Harry Potter and the Crybaby Fans
I am going to actually write a full review of the new Harry potter novel soon, but I would like to take a moment to berate the segment of fans who feel hurt, betrayed, and are upset over the death of an important character. Some fans are so upset that they are calling counseling centers according to a report on CNN and others are frantically trying to understand why Rowling killed who she killed.
(if you don't want clues don't read further)
First thing is first people. IT IS A FICTIONAL CHARACTER! Anytime you want to meet the character again you can go back and read the books again. Yes it was a sad scene and it was poignant, but in truth, I found the death of Sirius Black a more poignant moment due to the sheer quickness and almost randomness of it. I expected this death and it needed to happen for the series to continue in its proper way. The character died for the exact same reason Ben Kenobi died in Star Wars, it moves the story forward to the ultimate end of defeating the dark side and provides a centering push and slap in the face to Harry Potter. Harry needed to learn that what he is doing is worth the sacrifice of one's life. It is the fight that counts. The life-threatening chances need to be taken or there will be no chance at victory. In this death, Harry was able to understand that aspect of his fight against Voldermort.
Second, if your happiness depends on the safety of a fictional character you need to get out of your damn house and live your life. When you obsess that much about fiction you are in need of psychological help, and I do not mean to deal with your fictional grief.
Third, stop acting so damn surprised. Rowling informed people that more people would die. I was surprised that the body count was as low as it was. In a war, there should be loss on both sides of the actual fighters. She has gone light on her readers by sparing the main characters and providing more collateral damage. I assume the next book is going to have several main characters dying, maybe even Harry himself.
Now, having said all of that. I do not think you should just brush off the death of a character. Fiction engages the mind and brings you into another reality. You vicariously experience that world through the narrative, and I would think less of a person if they felt nothing. Still feeling sorrow, grief, happiness, or joy from fiction is different than allowing those emotions to affect you beyond reading about it and absorbing the moment. It is a book not reality.
-The Great One
(if you don't want clues don't read further)
First thing is first people. IT IS A FICTIONAL CHARACTER! Anytime you want to meet the character again you can go back and read the books again. Yes it was a sad scene and it was poignant, but in truth, I found the death of Sirius Black a more poignant moment due to the sheer quickness and almost randomness of it. I expected this death and it needed to happen for the series to continue in its proper way. The character died for the exact same reason Ben Kenobi died in Star Wars, it moves the story forward to the ultimate end of defeating the dark side and provides a centering push and slap in the face to Harry Potter. Harry needed to learn that what he is doing is worth the sacrifice of one's life. It is the fight that counts. The life-threatening chances need to be taken or there will be no chance at victory. In this death, Harry was able to understand that aspect of his fight against Voldermort.
Second, if your happiness depends on the safety of a fictional character you need to get out of your damn house and live your life. When you obsess that much about fiction you are in need of psychological help, and I do not mean to deal with your fictional grief.
Third, stop acting so damn surprised. Rowling informed people that more people would die. I was surprised that the body count was as low as it was. In a war, there should be loss on both sides of the actual fighters. She has gone light on her readers by sparing the main characters and providing more collateral damage. I assume the next book is going to have several main characters dying, maybe even Harry himself.
Now, having said all of that. I do not think you should just brush off the death of a character. Fiction engages the mind and brings you into another reality. You vicariously experience that world through the narrative, and I would think less of a person if they felt nothing. Still feeling sorrow, grief, happiness, or joy from fiction is different than allowing those emotions to affect you beyond reading about it and absorbing the moment. It is a book not reality.
-The Great One