What do you think has a more lasting impression? Stories like Gone with the wind--it's a kind of tragedy, and it makes me think of the story all day long, nearly drives me mad....and stories like Wuthering Heights.......and then there's stories like Pride and Prejudice.....
Tragedies or happy endings? Why?
2007-03-14 19:21:02 · 11 answers · asked by J.Welkin 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
They both have their place in literature and cinema. The happy ending, of course, leaves one feeling satisfied, and with a sense that "all is right with the world." We're all human and we all need encouragement and/or escape from the things that bring us down in life. A happy ending is just such an escape...and may just be the very thing someone needs to read, see or hear to give them hope and the will to press on in life.
However, we all know that life is never pretty all the time. We have bad days, lovers leave us, dogs get run over, we lose our houses in natural disasters, we lose loved ones, just to name a few of the circumstances that befall us. Sometimes it's more encouraging to read a book or watch a movie that's a tragedy. By comparison, my life may seem like a bed of roses! It can be helpful to know that someone out there understands the painful aspects of the human condition and can eloquently transfer that to the page or the screen.
I think people will answer this question based on whether they are realists or idealists. I'm a realist, so I prefer tragedies. But I still like the happy ending now and then. ; )
Oh, to answer your question about which makes a more lasting impression: Again, it depends on the person. I think it also depends on the mood one is in when reading, watching or hearing a story. For me, the tragedy makes the bigger impression. I usually end up saying something like, "OMG...I can't believe that happened to him!" or "Nooooo...I wanted it to work out for them!" I never forget those endings. And the feelings of anguish, despair, loss, etc. stay with me for a long time. It's just part of who I am...I'm a deep empathizer and, for some reason, connect more with painful feelings than those of joy.
2007-03-14 19:38:39 · answer #1 · answered by Jen 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My first impulse is to say I like happy endings best but then I think of the books you mentioned like Gone With the Wind and Wuthering Heights, both of which have tragic endings (although Wuthering Heights is pretty tragic all the way throughout the book). I think it depends on how well the book is written. There are some books where when I get to the end I want things to be wound up in a good way and if it ends tragically, I get angry and think the entire book was a waste of time. With other books, the tragedy just makes it better. It all depends on the giftedness of the writer and the way the book is written. Some books can end happy AND tragic like A Tale of Two Cities where one man saves another by giving his own life in exchange. This book left me with a feeling of sadness for Sidney Carton but with happiness for what he did for his true love and her husband. So I guess my answer is I like both depending on the quality of the book.
Vicky
2007-03-15 11:26:54 · answer #2 · answered by loofahcat2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends.
I think only a truly masterful author can pull off a satisfying and tragic ending, anyone can do one that's simply sad, but a real author would make it an ending you are somehow happy with.
Happy endings are good too, it really depends on the story I guess, sometimes I want good to prevail, and sometimes I want evil to win.
One major situation I can think of where the antagonist "winning" being good is any book in a series that isn't the final part.
2007-03-15 06:48:29 · answer #3 · answered by Dan A 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In fact if a book is good like books you've mentioned, it doesn't matter whether it has a happy or tragic ending. But when I read a book with a tragic ending I can't help thinking that it is a commercial trick. It is meant for sentimental people.
2007-03-15 05:20:30 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
both. tragedies make people sad and leave people a very deep impression. however, happy endings seems to be stories that are very predictable and does not leave a very deep impression to the audience. so, although happy endings wouldn't make you as sad as tragedies. i guess tragedies will leave you a deeper impression of the movie and make you think about the movie. i still prefer tragedies although i have to feel sad over it sometimes.
2007-03-15 03:29:44 · answer #5 · answered by . 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like true stories that include how people overcome tragedies or adversities and the ending is a happy one. I like to read these stories because they inspire me. (They also always make me cry, in a good way)
2007-03-15 02:31:54 · answer #6 · answered by ginger 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like stories that are fullfilling in cleansing emotion: tragic in which a hero encounters a downfall, but full in an ending, with evidence that the character has grown since the beginning.
2007-03-15 17:18:28 · answer #7 · answered by I 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tragic stories with happy endings. im a hopeless romantic and love things turning out well!
2007-03-15 03:29:06 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
For me it's a happy ending.
2007-03-15 03:30:48 · answer #9 · answered by Mani 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
happy of course cause tragic ending make me feel bad
2007-03-15 02:30:16 · answer #10 · answered by qik_30x 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋