Recent feedback to a series of stories I shared on Facebook made me lean back in my chair and have a good mull-over. “I especially enjoy the humanity that comes through your stories….”
Oh?
I’ve read several commentaries about how over-zealous English professors and critics can imbue a story with attributes, themes, traits, deep messages, etc. that the author, when confronted, is surprised by, or even denies entirely.
I certainly did not decide to share stories with this group, thinking “Oh, they’ll see the humanity here.” However, once someone brought it to my attention, well, yes, I do have a softness, a reverence, a warm respect for the parties involved in my stories, even when the main character happens to be a ghost.
As I write this, the Murdaugh murder trial in South Carolina has come to a close. Wow. Talk about lack of humanity … a man who could win court cases for 100 clients and steal every penny of their money. Brutally slay his wife and son and say in the first police interview that he saw his son’s phone sticking out of his pocket and was going to do something with it … like what, order a pizza?
I think of Old Yeller, a book I never read because I could never bring myself to read it knowing what happens at the end, knowing I would be wrecked by grief and sadness.
What does it mean, this humanity thing? I went to the dictionary, always a good place to start:
Humanity: Noun. Related to being human. Relating to other humans and animals with humanity, kindness, care, concern, empathy. Wishing others to be free from suffering.
In other words, “the quality or state of being humane.”
I think of a popular thriller author I both like and wonder about. She excels at the fast-paced, murder mystery, wherein there is a killer amongst a small group at a remote location. The point of view shifts chapter by chapter as the feelings of suspicion and fear make you want to check your blood pressure. The kind of book you can’t put down; you just have to know what’s going to happen next. And yet ….
I enjoyed the author’s first book so much, I went right to the next one. And within a few chapters, had to wonder: Why are ALL the characters so unlikeable? They are supposed to be long-time friends, but they harbor resentments and secrets. They are drug-dependent and petty. Vindictive. Spiteful. Hateful. Do I care about any of them? No! DESPITE them, the books―which are in large degree interchangeable, same nasty people different location, this time it’s for a wedding, that time it’s for a vacation―are well-written enough that I am reading for PLOT but not because I care about these people.
They. Lack. Humanity.
It was so pervasive, I found myself wanting to interview the author, ask her the following questions:
“Do you not have any true friends in your life?”
“ Are you caught up in sticky relationships based on obligation but not true loving sentiment?”
“ Is that why you can’t write with any compassion or heart?”
“Do you feel that people are basically selfish and awful?”
“Are you an unhappy person?”
She’s a best-seller. Conclusion: humanity is not required in writing. Or is it?
Coincidence that the very next book I picked up was the same? This one was supposed to be about a wedding party at a remote and haunted location. The characters came together out of obligation, not celebration. There was no sense of joyful reunion. None! No surprise then that by chapter ten it devolved into a rant of cussing.
I returned the book to the library unfinished.
Writers often reflect the times in which they write. Subconsciously or consciously or both.
I hope that it’s not true, but the tone in that author’s work might well be part of a current bleak trend towards a cultural outlook of loveless, hopeless darkness. Of isolated survival-level existence. Family bonds and friendship ties cut or only held together by negative and toxic cords.
The media relishes “outrage.” Difficult conversations are now solved by ghosting. Or silence.
Just the other day, a news headline announced that the number of students enrolled in humanities courses―primarily English/literature and history―are rapidly falling by the wayside in colleges and universities.…
At least we have the “I care” emoji.
What do you think? Do you agree? Have you picked up a current book and found it to be well-written, but lacking likable characters, devoid of heart or compassion?
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Marie Q Rogers
You’re right, Jess. A story is more enjoyable if you can relate to the characters (i.e. their humanity). Even if the character is a bad guy, a little bit of humanity makes him/her more interesting and the story more satisfying. Lately, I’ve started watching highly rated Netflix series only to be turned off by the unlikeable characters. There are too many good stories out there and life’s too short to waste.
Come to think of it, one of the things I like about your stories is the humanness of your characters.
Jess Elliott
Totally agree, Pat. A lot of the remakes and sequels of movies suffer from lack of humanity. Lots of violence and anger but not a lot of compassion or personal fortitude and heart. Many thanks for the compliment! 🙂