Four Endings

As we approach the end of another year, I had a few ideas about topics related to endings.

If you've read my articles for awhile, you may remember discussions about wants and needs - the plot objective that is more 'physical' is the want, and the emotional or thematic pursuit is the need. A character figures out what they want fairly early, usually - but they may not know what they need until later in the story.

The need often is connected to some kind of character growth, overcoming a flaw, lack, or wound that the character is suffering from.

So, when the plot goal…and thematic need…are achieved or not achieved, a story is pretty much over!

When the killer is unmasked and defeated in Scream, and Sidney overcomes her denial about her Mother's behavior (and the pain of her death as well), both Want and Need are achieved. This is the way most big movies end.

Anyway, let's talk about the four possible endings when we view ending structure through this lens!

If the Want is achieved and the Need is fulfilled, we have the Happy Ending! Most common ending is popular media.

If the Want is achieved and the Need is NOT fulfilled, we have what I would call a Hollow Victory…so the
more physical objective happens, but the character has not done their character work, so will run into more problems down the road. The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz is this I think.

If the Want and Need are BOTH unachieved, the multiple-front failure, that's a downer ending. The writer probably considers this deep. I don't think I agree but that's for another Newspost.

Finally, if the Want is not achieved but the Need is achieved, we have what we might call the Bittersweet Ending. Maybe the want turns out to be not that important once the Protagonist grows up, which is a more happy variant. Or maybe we are left to believe that even though the Hero failed, they will win other victories in life. The first Rocky would fall into this category.

In any case - have you done one, or some, or all of these endings in your stories? Do you recognize them?


And as far as this year's ending goes, I hope it finds you all full of good cheer and your wants and needs looking at least optimistic!

Happy New Year,

Talk again soon,

Banes


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