Why Do All Short Stories Have Sad Endings? | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Why Do All Short Stories Have Sad Endings?

1246
Why Do All Short Stories Have Sad Endings?
Pixabay

Tech weekend at the theatre has killed me more than once -- this could be partly due to the fact my character dies at the end of "Antigone."

The final scene:

King Creon collapses by three corpses, the bleeding bodies oozing on the stage. Creon has lost everything: his wife, two sons, two nephews, and his niece. His face, his will, his everything shatters as he crumbles to his knees. The cast members wail and weep. Blackout.

The Greeks really knew how to put on a happy ending, right? I can just hear a musical number breeding.

After every time we run this scene, my heart tangles in knots in my chest. Several cast members had to run four miles or take a walk around campus in order to relief the tension hammering in their chests. We crack jokes. We scream, "He's alive! She's alive" when the scene ends, and the "dead" bodies sit up. We pretend my stretcher is a boat and pile in to row toward River Styx.

We make happy endings happen even though the play ended on a bitter note. Why? We can't handle sad endings.

A class for my major, professional writing, this semester focuses on short stories. Out of the ten stories we have read so far, none had a happy ending. Even one titled "Happy Endings," finished morosely. Every time my professor assigns a reading, I want to chuck the brick-like book against a brick wall.

Why did Dexter's "Winter Dreams" turn into nightmares? Why didn't Peyton escape his hanging? Why did the hunger artist starve himself to death?

Why can't these stories have happy endings?

As these questions spun frenzies in my mind, I wondered every short story had to end morbidly. After consulting a friend in my major, I reached a few conclusions.

Short stories awaken us

If we're honest with ourselves, whenever a comedy satirizes a social issue we'll laugh and say, "Very true!" But the issue only merits a laugh. Comedy deadens the senses. Satire seldom accomplishes anything and tends to come across as condescending or misleading.

Short stories, on the other hand, present the truth and nothing but the truth. They have the courage to show us a candid picture of humanity. Comedy amuses us to death. Short stories, on the other hand, awaken us before we die.

Short stories serve as precautionary tales

"The Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Things They Carried" give practical life examples of what NOT to do. For example, the former appeals to audiences not to kill. The latter stresses the importance of focusing on the task at hand instead of drifting off into imagination.

Short stories are not cop outs

Whenever I wake up from a nightmare, I tend to change the ending in my mind. I take the Disney movie route, and instead of having the little mermaid dissolve into sea foam, her husband destroys the villain for her. Short stories don't do that. They do not revert to a default happy ending.


Granted, I still struggle when I read these tortuous, short literary works. But I can appreciate a sad ending because it makes the happy endings so much sweeter.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Relationships

20 Things You Forgot To Thank Your Mom For

Moms are super heroes dressed in yesterday's clothing and they deserve an award for that.

427
family
Facebook

Dear Mom,

You took care of me and my brothers our entire lives and you still continue to! I will not be able to truly grasp all of the hard work that you put into this family until I create my own one day. But, I know that there are plenty of times I forgot to give you a simple thank you or an appreciative smile. I thank you for everything that you have done for me and will continue to do for me. Here are some examples of those times where you had my back and I forgot to pat your back for saving me:

Keep Reading...Show less
pumpkin
Holytaco.com

College is hard. As people ages 18-22, we’re just trying to figure out what we’re doing with our lives, our careers, our eating habits, exercise routines, sleep patterns, and other necessities for adult life. We definitely don’t take proper care of ourselves; it’s basically impossible when we have essays, tests and readings due and somehow we’re supposed to eat right, exercise and sleep. We’re doomed to get sick. I have zero experience in science but when I get sick there are certain things I do to make myself better.

Keep Reading...Show less
Bob's Burgers
Hyannishyball

First of all, there is no shortage of fun when you're together.

And you often find yourselves entertaining each others terrible ideas.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

The Unwritten Rules Of "Talking"

What is "talking?" How does one "talk?"

8695
girl holding phone
NYCPRGIRLS

Now that it seems “talking” is the new way to date, and will stay that way until another idiotic term is used to describe the people who can’t settle down and just date someone, I feel as if it’s time to go over the unwritten rules of “talking.”

Rule 1. Having feeling without feeling.

Keep Reading...Show less
The Stages of Having FOMO in College
iamthatgirl.com

Are you one of those people that gets super upset when you miss out on anything? Well, you may have FOMO, or fear of missing out. In college it’s not hard to experience FOMO every once in a while. You just love doing everything and anything, so hen you have to miss out on something it's the worst possible thing in your mind. Whether you’re sick, have to work, or have so much work to do you could cry – FOMO will hit you hard in college.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments