Three very important people inspired much of Naminé's original creation, especially the aspects of her personality and pieces of her behavior. After that, I put incredible amounts of time and care into figuring out exactly who Naminé was meant to be. I thought I had it all figured out, but then Naminé took a life all her own and started down her own path.
When we first meet Naminé in the books, she is called by the name Naomi. Her gentle soul bears a presence of innocence and timidity. She is easily frightened and in many ways dependent on the people around her for confidence. The Human-Vagan war and the lifestyle of her childhood have certainly scarred her on many levels. But as the book goes on and we watch her gradual transition from Naomi to Naminé, we get to see what lies beneath her fear--we get to see the fireball inside her. When free of fear or solely compelled by it, Naminé reveals the deeper, more aggressive part of her personality. She becomes forthright and assertive about her opinions. As one reader put it, "She becomes quite the little firecracker."
In addition to her personal development, I love the relationship she has with Zarrys. At the core they are very similar personalities; however, they express themselves almost oppositely: where Zarrys is quick to lash out in anger, Naminé is more patient and careful; where Zarrys is just, Naminé is merciful; where Naminé is bold, Zarrys is timid; and so on. They balance and rely on each other even more than they yet realize, and to me that's what makes them such a fit couple.
To sum it up easily, I think Naminé is a character that endears herself well to everyone. She's easy to connect with and easy to love, which is why I think she's such an integral part of the story to so many readers. What do you think? Who are some of your favorite characters, and why?
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