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Posted:  |  Updated: 04/13/12 08:50 AM ET

Friday The 13th: 13 Unlucky Characters In Literature

Superstition scholars squabble over the origins of Friday the 13th. Not historically an unlucky day, it was first deemed so in a late 1800s biography of Gioachino Rossini. Still, we'd look out for puddles and banana peels today.

To honor the holiday, we've compiled a list of 13 very unlucky characters in literature -- some comically foolish, others tragically downtrodden.

Who do you think is the most unlucky character in literature?

Miranda from "The Collector"
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She's a beautiful art student who is taken captive by Frederick Clegg, a winner of the British football pools who is obsessed with her. Paying homage to "The Tempest," she nicknames him Caliban, and attempts several clever escapes, but is ultimately unsuccessful.
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Superstition scholars squabble over the origins of Friday the 13th. Not historically an unlucky day, it was first deemed so in a late 1800s biography of Gioachino Rossini. Still, we'd look out for pud...
Superstition scholars squabble over the origins of Friday the 13th. Not historically an unlucky day, it was first deemed so in a late 1800s biography of Gioachino Rossini. Still, we'd look out for pud...
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