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This morning, a list of thoughts suddenly popped into my head. I don’t know why. Maybe because I’ve been reading more books lately. :-]
It’s easy to think a reader’s negative response to a character death is ultimately good. You want them to feel a gut punch, right? You want them to be angry, right? You want them to cry, right? I cannot deny this is a tempting thing. 😂
Well… A death can be written in a lovingly emotional way but still be bad for the plot. Imagine if Aragorn died at the end of Lord of the Rings. Many readers would cry and the story would be even more emotional than it is in the original. However it would not add much to the plot besides a one-shot sacrifice. Because the story is about Aragorn coming into the role of kingship from a hesitant place, his victory is more plot progressive, and takes him through a greater change than if he had died. A death would have nothing to do with that arc.
That’s just one example. This is a list of reasons why you shouldn’t kill off your character.
1. Are you just killing them off because their death is sacrificial and selfless? Many, many character deaths are a sacrifice and nothing more. This is not the best reasoning because hypothetically any good character could take their place and die in the same way.
It is much better to think of a specific reason for the death in the context of the character growth or themes. For example, in a Ghibli movie I won’t name, a main character dies even though there were ways of avoiding death. This is supposed to emphasize another character’s blindness to reality.
2. You shouldn’t do this if you have already desensitized the reader to death. If you have killed other characters in the story, death becomes less and less emphatic as the pages pass. You can remedy this by using more graphic or emotional imagery, but that isn’t a great option either. Take a break from death and make it more of a rarity!
3. The character might not be developed enough to be missed. They might not have a strong personality or role. This doesn’t always have to be a problem, especially if the death is just meant to set the stage or give emotional context – but you can’t expect the reader to care about a person they don’t know. Decide if you need this death to happen. If you do, and you want it to be emotional, give the character an addictive personality and a real meaningful presence.
4. Character death can mess up or destroy the plot. If a quest is taking place, and the story pauses to introduce a sad subplot, it can be distracting. Or it can even be disastrous. Imagine if Frodo died in the middle of his story and the ring was given to Sam! That could be interesting, but it would undoubtedly frustrate people because we already spent time building up Frodo’s inner struggle. His death would be one step forward, two steps back. There are many different scenarios like this.
5. Death isn’t automatically character development, it’s just development. Let’s imagine Aragorn again. He is meant to slowly become a king as the reader watches. He starts as a lowly rider and climbs higher in his arc as people accept his leadership. Can he complete his arc by dying? No, not unless death gives him what he deserves. I would argue Aragorn had kinglike qualities from the start and the story is about how his inner qualities are eventually displayed and rewarded on the outside. It’s about Aragorn getting the role he deserves. Death has nothing to do with that arc.
6. You should not kill somebody off just to write a highly emotional moment. Every writer likes a kick of drama, but if that’s the only thing motivating you, maybe you should find examples of milder emotion in movies or books to be inspired by. Everyday life can be just as inspiring as a traumatic death.
There it is. For all you Character Defenders out there, I have provided you with weaponry. 😂
Please let me know, does this make sense? Do you agree or disagree? Discussion is welcome.
The exhaustion is strong with this one
Oh yeah, I just remembered. I discussed this with another book-reading friend, and that’s why it was in my mind.
The exhaustion is strong with this one
That’s fantastic. *arms arsenal*
Your examples make a lot of sense. If Aragorn had died, his character arc and the whole theme of restoration would just be swamped in a big dramatic Fading. As for Frodo, in the end of Two Towers we’re given a glimpse of what it would be like if he dies=d and Sam had to take the ring, but as the theme in that specific plot circles around friendship as well as having a servant’s heart, Frodo’s death would have shredded the theme.
I love this. I’m going to read it again and probably save it in a note in my draft. Just in case I get hit with a wild urge to bump off my favorite charries.
You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
I have the opposite problem, lol. Too hesitant to kill off characters who probably should actually die for the plot/ their own arc.
@anyone
Random optional challenge just for fun: If any of you can write something that makes me cry without any death in it, I will draw any character of your choice for you. (Full body, fully colored and shaded) :]
I know making your audience sad shouldn’t be the point, but I thought it could be a fun idea anyways.
🎵Movin’ right along🎶
Thank you! And I’m glad the examples made sense to someone besides me. The characters must be protected not only for themselves, but for the sake of story legacy. ⚔️
Too hesitant to kill off characters who probably should actually die for the plot/ their own arc.
Some people are definitely more like that. I fall somewhere in between, where some characters are impossible to kill off and others are being toyed with too much. XD
Random optional challenge just for fun: If any of you can write something that makes me cry without any death in it, I will draw any character of your choice for you.
Yes! Extra challenge: don’t pull the sadness from a super abusive or traumatic experience.
The exhaustion is strong with this one
Oh dear. Ok. I’ll take you up on that, even though I am now suspecting you don’t cry easily. XD
Pull the sadness… My brain goes to death marches. This is bad. I probably need this challenge.
You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
Extra challenge: don’t pull the sadness from a super abusive or traumatic experience.
Eh, I’ll allow it, but I guarantee you it won’t make me feel anything.
Yay! Someone willing to take the challenge! XD
I get emotional at movies and also cry myself to sleep occasionally so it shouldn’t be too hard, probably.
🎵Movin’ right along🎶
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