The Dilemma Of Death
As in life, death can leave a huge impact in fictional worlds. Comic book fans will know just how much the passing of Gwen Stacy affected Spider-Man and changed the industry forever.
It’s compelling to see a character grapple with mortality, especially when they experience a loss. We are defined by how we spend our limited time living, and it’s the same for our fictional constructs.
The inclusion of death – that place, from which nothing returns – adds realism and weight to a story. This is the case in the acclaimed Game of Thrones, where the regularity of protagonist deaths exemplifies the hopelessness and grey morality of that world. But it’s no sure-fire approach. Sure, a lack of consequence can make a story feel inconsequential. Yet too much import can have the same effect. As many critics of Thrones noted, why would you try to repeatedly settle with different likable characters if each and every one of them would be killed off?
And, are stakes only generated through the finality of death anyway? You see, millions of people enjoy Doctor Who and James Bond to this day. Both franchises are over half a century old, and their next appearances are highly anticipated. But here’s the thing – neither character is going to definitively die in their next foray, and few would want or expect them to. Sure, these new adventures will no doubt test these two protagonists in fresh ways. But after all these years, the Doctor continues to regenerate, and the credits always read “James Bond will return.”
It’s that often unspoken rule of pop culture. We know these fictional feats of derring-do won’t end in death, but that doesn’t detract from how we feel in the moment. We still invest ourselves in these adventures, laughing, gasping and whooping for joy regardless. Our enjoyment derives from their drama; how they overcome the most insurmountable of problems and how they change as people. Indeed, what’s clear from Infinity War is how different many characters are as a result of their previous adventures. Many commentators frequently discuss how Tony Stark has evolved as a character over time.
So there’s a question over the context of death as well. And that’s where Avengers 4 comes in.
