: Re: Creating a story in which the hero(es) lose So I am still in the primitive stages of creating my own world and story, if I even do it that is. I am still trying to get a feel for where

@Murray831

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Saving Private Ryan is probably the best example I know of a well-received movie where all the protagonists died. Looking at it, its pretty clear that it got away with this because their deaths were an integral part of the narrative (the final scene pretty much beat this into the audience's head). The movie was about sacrifice, so the character's sacrifice was clearly the entire point. That you lost everyone you cared about was in fact the entire point.

Novels are much more apt to have disappointing (to the audience) losses, deaths, and even endings. As a reader, I do tend to really hate those while they are occurring. However, if they can be made meaningful, that swings things 180 degrees (for me at least). The best example of this I can provide is the Paskenarion Series. The third book in particular Oath of Gold, had the character losing everything she'd worked in the first two books to achieve, followed by multiple chapters of abandonment, abuse and depression that were really difficult to read. But by the end you realize that, while not what she was, she was in many ways far better because she'd had that experience. This put it up in my top 3 personal choice as best works of fiction of all time.

I guess what I'm saying here is that if you need to do that to a character, go ahead and do it. But don't do it maliciously or flippantly. There needs to ultimately be a meaning in there worth the price we pay.

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