Why do people get sad or angry when characters in books die?

Question

Harry Potter for example. After the 7th book was released, people were like "Omg! why did have to die!? I cried so much at that part!"

Or "Why the hell did she have to kill off ? I got really mad. I don't understand why she had to kill off characters for no reason"

In case you people have forgotten, this is a work of fiction! meaning the characters, events, places and settings are NOT REAL. So I don't get why people get so emotional when something in the book happens or when a character dies.

Snap back to reality.

Answer 1

Many times, when people read they use it as a way to escape life and get lost in an alternate reality (in this case, the "book world"). As they read, they are able to block out outside influences and they connect both mentally and emotionally with the characters. Thus, when something emotionally charged happens to a character in a book, the reader feels like he can relate and feels loss, sadness, elation, or any other number of emotions along with the other characters in the book. It is as if, for those few moments while the reader is taking in the plot line of the book, they feel that they are involved in the plot as well.

However, this is not possible for everyone to do. It all has to do with the way that you think. Visual and hands on learners have an easier time "getting lost" in a book, while audio and factual based learners have a much harder time. Oftentimes, audio and factual learners see and read only words and can break down the physical makeup of the story (plot, climax, resolution,) but they have no emotional attachment to the characters because they are just that, characters on paper.

Answer 2

Well, it's the same reason people get mad when a favorite television character dies or movie character doesn't come back for the sequel.

Anyone who gets involved in a well written story gets involved with the characters. Characters lead you into a story, they guide you, and in some cases, you can identify with them.

In the case of "good" characters (morally good, not written well, I guess) like in Harry Potter, the characters come to represent things that we don't see in everyday life.

I mean, look around you, the world is full of bad people, lies, environmental destruction and general bad taste. Sometimes the people in books who are symbols of good, or love, or truth make us realize how much we want those things back and we get involved.

Dumbledore's death is a good example. I've never read Harry Potter, but from what I understand, he was an older male, non-threatening figure, a mentor, a wiseman, and a friend. How many kids today don't have dads? Is it so hard to believe that an adult who grew up without a dad would connect to such a well written character and try to regain something they never had?

In my opinion, it's absolutely beautiful that we can get that involved.

Answer 3

Whats wrong with showing emotion? Its far healthier than bottling it up! I read the Harry Potter series since the beginning. When you read something for years like that (and it really has been years) of course you get emotional! The characters become part of you, you relate with the characters and seeing them die is sad. A good book sucks you into the world of that book and makes you feel how the characters feel.

Answer 4

It's all apart of the experience of reading a good book (or in this instance a good series). Rowling was able to create realistic characters that some people even grew up with. Characters they can relate to. To read that person get killed off it can be rather depressing. In a sense - people who get upset are in a different kind of reality - again, this is a sign of enjoying a good book.

Again with Rowling, if she hadn't been able to create life-like characters, that no one was able to connect with - I think readers wouldn't care the least who died - and I don't think Harry Potter would have been as popular.

But this goes for any good author.

Answer 5

some will, some won't. in case you additionally could make your readers provide an emotional reaction, be it anger, grief or frustration, then you certainly've achieved your job as a author. attempt to bear in mind that it is not correct HOW good you're, you mustn't be waiting to thrill each and all the human beings each and all the time. If it feels good to you to kill your protagonist, then do it. I actually have a special popping out next 12 months the place a woman conserving a splash one is knocked down via a cop in touch in a severe-speed pursuit. mom and infant die. i presumed long and troublesome approximately whether or to not comprise the scene, and that i totally anticipate that some human beings will hate me for it, however the certainty is that it extremely is a superb, nicely-written scene that would not make the main the tragedy and earns it is place interior the e book. good success.

Answer 6

oh my god, you have no heart.

a book enables readers to actually get into the world being described. A lot of readers use books to escape and when book series like Harry Potter (where there's seven books) there's has been YEARS where the reader has gotten to know the fictional characters. Of course it's fiction, but when you're using books to escape reality, it hurts to have one of your favorite characters die.

Answer 7

People read, watch movies, play video games, ect to escape the pain of reality.
When a writer insterts the unpleasant aspects of reality into a work of fiction, it upsets people.

In Harry Potter for example, people loved Harry, they grew up with him, they felt like they knew him, and when a bunch of his friends died, readers felt his pain, just as you would feel pain for one of your real friends who lost a loved one.

Answer 8

hmm...that's a good question...maybe people are so into the book or the movie that they are amazed when stuff like that happens. Or, maybe they get upset when their favorite character in the world dies off. People have different ways of expressing their emotions.

Answer 9

Hey, Sandman.
It has always seemed to me that the folks who reacted that way (most of them quite young, I'd guess... at least compared to being adult) reacted that way precisely because they do not relate to reality. They bury themselves in these books and take no notice of things like ...oh, homework [!] and probably family (?) and undoubtedly good mannners, at least on YA.
That's what I think, anyway. Good question.

Answer 10

Honestly, I get really emo and cry lol.