Classics

Matching Zodiac Signs to Classic Literature Characters

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Olivia Páez

Staff Writer

Olivia Páez is a Cuban-American journalism major. When she’s not writing articles for her classes, you can probably find her devouring a novel or watching a classic film. Along with reading and watching films, she has a hodgepodge of interests. Some of them include writing, sketching, traveling, dressing up as some of her favorite characters, and caring for the environment.

Ever wonder what Jay Gatsby’s zodiac sign is? Or Lady Macbeth? In an effort to understand our favorite characters from classic literature, even more than we do, I wanted to match zodiac signs to some of my favorite protagonists.

A majority of these classic protagonists are going to be assigned zodiac signs according to their personality, values, and driving forces. Some signs may have more classic fictional characters assigned to them than others, but each zodiac sign has at least one protagonist to match!

Aries (March 21–April 19)

The more passionate of the zodiac signs, Aries are independent, resilient, and fearless, but they can also have a bit of a temper, make rash decisions, and be a little impatient.

frankenstein mary shelley cover greek or roman mythVictor Frankenstein in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley

Victor is innovative and likes to set himself apart from the other scientists working on their own experiments, at the time. With his God Complex in hand, he successfully creates a new form of life—without thinking through the consequences of his actions. And, once he comes to terms with what he did, he swiftly runs away from his responsibilities upon finding that his impulsive behavior comes with harsh ramifications.

Macbeth William Shakespeare CoverMacbeth in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Macbeth is an ultra Aries. He is confident to the point of being prideful. He is competitive and determined to get what he wants out of life. His biggest flaw is his arrogance and his habit of making rash decisions influenced by his wife. He also has a short temper and aggression that runs rampant throughout Shakespeare’s infamous tragedy.

 

Taurus (April 20–May 20)

Tauruses tend to be stubborn, protective of those closest to them, and tend to be too hard on themselves. While they may be a bit possessive, they also love providing security and warmth to others and are loyal until the end.

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare CoverBeatrice in Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing’s Beatrice is a force to be reckoned with. She is set in her ways; is harboring a massive grudge against Benedick, the man who broke her heart; and she isn’t afraid to speak her mind. While she may come off as intimidating and aggressive towards those who have wronged her, Beatrice is fiercely protective of those she loves and will stay by their side no matter what, as a true Taurus would.

Gemini (May 21–June 20)

Fellow Geminis are able to change the world just by speaking to a crowd. They are bright, energetic, curious, and are flexible under any circumstances. They also can be contradictory, erratic, and a bit indecisive.

Lady Macbeth in Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Lady Macbeth may be the hardest character to pin down, in terms of personality traits and how she takes in the world because she is so unpredictable and hard to read. Like Geminis, Lady Macbeth is able to influence those around her by saying a few words.

Her cunning attitude, ability to adapt to any circumstance, and erratic behavior are similar to that of a Gemini. One moment she may be calm, and the other she may be ordering her husband to commit crimes to help them rise in the ranks of society. She is most definitely a Gemini in ways of keeping others on their toes.

Cancer (June 21 –July 22)

Cancers tend to be more emotional than the rest of the zodiac signs. They are very attuned to everyone else’s feelings, care deeply for others, and are creative and innovative. They also can be clingy and irritable from dealing with so many emotions at once.

hamlet by William Shakespeare CoverOphelia in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Beloved Ophelia is imaginative, empathetic, too kind for her own good, and simply wants to please others. She is able to stand out from a crowd, due to her ethereal personality that captivates others and makes the audience sympathize with her dealing with the darkest of circumstances. She is also one to absorb the emotions of those around her, no matter how negative those feelings may be, which mirrors a Cancer, whose sensitivity reigns supreme.

the color purple alice walker coverCelie in The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Celie is a character who has gone through a large array of hardships but ends up embracing and appreciating the little details in life. Throughout her journey, she learns to stand up for herself, becomes independent, and is confident in her place in life which reminds me of a Cancer at their best. While she may deal with a lot of strife that leads her to be much more introspective, like a Cancer, she also cares deeply for those who love her and learns to appreciate the beauty in life despite her rough past.

Leo (July 23–August 22)

Leos are vibrant, loyal till the very end, generous, and try to make others feel as confident as they do. As a fellow Leo, I can admit that we tend to be a little stubborn, self-interested, and lazy, at our worst.

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott FitzgeraldDaisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald

Daisy Buchanan puts herself first in all areas of life. Despite having two men fighting for her affection, a daughter, and a beautiful castle of a house, she feels unfulfilled if she is not the center of attention. During her first interaction with her cousin Nick Carroway, she asks if anyone back home misses her, because priorities. She is full of herself, poised, and flourishes in the limelight. While she is not as loyal as a Leo, the way she carries herself and converses with others shows off some big Leo tendencies.

Virgo (August 23–September 22)

Virgos tend to be a little more subdued, are realistic, and tend to over-analyze everything around them. While they may be a stickler for the little details, Virgos also point out the flaws in things more often than other signs which leads them to be hard critics who worry more about the job at hand than other people’s emotions.

Mr. Darcy in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Mr. Darcy is a less extreme version of a Virgo. He is overly critical of those around him, especially those who are in a lower class. He is shy, stands in the background of parties, and tends to say what’s on his mind without noticing that his comments may hurt the feelings of those around him. Everything and everyone has their place in life, in Mr. Darcy’s eyes, and going against the grain or breaking the mold that society has set for us all is something he has trouble dealing with.

Libra (September 23–October 22)

Libras love a good crowd, are sociable and always seek out peace and harmony in all areas of life. They tend to avoid confrontations, are a bit indecisive, and are easily influenced by others around them.

Romeo and Juliet by William ShakespeareJuliet in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Juliet is a sweet girl whose soft personality captures the hearts of many in Romeo and Juliet. She wants nothing more than to have peace between the Montagues and the Capulets to put years of tension to rest. She is one who avoids any conflict and is also easily swayed by others, especially her Romeo, who pulls her into a world of trouble that eventually leads to their tragedy.

harper lee to kill a mockingbird southern historical novels coverAtticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Another character from classic literature that matches this zodiac sign is Atticus Finch. He is the very definition of a Libra at their best. He is well-spoken, intelligent, reliable, and stable. As a lawyer, he seeks out justice for his clients and sees all sides of a situation. Atticus has inspired generations of readers to better themselves and be fair in all areas of life, as Libras do with their friends, family, and coworkers.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra CisnerosEsperanza in The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Esperanza daydreams about breaking the boundaries of the life set before her and creates a bright future for herself in her mind. As she grows older, she begins to feel connected to others in her community and wants to give back to them rather than breaking free from her home on Mango Street. Esperanza is similar to a Libra in the way that she hopes to bring change to her town and to others in her life by achieving a sense of peace and positive change.

Scorpio (October 23–November 21)

Scorpios are a force of nature. They carry a lot of their emotions inside of them, making them one of the more mysterious signs. They are fierce, passionate, great leaders, and are loyal to those they care about. Some of their weaknesses are their jealousy, secretiveness, and their distrust of those they are unfamiliar with.

Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

An emotional, theatrical Scorpio is Jay Gatsby, who does everything he can to rise in the ranks of society in order to impress a woman he fell in love with years ago. Like a Scorpio, he clings to the past and to Daisy herself, while also being resourceful enough to earn a fortune within a few years. His passion for success and love is inspiring, in a way. He went from being and having nothing, to hosting the most expensive and glamorous parties, all for the love of a woman he can’t let go of.

Hamlet in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

An honorary Scorpio that cannot be forgotten is Hamlet. He may be the most dramatic character of all time. He has an obsessive need to prove that his uncle killed his father. He has a very Scorpio-esque distrust and jealousy he has for those around him. And, he makes overemotional soliloquies, musing death, his father’s murder, and what man has to offer the world when he is alive.

Sagittarius (November 22–December 21)

Fun-loving and the life of the party, Sagittariuses are also generous, open to trying new things, and will always be the first to tell you the truth. While they are willing to help those around them, sometimes they say more than they do, are flighty, and will do anything to have the last word.

Don Quixote in Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Don Quixote reminds me of a Sagittarius because he is an oddball whose curiosity sets him on one of the most infamous voyages. Like a Sagitarius, Don Quixote’s optimism can sometimes be his kryptonite and he chases after his dreams without listening to the warnings of others.

Capricorn (December 22–January 19)

Serious, organized, and cautious, Capricorns are hard-workers and natural-born leaders. Sometimes their knowledge and discipline can make them seem like a know-it-all who judges other people’s standards and actions.

Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Ms. Bennet is earnest, reflective, and tentative, like a Capricorn. She is reliable, responsible, and is the quiet one of the family who stands out from the crowd when she dares to point out Mr. Darcy’s flaws and arrogant attitude without caring about seeming blunt.

Beneatha Younger in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

Beneatha is the bookworm of the family who isn’t afraid to show off her intelligence, which sometimes makes her seem as if she’s a know-it-all. She is the only member of the Younger family who attends college which opens her mind to new ideas that stray away from her mother’s traditional viewpoints, mirroring that of a Capricorn who sometimes butts head with others if they have differing viewpoints.

Aquarius (January 20–February 18)

Free-spirited, curious, and stuck in their own world, Aquariuses tend to be empathetic, independent, original, and fight for the rights of others. They are the least emotional of all the signs, are standoffish, and keep their thoughts and feelings under lock and key.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis CarrollAlice in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carrol

Like an Aquarius, Alice is spacey, eccentric and is quite literally stuck in her own world. For a girl trapped in a topsy-turvy, unpredictable Wonderland, she is able to carry herself well and isn’t afraid to fight for others being suppressed by the Queen of Hearts.

Edmond Dantés in The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

The Count of Monte Cristo is a knowledgeable and inventive man who is wrongly convicted for a crime he did not commit. After he gets released from prison, he comes upon an array of wealth that he uses to rise in the ranks of society while also paying back those who have helped him while enacting revenge on those who have wronged him and led to his conviction. Like an Aquarius, Edmond stands up for those he believes in while also seeking justice in order to bring order to his world.

Tita in Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

Tita is an individualist who isn’t afraid to be herself and swim in the thoughts swirling in her mind on a daily basis. She tends to feel emotions more deeply than others and forms strong bonds to her quirky family. While Aquariuses tend to be less emotional than other signs, Tita reminds me of one because she keeps all her thoughts and longings hidden deep down in her heart away from prying eyes in an attempt to keep her family from falling apart at the seams.

Pisces (February 19–March 20)

Pisces are emotional, warmhearted, gentle, and have a wonderful imagination. They can also give away their trust too easily, love to escape their reality, are able to be manipulated, and tend to make themselves seem like the victim.

Romeo in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

Romeo, oh Romeo, how he falls in love too easily, makes snap decisions and is a hopeless romantic at his very core. Pisces carry their emotions on their sleeves, just like Romeo who also is a bit careless and irrational in his relationship with Juliet which has negative consequences that can only be blamed on their naivety and their flair for the dramatics.

Walter Lee Younger in A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry

Walter has a big imagination and dreams of, one day, becoming wealthy to and making a name for himself. He has an ambitious plan to give his family a better life but quickly realizes that his rash decisions leave him dealing with more problems than he can handle. Like a Pisces, Walter trusts too easily and lets his dreams carry him forward. Even if his decisions are quickly made, he does have the best intentions at heart.


What’s your astrological sign? Can you relate to these classic literature characters who share the same zodiac signs as you?