Could Lisbeth be a positve roll model for both young men and women?

[Launchingstars]

Can she be (is she) the hope and inspiration to live not as victim but as victor. Might/can ber being super smart be the new agenda for the underpriveleges.
If you where a teacher, would you share her character with your students?

[Hope]

I wouldn't consider Lisbeth to be a role model. Yes, she is very intelligent. And I love her character. But she is very impulsive and irrational.

Lisbeth also has very little regard for other people. I understand that she feels she has reason. But I'd like to think a role model would rise above her past.

Again, loved the character and I look forward to reading the other 2 books. But I don't think she should be represented as a role model.

[Dee]

I don't know if I would use her as a sole role-model, but I think she is a good example of someone who has had to overcome huge odds in her life and has managed to do that and still succeed. Yeah, she's def. a bit impulsive and irrational, but who of us aren't on any given day ;)

[Xdyj]

I don't know. She is definitely a good and brave and overall likable person but I doubt everyone (or anyone) can be super smart as Lisbeth.

[Erin]

She maybe commits too many crimes to be a real role model.

[Christina]

Haha, she'll make a great Roll Model. I've always imagined that she's kind of pasty anyway.

[Patt]

I like that she is strong, takes care of herself, and remakes herself to no longer be a victim, but I think she is a little to antisocial to truly be a role-model.

[Amy]

I'm a high school English teacher, and no, I would not encourage students to view her as a role model. Yes, she overcame horrible things done to her, but she did not always overcome them in a positive way. She's a thief on a grand scale, she's promiscuous, she's antisocial, and she commits murder (granted, a justifiable one). There are many women out there who have overcome similar or worse tragedies in a much more positive way than Lisbeth. I like Lisbeth but not as a role model.

[LaShawn]

I like Lisbeth as a role model. I believe that she was described in the book at some point as having Asperger's Syndrome which could explain some of her antisocial and promiscuous tendencies. I love that even though she had a disorder she didn't let anyone victimize her. I do think she could use some positive counseling and maybe some medication though.

[Amy]

QueenTee wrote: "I like Lisbeth as a role model. I believe that she was described in the book at some point as having Asperger's Syndrome which could explain some of her antisocial and promiscuous tendencies. I lov..."

But in terms of teens reading this, they would not understand Asperger's connection with some of her negative behaviors. They would just see her being antisocial, stealing, and having casual sex.

[LaShawn]

Amy wrote: "QueenTee wrote: "I like Lisbeth as a role model. I believe that she was described in the book at some point as having Asperger's Syndrome which could explain some of her antisocial and promiscuous ..."

Maybe- I would like to give teens a little more credit than that, but you could be right. Maybe she could be a role model for really mature teens that could understand her condition.

[Amy]

QueenTee wrote: "Amy wrote: "QueenTee wrote: "I like Lisbeth as a role model. I believe that she was described in the book at some point as having Asperger's Syndrome which could explain some of her antisocial and ..."

I have taught grades 7-12 for 8 years now. Very few students would even know what Asperger's is, let alone the intricate behaviors that occur with the syndrome.

[Licha]

Lisbeth is one of my all-time favorite characters ever. She is an awesome kick-butt girl. While she may commit some criminal acts, this girl has been dealt a bad hand by the majority of the people in her life. She is a survivor who has had to do what she can to come out on top and to stop the abuse that is inflicted upon her by all those that have at one point or another wanted to take advantage of her. Her admirable qualities far out-weigh the bad. I for one would love to have some of those. She is smart, a fighter, and has her sense of justice and she is loyal. She also has a vulnerability that makes you want to protect her. Role model? I don't know. Admirable? Heck yeah!

[Olga]

I think Lisbeth Salander is a very good example of anti-heroes popular in our times. The heroes - good, noble, handsome etc. are not popular anymore because we can't really relate to them. We like Lisbeth Salander because she's human, has her faults and we can relate to her. I think she's very good example of a role model for youngsters of our age - she shows that you should not be afraid that you're different but use it instead. She shows that you can have friends even though you're anti-social. I think many people can have her as a perfect role-model who shows that even though you're broken you can still be very cool :). And I think that counts.

[Elisa Santos]

If i were a teacher, i would maybe introduce the books to my students, carefully, to see their reactions to them - not only Lisbeth: there are a number of other characters and situations....dunno, would have to evalutate very well their maturity for such events.

[Andrea]

no way - don't get me wrong - I love Lisbeth - but it is because she is strong, fearless, and ruthless to get the bad guys. I would go more with Jesus for a roll model.

[Amy]

Maria wrote: "If i were a teacher, i would maybe introduce the books to my students, carefully, to see their reactions to them - not only Lisbeth: there are a number of other characters and situations....dunno, ..."

I have suggested it to a few very mature, older students as a personal read, but wouldn't dream of using it in the classroom with the mature content. Same with it staying on my shelf at home. I'd like to keep my job.

[Pat]

Amy wrote: "QueenTee wrote: "Amy wrote: "QueenTee wrote: "I like Lisbeth as a role model. I believe that she was described in the book at some point as having Asperger's Syndrome which could explain some of he..."
Teaching Moment!
On the other hand, I think students over 18 may be a better audience.
What are her strengths, weaknesses, challenges and choices? How has she held onto herself and her humanity despite the inhumane acts committed to her and by her? What has she lost?
While I found her to be complex and multi-layered, her denizens were portrayed in two dimensional terms, often only as purely brutal/purely evil. I might want to talk about that as well.

[Amy]

This book is not the way to approach a teaching moment about Asperger's with high school students and their parents certain disapproval. If I would want to introduce students to the disorder, Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine would be a much more appropriate book for high school students.

[Cyanemi]

#1 She is not a role model.
#2 She doesn't have aspergers.