Netflix released its long-awaited screen adaptation of Lemony Snicket’s children’s books, "A Series of Unfortunate Events," with solemn promises to keep the episodes just as distressing and melancholy as the original books. Despite the nearly 10 years that have passed since I finished the 13th and final book in the series, I watched through eager eyes as the evil Count Olaf, creatively portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris, fumbled in his many attempts to capture the three Baudelaire orphans Violet, Clause and Sunny to obtain their family fortune. My younger siblings and I had acted out these books growing up, along with other notable stories about children in tragic situations: Harry Potter, orphaned as an infant and forced by his aunt and uncle to live in a cramped closet; the Boxcar Children, four orphans who made a living in an abandoned boxcar in the woods; Matilda, a brilliant child who was verbally abused by both her parents and school principle; Luke, son of Darth Vader, who was raised as a farm boy believing his father to be dead; Ender Wiggin from Orson Scott Card’s novel "Ender's Game," born as an unwanted third child and sent to live on a spacecraft far away from his family at age six; Lilo from Disney’s "Lilo and Stitch," raised by her sister following their parents’ fatal car accident, bullied by her peers in dance class, and threatened by her social worker to be taken into foster care. The list could go on for pages.
These stories have inspired countless children. However, the fact that so many children romanticize becoming an orphan could be perceived as quite alarming to those children’s parents. Rest assured, this does not reflect childhood desires to permanently get rid of one’s parents.
Some plot elements are present in nearly every tale, such as an underdog protagonist that succeeds against the odds, a villainous authority figure, and varying levels of adventure that takes place outside a quiet suburban setting. Each of these themes makes for exciting stories, and the ever-present motif of absent parents may seem like nothing more than a plot device to force the young protagonists into action. However, if parent deaths were nothing more than a plot device, many classic stories would not have survived the test of time and continued to engage even older audiences. "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" made its debut 20 years ago, the "Star Wars" franchise is 40 years old, and the original "Boxcar Children" novel was published in 1924. All of these franchises have made recent resurgences as well in July 2016 with "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," December 2016 with "Rogue One," and April 2014 with the animated film "The Boxcar Children."
The literary trope characters with dead parents, then, must reflect another purpose besides a simple plot device. The tragic hero, for instance, appeals to audiences who feel they are underdogs themselves who must conquer adversity. Loving parents provide emotional support and various aids to their children, such as financial help, nourishment and shelter. Without them, the protagonist must find these on their own, which appeals to the audience because they develop sympathy for the character, as well as respect for his or her strength and resourcefulness.
Another quality these orphaned or neglected underaged characters develop is independence. This is a theme that not only affects children but teenagers and adults alike, which explains why stories about orphans making their way in the world are beloved by all ages. From the toddler that pulls away from his mother’s grip on his hand, to the teenager that moves across the country for college, to the adult that purchases her own house rather than rent from a landlord, independence is ever-present throughout our lives. I would argue that this is healthy. Seeking independence was important in figuring out my own way through college. Taking a train into the city, getting a job, and doing my own grocery shopping and planning meals are moments that might seem insignificant, but stem from a desire to do things without help that pushes our lives forward.
