Hi everyone, so recently I have been facing a challenge in my novel Winter Blossoms. As was originally planned, Rowen, (the younger brother of the main male character Joren) allowed himself to be killed in battle, his death was meant to be a form of suicide. But recently a friend asked me why I had Rowen die in battle, when he could find a much easier way to killed himself. She basically said: "You have stated a number of times that Rowen is suicidal, so why do you have him wait for a battle? He's a knight, he has access to weapons, poison, why the **** does he not just kill himself?" The reasons behind Rowen's suicide are the death of his lover Anders (who he saw killed), the reveal to the contrary that he is gay. So grief for his love, shame over his sexuality, and anger at a world that would not accept him, pushed Rowen to commit suicide, the fact that he was already struggling with serve depression, anxiety and self esteem issues didn't help. I have to admit that she had a point, and in truth I have done darker things then have a 16 year old commit suicide (at least to some). I now feel like I have to change Rowen's death, if only because my friend is right and it makes little sense for Rowen to wait for a battle. I am now unsure about what is going to happen. I guess I am looking for feedback on whether I go to far by having Rowen clearly commit suicide, or if having him allow himself to be killed in battle, which would look like being killed in battle, not suicide (because no one would know that Rowen was planning on allowing himself to be killed.) (I know I don't have to take my friends advice, but I think what she said makes sense.)
I think that it makes total sense for a certain type of character to want an admired heroic death rather than commit suicide. Which makes me suggest that he doesn't just "allow" himself to get killed--instead he does something recklessly heroic.
True, but Rowen is in a place where I doubt he would wait for a battle. It also was not very heroic in the original version, he basically got killed by a couple of normal soldiers.
If there's no fighting, how does he get killed? Edited to add: Wait. You said "killed in battle". Eh?
I could, but as much of the point of said battle was Rowen's death, and I don't have another character that is a warrior, the battle would probably happen off page. Now that someone has has pointed out, that it makes little sense for Rowen to wait until a battle happened.
I think it makes perfect sense. Does Rowen really not care even a tiny little bit what people will think of him after his death? If he's killing himself out of shame, why wouldn't he want to erase that shame by killing himself in a heroic way? That doesn't mean that the battle has to be "onscreen". But it sounds like you already decided before you posted the question.
He knows that no matter what he does, at this point he will be remembered for being gay, and not much else. I haven't fully decided, mostly because it would change a lot. Also because I have known idea how to write the scenes necessary for Rowen commiting suicide. Just to let you know, I did a rewrite of Chapter One of Winter Blossoms.
A couple of reasons why, at least, it would be easier to go out in battle: 1. Can you imagine killing yourself with knight's weaponry? As far as I can guess your options are either stab yourself with a sword (a very long sword, remember), cut your own head off with that same sword (or an arm or something and just wait like a day and a half to bleed out), or bash your own skull in with a mace. 2. It takes a lot of courage to actually go through with the act of suicide - not that I'm saying there's anything good or noble about the act, I know it's a terrible thing but that's not the point we're arguing here - but maybe it's just easier for him to allow it to happen by someone else's hand. 3. Maybe he simply doesn't want people to know it was "suicide". If he's a good character with a good heart, then the last thing he wants to do is hurt people by killing himself. It might be nice to get some of the thought process into your story, with him considering his options and just realising this is the best way out not only for him but for the people he cares about. Obviously it's your story and you go with whatever you like, but that's just some answers to the "why would he wait" question. Ease, cowardice, morality.
Yes, (and don't ask) to the first one, but Rowen also has access to poison, and we'll RosePool may not be IvoryTowers it does have towers. I know the courage and strength it would take, with Rowen, I know he could do it. He also at the point in my story, no longer cares about others feelings.
Maybe you can think about it not as an isolated event. At what point in time/place is the death most useful for the story? So, you are going to kill this character. Don't waste it. Where in story time/place could this cause conflicts/problems/twists that our MC has to handle?
Rowen's death is about half way through the story, it takes place a RosePool or in the Battle of HavenIsland. It would put more pressure on the relationship of the to MC.
@GirlWriter101 - Do you want other characters to see his death as 'heroic death in battle' or as a suicide? Or, at best, foolhardiness that got him killed? How will his death be regarded?
E His death was never seen as 'heroic', most people saw it as ether a good thing (as it got rid of him), or nothing is great importance. Most overlooked the fact that a group of normal soldiers had managed to killed a very good knight. By a few people, the ones that know Rowen best or have some sense see it as suicide anyway.
He was 16. How on earth was he a very good knight? He wouldn't have even finished puberty. It's been mentioned before about your idea, and I recall saying it, but you are making your characters too young. Even if you put things in the realm of possibility, you push the limits of believability too far and it doesn't matter, you push the limits of how things are done too far and people won't like it even if it's realistic. Especially when you are doing this with several characters if I recall. 16 year olds saving the day is all well and good in Harry Potter because that is at it's heart a childish fantasy story. Your series here seems to be of a more serious tone and style. So write it as such, and make your young characters at least a few years older so they can actually fit into their roles. Teenagers are not at all stupid or incompetent, but they lack wisdom and maturity, and I say this as a younger and not particularly wise or mature person myself. Committing suicide at 16 is, unfortunately, perfectly realistic, so if you really want to have him die at this age you could easily do it, but don't make him a 'very good knight' at that age too. One or the other. I agree with ChickenFreak and The Piper, having him getting himself killed in a fight makes sense. Especially if he's a fighter, that would make it an easy way to go. I don't imagine he'd have to wait all that long, and besides it's not like you don't have control over this.
also normal soldiers killed knights all the time - a knight in armour is desperately vulnerable once unhorsed, and horses would either be killed with arrow fire, panicked, or hamstrung. Once on the ground the knight would either have his head bashed in or he'd be stabbed through the eye slit of his helmet with a thin bladed knife known as a misericorde (which means mercy in French/latin). The exception would be if he was obviously rich, in which case he might be spared to be ransomed. I'd agree however that thereis no way a 16year old would be a good knight - admittedly in the knightly period people started training at around 13, but at 16 he won't be strong enough to weild a knights weapons, let alone have sufficient experience to be considered very good by his peers
This. He's a desperately unhappy child, not a knight. Edited to add: In fact, HE could console himself with the delusion that he's actually a knight, go into battle as if he's a knight, and of course be killed instantly. That would work.
Please don't start the age thing with me, ChickenFreak gives me a hard enough time with Cressida. If anyone 'saves the day' It's probably Cressida.
H He was in the main hall of a Castle at the time, and for the most part unarmored. It was also a 4 against 1 sword fight, so Rowen had the advantage of skill.
OK, but you do understand that when you're plotting things that strike us as wildly unrealistic, it's really hard to engage? If you wanted to have a toddler who was the greatest knight in the land, you can see how it would be problematic to discuss that, yes? So, sure, I can comply with your request by simply ignoring your questions. But if most people do that, the questions aren't going to do you much good.
I can think of 3 different books series that have characters that are doing what mine are, (basically).
