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Do all characters need to have a happily-ever-after?
What's your favourite unhappy ending (if any)? What do you like about it?
This week's Drama Newsletter is all about the end to a story.
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It is the time of the year when many people are hard at work on their NaNoWriMo novels. Whilst I cannot be certain, it is likely that the majority of these novels will have a reasonably happy ending. Not all great novels end with a happily-ever-after, however. This week, we’ll have a look at one of the most powerful and meaningful elements of theatrical storytelling: the unhappy ending. While many of us crave resolution and happiness in our stories, there’s something uniquely compelling about the tragic conclusion. These endings are more than just a departure from the ideal; they often serve as a profound exploration of the human condition — loss, failure, fate, and despair.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Perhaps the most famous tragic ending in all of drama, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet captures the devastation of young love doomed by fate and family feud. In the final act, the couple’s desperate attempt to escape their preordained destinies results in a misunderstanding—a fatal mistake that leads to their untimely deaths. The death of the two lovers not only brings sorrow to their families but also underscores the destructive power of conflict and the tragic consequences of hasty decisions.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Another of Shakespeare’s great tragedies, Hamlet ends in a bloodbath that decimates nearly every major character. The protagonist, Prince Hamlet, is driven by a complex mix of revenge, indecision, and philosophical contemplation. His obsessive pursuit of justice leads to the deaths of his family, his friends, and ultimately himself. The play’s final moments leave Denmark in ruins, with Fortinbras taking over the throne, and Hamlet’s tragic flaw—his inability to act swiftly and decisively—echoes throughout the work.
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
In this more modern tragedy, Arthur Miller crafts a scathing critique of the American Dream through the character of Willy Loman, a man desperately clinging to illusions of success and familial love. As Willy’s sense of identity unravels, he becomes consumed by the idea that success is measured by popularity and wealth. His eventual end, which he believes will provide his family with financial security through his life insurance, serves as a heartbreaking commentary on the failure of societal values and the cost of unrealistic dreams. The final scene is a deeply tragic reflection on the human need for validation and the struggle to reconcile personal identity with external expectations.
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
Blanche DuBois, the tragic protagonist of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, represents the fragility of the human psyche when faced with the relentless forces of desire, guilt, and shame. As her carefully constructed world crumbles, Blanche's descent into madness culminates in her institutionalization. Stanley Kowalski, her brother-in-law, who has been a force of destruction throughout the play, is ultimately responsible for her breakdown. The play’s haunting final line, “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers,” encapsulates the isolation and vulnerability of Blanche as she is led away, a victim of her own illusions and the brutal realities around her.
Long Day's Journey into Night by Eugene O'Neill
Eugene O'Neill's masterpiece is a devastating exploration of family dysfunction, addiction, and the long shadow of past mistakes. Set in a single day, the play delves deep into the Tyrone family’s secrets and unresolved tensions. Each character is trapped in their own personal hell, unable to escape their self-destructive behaviors. The play ends in a tragic sense of resignation, as the Tyrones return to their patterns of emotional and psychological torment, knowing full well they cannot escape their fate. The play’s profound sadness comes from the understanding that this is a cycle—one that will continue long after the curtain falls.
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams
In The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams creates a world of delicate, unfulfilled dreams and fragile emotional states. The play focuses on the Wingfield family, particularly Amanda, who is obsessed with finding a suitor for her disabled daughter, Laura, and her son Tom, who dreams of escape from his oppressive home life. Tom’s eventual departure, which leaves Laura alone and devastated, signals the collapse of the family’s illusions. The play’s conclusion, while not a violent tragedy, is a quiet and aching one—marked by the reality of abandonment and the impossibility of achieving one's dreams.
Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
Going back far in time, Sophocles' Oedipus Rex is one of the foundational tragedies of Greek drama. The story of Oedipus, who unknowingly fulfills a prophecy by killing his father and marrying his mother, is a profound meditation on fate and human suffering. In the final act, Oedipus blinds himself in despair, realizing that his attempts to outsmart his destiny were futile. The play’s sense of inevitable tragedy is underscored by the unrelenting force of fate, leaving Oedipus broken and isolated. His downfall highlights the fragility of human agency in the face of cosmic determinism.
From Oedipus Rex to Death of a Salesman, the tragic ending has always been a staple of dramatic art. Greek tragedies, which often featured characters who were doomed by fate, established a tradition that has continued through to modern times. The difference now is that many unhappy endings are far more ambiguous, offering no clear moral or catharsis. The tragic hero isn’t always a figure of grandeur; sometimes, they’re ordinary people caught in the throes of systemic failure or personal folly.
As we’ve moved into the age of antiheroes and fragmented narratives, it seems we’ve come to prefer endings that mirror real life’s inherent messiness. While happy endings are fulfilling in their own right, there’s something uniquely satisfying about experiencing the full spectrum of human emotion, even when that means facing sorrow and regret.
Unhappy endings in drama are not about pessimism or defeatism; they often serve as a mirror to our deepest fears, weaknesses, and existential realities. They reveal the harsh truths about life—where not all problems can be solved, not all dreams realized, and not all efforts rewarded. These endings resonate because they speak to our shared human vulnerability and the inevitability of loss, making the moments of tragedy in these works all the more poignant and profound.
Though we may seek joy and resolution in our lives, these dark final acts offer something equally invaluable: the opportunity to reflect, to confront the difficult truths of existence, and to find meaning in the struggle itself.
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Drama: November 13, 2024 Issue [#12835]
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