Grief and Tragic Backstories in Media

From superheroes to romantic comedies, many movies and TV shows rely on tragedy to help us connect or sympathize with characters. Grief of some form, or a tragic past leads a character on a path. Even supervillains are often given a grief-stricken backstory that sets them on their destructive path. What is the significance of these tragic tales? And why are they a common trope?

Grief and Heroes: Rising Above

Whether spandex-clad superheroes or your more average protagonist, a tragic event or death of a loved one can set our main character on the path to great deeds. A dying mentor character is often a target for this tragedy. From Spider-man’s Uncle Ben to Gandalf’s fall in The Lord of the Rings, fallen guardian figures are usually a common aspect of this trope. Generally, these moments of grief help shape our main characters to elicit growth and get them ready for the trials ahead. If only grief worked that fast. Ultimately, a tragic loss early in a story, even in the form of a flashback can help an audience sympathize with a character. Grief and loss are great unifiers. 

Tragic Backstories and Antagonists

On the flip side, why offer tragic backstories to villains? Are we supposed to sympathize with supervillains and murderers? Sort of. What drives a man to madness? What brings a person to the edge of ruin? Tragedy. You may not agree with all of the antagonist’s decisions, but if it was all spurred on by the loss of their family, you could at least consider why they do the things they do. It grounds a character and makes them seem more real. It adds dimensions. Thanos wouldn’t be as imposing without his ability to rationalize his motives, however skewed.

Redemption and Tragedy

The act of healing or overcoming grief can be an avenue to character redemption. Redemption through catharsis of trauma or past grief is common in different types of stories. Darth Vader was always an iconic villain, but his pain and loss in the prequel movies made him all the more complex. It also made his redemption at the end have more meaning. 

Personal Grief and Relating to Media

When dealing with loss and grief in your own life, it is easy to find comfort in a favorite piece of media. From watching movies or TV to diving into a book. When coping with grief, connecting with a character over their pain can help you feel more engrossed in the story. And watching a character succeed in spite of their tragedy can be cathartic. Media can be a great vessel in which to work out your own feelings of loss.

The author of this post is not a professional therapist or counselor. For more personalized grief care, find a grief counselor that is right for you. For our Grief Resource Center, written by Dr. Bill Webster, click here. 
For over 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.