Readers Love Tragedy, So Make Your Characters Suffer!
Evoke instant reader sympathy with a tragic backstory
In many of the early drafts I edit, the protagonist often lacks depth (the antagonist, too). These characters might perform the right actions, but they’re flat in some way. They don’t resonate with readers because they’re one-dimensional.
One quick way you can add depth to a character is to provide a tragic backstory.
Bruce Wayne watched his parents’ murder. Peter Parker is an orphan. So is Harry Potter. Frodo Baggins, too. So is Luke Skywalker and Superman. (Damn, dead parents are popular. See the manga/anime Berserk or Vinland Saga for more examples.)
Okay, so yeah, it doesn’t have to be dead parents. It can be anything:
Elsa (Frozen) was born with magical powers she can’t control, leading to fear and isolation.
Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games) grew up in poverty in a dystopian world. She lost her father, too, forcing her to become the provider for her family.
Arthur Fleck (Joker) is a failed comedian with mental health issues who lives in poverty and faces societal rejection, which ultimately leads to his transformation into the Joker.
How Tragic Backstories Help
Tragic backstories can evoke instant sympathy within your readers, providing an emotional connection and investment in the character's journey.
They also serve as a catalyst for character development. These tragedies force characters to grow, become independent, and overcome challenges.
They also provide themes of loss, resilience, and self-discovery, all of which readers can relate to. I’ve never been a failed comedian, but it’s not hard for me to relate with someone who deals with rejection after failure. I’ve never nearly killed my sister with magic, but I’ve made mistakes that led me to fear how my actions can hurt others.
Avoid Cliché
It’s easy to fall into cliché with your backstory, but even if you use the whole parent thing, you can inject originality into your story by avoiding broad, generic tragedies. Instead, provide specific details that make your character’s experience unique.
From there, consider how their background influences their personality, choices, and relationships. How does Bruce Wayne’s wealth impact his choices? Would Arthur Fleck turn into the Joker if he had caring friends, a wise mentor, and someone who supported him financially?
Of course, the key here is that you make the backstory integral to the plot. It shouldn’t be a generic, isolated incident. It needs to influence the character’s flaws and fears, which lead them to make certain decisions and take specific actions, which lead to the story’s progression and ultimately, to growth and change (or at least, the opportunity to grow and change).
Regardless of what tragedy you use, by evoking a little sympathy, your readers are more likely to root for your characters to succeed in their quest.
Share Your Thoughts
Have you ever connected with a character more intensely because of their backstory? How has tragedy in your favorite books impacted you as a reader?
Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.
Every single person on earth has trauma in their lives and so should your characters. It doesn't need to be capital T Trauma, but things still happen that affect people negatively, even those who seem to have it all.
I’m somewhat surprised you had to write this. The things that drive us are often rooted in tragedy. Maybe we don’t talk enough about our personal heartaches in real life, so it doesn’t spill over to fictional life.