McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Killing Characters
Glorificus:
--- Quote from: meg_evonne on May 10, 2011, 02:43:12 PM ---I never forgave Whedon for killing Buffy's mom, not because he did it, but the following episodes were so... boring!
--- End quote ---
An interesting perspective. Not that I share it, I don't; I believe Joyce's death allowed Buffy to go dark. SpikeSex would not have occurred with Joyce in the picture.
I truly believe my life was changed by the DoubleMeat Palace epidode(s), which Joss said were the only episodes to receive protests. No protests from the the anti-supernatural folks about the witches or demons or vampires, but from big fast food companies. If it's all about the values, I'm annoyed.
arianne:
--- Quote ---That's extreme, but I do think that the author should always leave an opening in their writing that vaguely hints this person might not be around, or establishes that fatal flaw in gentle ways through out.
--- End quote ---
I don't know about that; seems to me it might be a bit too easy to fall into the trap where the author basically waves a big flag saying "She is going to die" at the reader ;D
I once read a book where the author obviously knew that one of characters was going to die, so he made her such a good character that I'm sure most readers went "oh, good, she's gone" when he finally dealt the blow.
Death is usually (especially in fantasy or sci-fi terms) somewhat unexpected and shocking, so I don't think that foreshadowing the death is really all that necessary. I mean, when there's a big baddie out there all set to destroy the world, will readers find it unbelievable that said baddie killed one of the characters?
Snowleopard:
I agree with Arianne - foreshadowing that a character is gonna die just doesn't work for me.
You lose the element of surprise and shock - which is what the death of a character should give you.
That or - thank goodness that twit/villain/idiot is gone!
Wordmaker:
I think the only time I'd enjoy a foretelling of a character's death would be if the story was primarily about the events that lead to the death.
jeno:
--- Quote from: Snowleopard on May 11, 2011, 05:41:13 PM ---I agree with Arianne - foreshadowing that a character is gonna die just doesn't work for me.
You lose the element of surprise and shock - which is what the death of a character should give you.
That or - thank goodness that twit/villain/idiot is gone!
--- End quote ---
I dunno, The Book Thief handled it very well. Then again, that was The Book Thief.
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