This is Story Fanatic, a collection of articles covering story structure and analysis for
creative writers. Published weekly.
A personal tragedy exists when the Main Character is unable to resolve their own personal angst. Have they overcome that personal problem that was bugging them since the beginning? Or are they still haunted by the demons and issues that they began the story with? The latter is a personal tragedy; the former is not.
Are all tragedies created equal? From the perspective of one who watches or reads stories, perhaps. But from the seat of the one who creates and brings to life these stories, a tragedy can take many forms…even that of a resounding triumph.
When it comes to crafting a screenplay that is both bittersweet and meaningful, many screenwriters turn to the “bitter” half of such stories – the Personal Tragedy. While not as overwhelmingly depressing as the classic Shakespearean Tragedy, this kind of story seeks to create conflicting emotions within the hearts and minds of an unsuspecting audience. Sometimes winning can be ruinous for a character.
There are some films that are so subtle in the area of character development that it can be difficult to determine exactly what is being said. In the case of The Wrestler, there was a fine line regarding Randy’s emotional growth and where he ended up. For accuracy to prevail, it becomes necessary not to confuse the world of the real with the world of the story.