
I agree that storylines offering more than one character to relate to are far more enjoyable than those that focus on one main identity. Charity is the character I can most relate to here. Nothing is more important to me than those members in my immediate family.
I identify with Thomas. I often feel caught between two worlds. In most situations there’s just no compromising. Yet, I manage to tread the line nicely and remain remarkably in the good graces of both sides. Thomas is smart, complex, and just a little dangerous. Oh, and I love the way James reads him…
Sanya for me. He’s a man who does all the good he can, for goodness sake, not for religion or faith. He’s a man with a tainted past, who’s trying to make up for past wrongs…