So, earlier today I saw this funny post on Tumblr. (Oh yeah, and you should all totally follow me on Tumblr because I'm addicted. Uh, just as long as you don't mind a lot of "Legend of Korra" spam ...)
ANYWAY ...
The post was about a made-up term called "scheherazadenfreude,"a play on the word "schadenfreude" (pleasure derived from watching other people suffer). If you don't know who Scheherazade is then I guess the joke's not really funny ... so uh, if you don't know who she is, then you should just read the Wikipedia page about her story. But anyway, this Tumblr post defined "scheherazadenfreude" as "perverse joy in the suffering of one of your own characters in the story you are writing/telling."
And I found this particularly funny, because ... well, I really love torturing my characters. I don't know why, but I do. Maybe because it makes me feel powerful? Bahaha, I don't know.
But, seriously. For instance, one of my favorite characters has been ... um, let's see ... shot, stabbed, strangled, drowned, tortured, beaten to a pulp ... Well, I think that about covers it. You get the idea. It's like, the more I love a character, the more I want to harm him/her. Because that's totally normal, right? Heh heh.
I've heard some other writers say pretty much the opposite thing––that is, they love their characters so much that they're afraid to hurt them in any way. But, personally I just find a story more compelling if the characters suffer a lot. I mean, if I finish reading a book, and none of the major characters have died (or almost died) I find myself feeling rather disappointed. And the same goes for my own stories; I just can't imagine myself writing something where nobody dies-or-at-least-almost-dies. I would get super bored.
Don't get me wrong, there are definitely exceptions ... I do love a lot of books where no one dies-or-almost-dies. Just, in general I guess I find it hard to get excited about writing a story if there isn't any violence in it.
So ... Is it just me? Or are you all running away from me, screaming? ;)
Violence makes for satisfied people. That's why there's boxing, football, video games...it's entertaining, in a twisted way, to see people get hurt. It's like moths to a flame or high school kids to a fist fight.
ReplyDeleteI think readers are especially addicted to pain and suffering. A happy, complacent life is dull. I think that's why so many people were unhappy with Breaking Dawn, and even went as far to hold a book burning. She gave her characters the definition of Happily Ever After. None of the MC's, or secondary characters, really, died. All was well. And all was hell, in the reader's eyes.
I love making my characters suffer too. If I don't, I'll get bored.(;
Haha, I thought about using Breaking Dawn as an example ... I agree. There was so much buildup, and then no one got hurt one bit! Total letdown... Haha.
DeleteIn my stories, only a few of my characters have gotten hurt, but I really 'prefer' (trying not to sound like a psycho here) to have characters that I really love to get hurt. I mean, I might already love that person, but if he/she gets hurt, I feel sorry for them, too. And if they manage to pull themselves together and go on, I admire them for pulling through.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I also feel like it's kind of lame if only minor characters get hurt but never the main character. It's like, the author is trying to make the story exciting but he/she doesn't actually want to harm the protagonist...
DeleteI completely agree with you! I've never had any qualms about torturing my characters. It's not that I have to give them a horrible life, but where's the conflict if they're always happy? Love the posts, Brigid. I just discovered your blog today and I'll definitely be looking out for your next post.
ReplyDeleteHi Jasmine! I'm happy you found my blog and that you're enjoying it! :) Yes, totally ... I find it hard to feel invested in a story if the characters never experience physical or emotional pain. It just doesn't feel realistic.
DeleteI sort of have to put my main characters through intense torture (literally) and kill several of their best friends/ lovers before I'm really satisfied that they're messed up enough to not be the "perfect character", you know?
ReplyDeleteGood point. I agree, characters don't develop much if they don't learn to live through their suffering. I think that's what's most compelling about characters: if they can go through tremendous hardships but still pull through. :)
DeleteAgreed. I always have to make my major characters suffer some sort of dilemma, whether it be physical, mental or spiritual. I particularly enjoy playing mind games and throwing emotional damage at them, but physical injuries are also rather satisfying. It depends on what the story is.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with the Breaking Dawn example above, and have felt the same in other series. It's such a letdown when characters, especially main characters, don't go through hardship. To me, it makes them one-dimensional and flat, because everyone goes through some sort of suffering in his/her life. Without that element of tragedy, it's hard to really buy into the character.
Yes! Mental/emotional suffering is important as well. Hooray for all kinds of suffering!
DeleteExactly ... I feel really let down if the main character doesn't have to overcome some huge obstacle at the end––like, if they just defeat the antagonist/conflict without a scratch. I feel like there needs to be a moment where the reader believes the protagonist actually won't win (and in some cases, they don't!)
Definitely. Without that sort of suspense, it just doesn't feel like the story is complete. And certainly there are cases where the protagonist doesn't win, and some of those stories are simply amazing. The reader really mourns for the character then.
DeleteI agree with you. Hell, my books are written hoping people will not run from me screaming, and a lot of my work is based around the idea that humans are somewhat attracted to violence, at a distance, anyway. I love torturing my characters. :) I love the example of Breaking Dawn in the first comment! I couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteMost importantly, YOU'VE SEEN KORRA!!?? Yay!
Haha yes, ;)
DeleteWhy, of course I have! It was awesome! :D