McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Killing Characters
OZ:
I think it depends on the story and on how subtle the foreshadowing is. I have read authors where certain characters might as well have been wearing red shirts. On the other hand, some authors are clever enough and subtle enough that after the death you realize that it was foreshadowed but not before. In some stories ( King Lear comes to mind again ) you know the character is doomed to die by their foolish actions but ( to use an old cliche ) it's the journey rather than the destination that makes the story.
The best way that I can think of to describe my feelings about the death of a major character (minor characters are a whole different story ) is that I don't like it if it feels frivolous. If you are going to kill off someone that I have grown to know, it better be for important plot or character development not just because someone thought that it would make the story more "realistic".
comprex:
--- Quote from: OZ on May 12, 2011, 02:33:46 AM --- it's the journey rather than the destination that makes the story.
--- End quote ---
My contention is that ^this^ is always the case, and that whether any character dies (or not) should be totally transparent to the reader so that they see the story and not the death (or lack thereof).
OZ:
I would agree on the importance of the journey but it is rare that the journey is so great that I don't care about the destination.
Glorificus:
--- Quote from: OZ on May 12, 2011, 02:33:46 AM ---
The best way that I can think of to describe my feelings about the death of a major character (minor characters are a whole different story ) is that I don't like it if it feels frivolous. If you are going to kill off someone that I have grown to know, it better be for important plot or character development not just because someone thought that it would make the story more "realistic".
--- End quote ---
The only time I really considered this was when listening to Joss Whedon on the Serenity commentary talking about killing Wash. The only foreshadowing WAS no foreshadowing. I think it was done just to shake up the audience. While the loss of Wash allows new paths for Zoe and the crew, it was a downer for me.
Quantus:
--- Quote from: MarySue on May 12, 2011, 06:57:27 PM ---The only time I really considered this was when listening to Joss Whedon on the Serenity commentary talking about killing Wash. The only foreshadowing WAS no foreshadowing. I think it was done just to shake up the audience. While the loss of Wash allows new paths for Zoe and the crew, it was a downer for me.
--- End quote ---
I read in an interview that he says he did it for the "Heightening the suspense" reason. Unlike Book's death, which was to push Mal into character development, with Wash he said he wanted to set a tone that the entire cast might and likely would die during that final battle. Not sure how much I agree with that, but I do recall it working the first time I saw the movie, so I cant argue with the results I guess.
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