I love this picture. I don't know how I came across it, but I've had a copy of it on my fridge for the last couple of years. In fact, I'm trying to figure out a way to incorporate a character based on Fluffy into my current WIP. You know.....a cuddly, adorable little fluffball with the wicked cool ability to make bad guys run a'screamin.
The power struggle between good and evil has been largely on my mind, especially since I saw 'District 9' last night. It was an excellent movie, very well done and VERY thought provoking, as it pointed out some of the great flaws of human nature. Walking out of the theater, I found my mind consumed with a myriad of thoughts, most importantly, this: we want to see the good guys win. We feel a sense of victory when the antagonist gets their bad-a$$ beaten down. We feel a sense of loss when a movie, or book, does not always favour the righteous or the good-hearted.
In my own writing, I've determined to make my story realistic. Bad things are going to happen to good people. Some of my 'good' characters may not always remain good, and some terrible, horrifying events will happen that will make readers want to kick me. I'm sure of it. I want to kick myself just thinking about those scenes. As much as it pains me to include these heart-wrenching scenes, I know I have to do it because my story is intended to be believable.
Despite my earnest desire to produce a story that is believable, I feel that I owe it to my readers to resolve the story with a happy ending. I know life isn't a fairy tale, but I think that most, if not all, people have a deep need to see a resolution that favours the protagonist(s). We need hope, we need to see justice done, we need to exhale that huge breath of air we've been hanging onto and cry tears of relief, because if there is hope for these make-believe characters, then maybe, just MAYBE, there is hope for us in our own lives.
As much as I hate violence, I cheered along with the rest at the movie theater last night as the bad guys got splattered all over the screen. Was such an end harsh? Yes. Am I going to splatter my own bad guys all over the pages of my book? Yes...mostly. I also believe in redemption and forgiveness. But for that ultimate bad guy who will never stop hurting people and who delights in torture and pain, they are going to face to meet a very karmic end. And my protagonists may be battered and bruised and emotionally scarred, and very much in need of counselling, but they will survive (well, most of them) and will be stronger because of it.
2 comments:
Good post. The differences between Tragedy, Satire, Comedy, Drama, etc. appeal to many different people. I enjoy a good tragedy where everybody loses, even the good guys. I also enjoy and cheer when the bad guys lose and the good guys win. You're right, it's in our nature to love that dichotomy.
Good luck on your writing!
DISTRICT 9 is a curious example, though, because while the bad guys do get stomped, not all the good guys survive. Poor Wikus doesn't fully deserve his end, does he? He was a flawed character, but ultimately sympathetic. At least, from where I was sitting.
But you're right - a variety of endings can work... for a variety of people. Sometimes, I'm in the mood for a happy ending, and sometimes, I want real-life grit, grime, and grief.
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