That Powerful Kind of Ache

Why do we love a sad protagonist? I first noticed how tragic the characters in children's literature were when I began reading to my firstborn. So many orphans! Cinderella, The Little Princess, James and the Giant Peach, Harry Potter. Readers feel great compassion for these characters as they struggle through a cruel world. They grow and believe in love, and find it at last. Sometimes I would have hard conversations with my son as he realized that parents can die. I would have rather read books to him that did not invite such conversations to be honest. But having those conversations is what planted the seed of compassion in him. These characters showed him courage. Gave him hope. He loved these sad characters so much.

Most of what I write on here is sad. My life has been filled with many good things but it has been filled with a lot of pain and sadness too. I find that many of my close confidantes like to hear about my pain and sadness. They comment about how I made it through and seem so okay. As adults, we are still comforted and spurred on by these sad stories.

So, for those of you in my small circle of readership, I shall keep the sadness coming. I will continue to be the protagonist, struggling through the cruel world and believing in love, and with luck, finding it. May it give you courage and hope.