Pillars of the Earth is phenomenal --- in that I have learned more about medieval stone masonry and monastery life then I think I ever even cared to know. The quality of details, from the cutting of the stone, to the design and execution of the cathedral was fabulous. Unlike many authors who do the research, but gloss over the level of hard work, and the effort that was required to build such a huge and important building. Ken Follet did a fabulous job in creating the feeling of the vastness of what was required...
However (come on --- you knew this however was coming), the characterization was shabby, stereotyped and predictable. Everyone in the novel that was able to read, were characterized as smart, sensitive, and obviously the "good guys". Those that could not, such as poor Alfred and William, was slovenly, bullies, and stupid.
I have to say that I had a soft spot for Alfred and William, and for a while, I was rooting them on. Not because, I felt that they should ultimately win (they were rather disgusting creatures) --- but because they were so obviously given a raw deal by the author.
Alfred starts off a large boy --- not particularly bright, but not cruel either. However, after Agnes dies, and Tom marries Ellen, who brings Jack into the family, Alfred suddenly develops a mean streak. He punches and pinches not only Jack, but Martha as well. This behavior was not evident before, but suddenly appears. It seems that the author suddenly decided that he needed another villain, and changed the rather simple Alfred, into some kind of monster.
Also, while Ellen harped constantly on Tom about his blind spot for Alfred, there was never evidence that she tried to reach out and temper him. While it's obvious that Jack was outmatched by Alfred's strength, you would think that someone that had lived in the forest, and learned to move stealthily and lithely, would at least be able to outmaneuver Alfred in agility.
But throughout the story, Alfred becomes nothing more then a bully. He hates Jack, but it is never explained why he despises Jack so. Tom believed that it was because Jack could read, and Alfred could not --- but back in the medieval times, only monks and some highborn lords could read. The ability to read was NOT equated with intelligence, but rather that the person was "soft", as reading would have taken a person from "honest" work. Thus, Alfred's hatred for Jack is never explained, and ultimately becomes just a flat character, without motivation, nor depth.
William, the other villain in the story, is also flat and unmotivated. He becomes the villain whom we most love to hate, because of his cruelty --- but there is never a hint of kindness or love that tempers his cruelty. The brush that painted him is solely black. There is nothing in William that would make his cruelty more understandable, and more realistic. In every person, no matter how mean a murderer, there is always some spark of kindness. It is only William's fear of Hell, that gave him even an iota of realism, but even that is not enough to keep him believable and something to fear.
Then there were the "happy shining people"; Phillip, Tom, Ellen, Martha, Jack, and Aleina. All of them were clones of each other. Not one had more initiative then a sheep! They started off with so much potential, but then just fizzled out.
Prior Phillip, the perpetual optimist, never thinks to guard against the "evils" out in the world. His faith in God is touching, but his ability to think ahead is oddly lacking. He only reacts to situations, without planning ahead. He knows that the Bishop, hates him for his "double cross" on the earldom, but he never takes measures to prevent his beloved cathedral to be hurt. He knows that the position he is in is shaky at best, but he just blithely waits for disaster to happen, rather then try to prevent things from happening. Very disappointing.
Sadly, this seems to be the theme for all of the characters. They never have the foresight to prevent disaster. Although they rail against fate, and their plight is most touching, one can't but help feel certain exasperation at their lack of self-motivation.
For example, Ellen. She obviously gets a special place in the book, because it because of her, that so many events come together. But for someone, who is such a pivotal character, she was flat, plain, and under used. Her hunting abilities were never realized when she married Tom and they were starving. Her skills at reading, writing, and storytelling were never relevant. She was beautiful and striking, but other then the "villains" that she swore revenge upon; no one really seemed to take note of her appearance. Her only action against those that killed her lover was to cut off a chicken's head and curse them. She never used her abilities to set into place actions that will bring their downfall. She is worse then Phillip in her misplaced trust in the Powers that Be and God.
Then there is Aleina. I understand Aleina's motivation to help her brother, Richard, and naturally her hatred of William would drive her even further. I appreciated how Aleina was able to raise herself from poverty, and became rich and supported Richard with all that he needed. However, she knew what a stinker William was, yet she never took precautions against him. She was wealthy (as she noted, she was the wealthiest person in Kingsbridge), and knowing William's obsession with her, she should have hired a platoon of guards to guard her warehouse, and maybe even hire spies to infiltrate William's camp. How were she and Richard going to overthrow his hold on the earldom, if they didn't know what William was up to? Especially as they knew that he would fight with everything he got, against them?
Instead, she was just as blind as Tom was, and willingly allowed William to come in, and wreck her life, time and time again, not once taking precautions in protecting herself and her brother. How could someone who grew up in a household, that was middle of a war, not understand something as basic as this?
Pillarsis a fairly engaging novel, with wonderful research and details about the building of a cathedral in medieval England. However, the lack of depth and motivation of the characters, make the story flat and just a series of events that is linked only by the covers of the book. There is nothing more to contemplate, and the "pillars", turn out to be nothing more then featureless twigs.