Literature
Happy Endings
Happy Endings
Unhappy endings are a violation of storytelling.
They are endlessly justified with the same tired, grown-up excuses.
We're told they're "profound" or "meaningful".
That "tragedy is beautiful."
That they're "brave," "honest," or "realistic."
That they're "ironic" or "subvert expectations".
That stories aren't supposed to "coddle" us.
That fiction should "prepare people for life, not protect them from it".
That they "teach valuable life lessons".
But let's be honest; nobody who actually understands fiction buys this shit. At least not from their own independent feelings—if they do, it's just conditioning.
I am sick to death of tragedy being framed as "maturity", and all the torture porn and "misery-ever-after" stories being churned out in our modern day.
There is NO POINT in a story that doesn't have a happy ending.
Why Unhappy Endings Are A Storytelling Failure
They Punish the Audience for Caring:
Stories have an unspoken contract with their
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