Sometimes when tragedy strikes, the character deserves such a punishment. For example, in Ella Enchanted when the evil uncle puts the poisoned crown on his head and dies. But there are times when a tragic situation can be placed on someone who is undeserving of such a punishment.
This is what happens in the play Oedipus the King. Oedipus is told of a prophecy where he is his father's killer and then marries his own mother. After hearing this prophecy, Oedipus gets as far away from the people who he thought were his parents to avoid harming them. However, it turns out that Oedipus was adopted but he doesn't know it yet. So in the end the prophecy comes true and then Oedipus gouges his eyes out and sends himself out to die. It seems so unfair for someone who is innocent and trying to avoid hurting his family to have to suffer such a tragic fate, but that is what is so appealing in tragedy.
The fact that each story's ending will be different and unexpected creates entertainment for the reader. In our society, an event that kills a dozen prisoners would not get nearly as much press and attention as an event that killed one child. The innocence and vulnerability of a child makes them so precious to us. We hate to hear that they were harmed but yet we are drawn to the drama it brings. Without tragedy life would undoubtedly be boring and unentertaining. However the fact that the character who suffers from a tragic ending is usually an undeserving being is definitely the most tragic part of tragedy.
This is what happens in the play Oedipus the King. Oedipus is told of a prophecy where he is his father's killer and then marries his own mother. After hearing this prophecy, Oedipus gets as far away from the people who he thought were his parents to avoid harming them. However, it turns out that Oedipus was adopted but he doesn't know it yet. So in the end the prophecy comes true and then Oedipus gouges his eyes out and sends himself out to die. It seems so unfair for someone who is innocent and trying to avoid hurting his family to have to suffer such a tragic fate, but that is what is so appealing in tragedy.
The fact that each story's ending will be different and unexpected creates entertainment for the reader. In our society, an event that kills a dozen prisoners would not get nearly as much press and attention as an event that killed one child. The innocence and vulnerability of a child makes them so precious to us. We hate to hear that they were harmed but yet we are drawn to the drama it brings. Without tragedy life would undoubtedly be boring and unentertaining. However the fact that the character who suffers from a tragic ending is usually an undeserving being is definitely the most tragic part of tragedy.