Steps to Effectively Eliminate a Character: The Guidebook
In the intricate world of storytelling, character death is a controversial yet powerful tool. This article will explore seven good reasons, three bad reasons, and what to consider before killing a character, ensuring that the death doesn't break the story but elevates it instead.
Firstly, advancing the plot is a valid reason for character death. By removing an extraneous character, the story can become simpler, sharpening focus and freeing emotional bandwidth for the remaining cast. For instance, in ensemble casts or plot-heavy stories, killing off an extraneous character can be a smart solution when they've outlived their usefulness in the story. However, killing off characters just because of poor planning or lack of direction can be a story structure mistake.
Secondly, fulfilling a character's personal goal is another good reason for character death. A character's demise can serve as a fitting recompense for their actions, providing a sense of closure and resolution for both the character and the reader. Bram Stoker's "Dracula" offers a prime example, as Lucy's death and transformation into an undead victim through vampire attacks and protective efforts by others, ultimately serve to defeat the vampire.
Thirdly, character death can motivate other characters. The death of a beloved character can spur the remaining characters to act, driving the plot forward and adding emotional depth to the narrative. In the 1963 film The Great Escape, Danny's death clears the way for the resolution of the central love triangle and centers the story's emotional impact on sacrifice and legacy.
Fourthly, serving as a theme emphasiser is another good reason for character death. A character's death can reinforce the story's theme, making it more poignant and memorable. For example, Victor Lodato's portrayal of Honey's complex guilt, anger, and trauma shaped by violent experiences and loyalty within a Mafia upbringing, powerfully underscores the destructive nature of loyalty and the consequences of violence.
Fifthly, creating realism within the story world is another valid reason for character death. A character's death can make the story more believable and immersive, drawing the reader deeper into the narrative.
Sixthly, a character's death can complete their personal arc, providing a satisfying resolution to their story. Strong character deaths often emphasise realism, complete personal arcs, or create meaningful turning points.
Lastly, a character's death can be a fitting end for a character who couldn't or wouldn't change. Removing an unrepentant antagonist or a stubborn protagonist who refuses to learn can provide a sense of closure and resolution, tying up loose ends and bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion.
However, it's essential to avoid killing characters just to manipulate emotion or cover for poor story structure. Making readers sad just for the sake of making them sad is a less worthy reason for character death, as it can fall flat if the death doesn't have a meaningful reason. Similarly, shocking readers just for the sake of shocking them is a less worthy reason for character death, as it can ring hollow and risk coming off as manipulative or gimmicky.
Before killing a character, always consider who will carry the dead character's narrative role moving forward. Roles and types can shift or be shared by several characters, and the death of a character doesn't necessarily mean that their role has to be left vacant for the rest of the story.
In conclusion, character death in fiction can elevate a novel to unforgettable heights if it drives the plot, reinforces the theme, or transforms the emotional arc of the surviving characters. It should serve the story's plot, theme, or other characters' arcs, not just shock or sadden readers. The Structuring Your Novel Workbook can help clarify a story's turning points, deepen characters' emotional arcs, and ensure that any major moments, especially character deaths, land with maximum impact.
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