I can't remember any fiction that I've read recently that doesn't have at least one person dying in it. Fantasy fiction, since it usually filled with conflict in order to advance the plot, usually results with someone's life ending sooner or later. Is this necessary? I say yes. It's not the death of the character that is really the critical point, however. It's the way in which the other characters respond to the death of another, and their actions as a consequence. A fantasy story without the presence of death means that the characters are unable to come face to face with their own mortality and the prospect that their efforts may all be for naught.
In a recent episode of Geeks' Guide to the Galaxy, the hosts stated that 'good fantasy, and a good story, ensures that good people die'. This may seem a tad morbid on the outset, but the more I think about it the more it makes sense. You naturally assume that the protagonists are going to (eventually) win the day, so for the reader they are more or less immortal. If they come up tops, then from the beginning you know that nothing fatal happens to them during the course of the story. However, if the author ensures that a few righteous characters are killed, it makes both the hero and the reader doubt the chance that the threat will be defeated.
The concept is so important that Terry Pratchett includes Death as a pivotal character in his Discworld series. Death is present in almost every Discworld novel, and though he's meant to be an impartial entity he ends up slowly becoming 'infected' by humanity, and he starts to react to the mortality of humans (note this paragraph is basically a praise of all that is Pratchett. All hail Discworld! Oh, that's another D word!)
Do you think that death is a necessary thing in fantasy and in fiction in general? I'd love to hear everyone else's thoughts on this. Tune in tomorrow for post E and shameless plugging!
I think you are correct in stating it's not the character who died but how those around him react. Death also adds a sense of uncertainty. As long as the death is meaningful, moves along the story, or entices the other characters to grow and change, then it fits the story.
ReplyDeleteAs in life, death has to come to us all at some time, how we deal with that as those left behind is entirely upon the individual. I suppose that is the same in fiction we each are different in our ways and outlooks . There is a thin line between life and fiction.
ReplyDeleteA great write and very profound.
Yvonne.
Well, death is pretty essential in murder mysteries. And since death is such an integral part of life death is certainly of major importance to the stories of people. Your point about good people having to die is valid especially when we need to contrast the evil of the villain with the goodness of the hero. Avenging a death is often a vital part of the story. It depends on what story one want's to convey but a death or deaths is often an essential element in the story.
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Alex - I agree that without a character facing death first hand, they don't really have any room to grow. More often than not it brings the harsh reality of a threat closer to home (think of the murder of Luke Skywalker's aunt and uncle at the start of Episode 4).
ReplyDeleteYvonne - You're right about the lines between fiction and reality, and you got me to thinking that the deaths of these characters, who you've spend hours reading about and connecting with, are as much to affect the emotions of the reader as well as the other players in the story. What evokes more anger than a beloved character murdered by the bad guy?
Lee - An interesting point about the deaths of characters being used to contrast good and evil in a story. I'm trying to think of any instance where the 'evil side' has characters that die that make the reader doubt the righteousness of the good guys. Anyone know if there's any examples of this?
I wouldn't think the books would work as well without death in there somewhere! Thanks for joining in on the challenge...I am following you now! Have a great day!
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