Right now, I am reading a novel, the third from the Gone series by Michael Grant, called Plague. Within the three novels that have already been published, many characters have died. This is credited to the sickly, twisted plot that illustrates a tragic and horrifying dystopian society. In this regard, it is extremely necessary for characters to die or be murdered; what kind of gruesome world doesn't have deaths?
However, I am confronted with a very difficult realization in this particular novel, for one of my favorite characters is about to die. Plague is only the third book of this series which Grant plans on becoming a six book series, which means this loved character is dying only half way through the storyline. I can not, for the life of me, understand why this girl must die. She plays a crucial role and has a tough, yet calming personality that only few dislike. If she dies, which is a definite future event, there will be an empty spot where her character has been in which cannot be replaced by anyone else.
The whole point of that rant:
This raises a question, however. Why do certain characters have to die in novels, shows, and movies?
Sometimes, a meaningless character passes away in a show and it has a valuable message or meaning, yet it doesn't provoke strong emotions for the viewer. This is probably the most common form of death in entertainment. It is used solely to display a message, a point, a symbol, or even to get a reaction out of the viewers.
Other times, either a main character or secondary character is doomed. Most often it is for being too heroic and self-destructive. Is this to tell readers and viewers not to turn to heroism because it kills? That saving other peoples' lives can easily lead to his or her own death? Or does the author create a character that is impossible to dislike, and then write their death in order to upset the reader purposefully?
I can think of countless novels, movies, and shows where people were created to my liking and then written off for infuriating reasons. I cannot be the only person in the world who has experienced this and felt so passionately about the death of a character!
What is your thoughts on why amusing characters are killed or destined to die? Even if a character isn't the best person, even if he or she is a "bad guy" character that you have learned to like, why did he or she have to be removed from the story?
Why?
However, I am confronted with a very difficult realization in this particular novel, for one of my favorite characters is about to die. Plague is only the third book of this series which Grant plans on becoming a six book series, which means this loved character is dying only half way through the storyline. I can not, for the life of me, understand why this girl must die. She plays a crucial role and has a tough, yet calming personality that only few dislike. If she dies, which is a definite future event, there will be an empty spot where her character has been in which cannot be replaced by anyone else.
The whole point of that rant:
This raises a question, however. Why do certain characters have to die in novels, shows, and movies?
Sometimes, a meaningless character passes away in a show and it has a valuable message or meaning, yet it doesn't provoke strong emotions for the viewer. This is probably the most common form of death in entertainment. It is used solely to display a message, a point, a symbol, or even to get a reaction out of the viewers.
Other times, either a main character or secondary character is doomed. Most often it is for being too heroic and self-destructive. Is this to tell readers and viewers not to turn to heroism because it kills? That saving other peoples' lives can easily lead to his or her own death? Or does the author create a character that is impossible to dislike, and then write their death in order to upset the reader purposefully?
I can think of countless novels, movies, and shows where people were created to my liking and then written off for infuriating reasons. I cannot be the only person in the world who has experienced this and felt so passionately about the death of a character!
What is your thoughts on why amusing characters are killed or destined to die? Even if a character isn't the best person, even if he or she is a "bad guy" character that you have learned to like, why did he or she have to be removed from the story?
Why?
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