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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🎶
You make some good points and may have saved a life. I had a character who I’d considered killing for drama, but I’m thinking I’ll keep her alive.
I would argue that sometimes shock value is a good reason to kill characters. For example, in KotLC the stakes are supposed to be so high, and the villains so evil, and yet all of the main characters are alive. I’m rolling my eyes at this point. Literally anyone could die and the series would improve.
I do have one character who is almost certainly doomed, but she was supposed to live. It just doesn’t make sense for her arc for her to survive.
MARCIE! YOU MADE EGG SOUP!
@whalekeeper hmmm, you make good points.
@loopylin wow, this is gonna be hard. I might take it though.
@theducktator yeah, KOTLC….really straddles the line of “This is amazing” and “This completely stinks” when it comes to writing and plot. The worldbuilding, or at least most of it, is awesome though."When in doubt, eat cheese crackers."-me to my charries who don't even know about cheese crackers
Imma up the prize to two different character drawings. Might regret this later.
( @keilah-h @elishavet-pidyon )
🎵Movin’ right along🎶
I can write something that can make you cry.
*Drum roll*
Nobody has, as of yet, taken up your challenge and submitted a tear wrenching tales. 😶😳😢😭😭😭😭😭
Here, have a tissue. 🤧
(Aren’t I so compassionate? Yes, yes I am. Thx, I though so too. ☺️ ) . . .
NOW, WHERE’S MY DOODLE!?!?! 😠😑🤨
*And suddenly there is a death involved, when the Black Mongoose gets bumped off by a random flying pencil! ✏️ 💀*
Bummer. Disqualify. . . Hey, how am I still writing this?
You will love what you spend time with.
okay! Thank you so much! I was planning on killing off some characters, but you have saved their life! I just have a few questions…
- So how could a death help the plot?
- How could I use the info that you gave me?
- Are there some examples you have where the author does what you are telling us not to do?
- Do you think the villain dying at the end is not always necessary? Or mostly necessary…?
Finally, I have a planned character death… but it is to move the plot along… well… I think it is…? So I have this character named Shalom, and she is the Keeper of Peace for the kingdom. And peace will stay in the kingdom as long as she is alive. So the mains villains goal is to make the kingdom burn. So to end the peace in the kingdom they have to kill off Shalom. Otherwise nothing will happen and the plot couldn’t move because they couldn’t start disorder. And some of their plans can only move forward if she is dead. So should…? But also, they don’t have to kill her immediately. So quick explanation, their plan is to start small, and work behind the scenes. Then they were going to assassinate Shalom, after they start distress in the royal family. Then they’ll start chaos without the Keeper of peace. But at the same time, I am not sure… maybe her death isn’t necessary…?
Moral of the story, "always listen to a carrot cake when it screams at you."
@loopylin
Challenge excepted!The little avocado
There was once a little avocado sitting happily on a counter! “I love today! Just like everyday!” He said happily. “I have my little bowl that I live in! I have the sun shining on my face! And I have lots of friends-” He stopped, and looked around. “Wait… do I have friends? If so, where are they?” He looked around again… no one was in sight… “Hello?” He called out to the empty room.
The little avocado got out of his wooden bowl, and began to walk around the counter. “Is anyone here…?” He called out again… there was no answer. “Why don’t I have friends…?” He asked sadly. “That’s not fair…” He continued walking along, he looked around again… hoping for any sign of another avocado. He walked up to the stove, and made sure it wasn’t hot before jumping onto it.
He saw further ahead… there was a little green egg shaped thing standing on the other side of the counter. The little avocados face lit up with joy! “Hey! Who’s there!” He asked, running towards the other avocado… but he wasn’t watching where he was going! He slipped, and fell down into a little crevice.
He looked around in the dark and dust… he couldn’t see anything…. “What- why am I here…?” He asked sadly. “That’s not fair! All I wanted was a friend… all I wanted was to be happy… that’s not fair… why does bad things have to happen to me…?” The little avocado tried climbing out, but his lack of hands made it impossible.
“Why- why me…? Why is this happening to me…?” He asked quietly. “That’s not fair… I’m not a bad person… I only wanted a friend…” The little avocado sat there… empty inside. “That’s not fair…” he whispered… “it’s not fair…. it will never be fair… it’s not fair…” He whispered quietly to himself….
THE END!
I hope you enjoyed the tale of the little avocado! It is a sad story, yes! But it is also a true story! And no! He did not die! He stayed there for the rest of eternity! Whispering to himself “It’s not fair… I only wanted a friend….” So! That is it! No sequel! No rescue! No hope!
Moral of the story, "always listen to a carrot cake when it screams at you."
And if that didn’t make you cry! Then listen to this SUPER SAD STORY: ☢️⚠️☣️TW: EMOTIONAL!!!!☣️⚠️☢️
Techer: “Why aren’t you at schol? your’e momma I shall call!” 😡🎓
Gorl: “I am sorey techer! my siter is in hopital!” 💔
Techer: “POLINA IS IN HOSPITAL?? 😱”
Gorl: “yAS i am so upset!” *creys hard*😥😭
TEAcher: “I am sory for showteng 😳 and I em sorey for the thrat! 💔👊” *tworks kawaiily* “HOW MANY DAY’S OFF SCOOL DO YOU NEED? 💔” *cry’s*
Gill: “Thay say she mite be here for at leest 100 weeks 💔!”
“I can’t stope my ter’s! 😭😢💧my siter might be in hopital for years 💔!”
Ticher: “Is she DYING????” *Grabs her own throat and sticks tongue out* 💔 😢 “can I peak to poliner?” 💔
Girl: “YASSS! u can 🥰 she is right over here 😍”
Tacher: “HOW U FEELIN DARELING!!! 😣😖 “I hope your are feeling worse! 🥰”
Poliner: “I feel pretty grat 🥰👍 sinse I got my first job as a nurce! 😍👍🏥”
Teacher: “Wait a minute, 🙄 KARIN I AM GEVING DETENTON TO YOR STUPED BUM BUM!” 😡
Sigma Girl: “I outsmartid my techer becoz I am sigma 🙏”
OOPS! I forgot I didn’t write that… 😳😬💔🥰 Oh well! It’s still sad 😔😭😭😂
Moral of the story, "always listen to a carrot cake when it screams at you."
@the_lost-journal You have succeeded in making me laugh and also getting the veggie tales theme song stuck in my head XD
🎵Movin’ right along🎶
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