#redemption trope

[whumpwillow]

obviously not the only way to write a redemption arc, but just something I wrote on my phone notes app while chillin in the living room

Redemption arc in 13 (not so) easy steps:

Step 1: angry over their punishment and what’s been done to them as consequence for their bad actions

Step 2: guilty but denying it, ignoring their feelings and replacing them with less helpful emotions such as bitterness

Step 3: starts leaning into their emotions and their past and the things that made them the way they are, figuring out what lead them to this

Step 4: thinks they were the victim in the situation because of their tragic past and justify their actions that way

Step 5: learn that their tragic past is not an excuse for what they’ve done and that they hurt people, they need to be held accountable for it

Step 6: guilt. so much guilt. all the emotions they were repressing come rushing back all at once when they realize they were fully responsible for everything they’ve done and everyone they’ve hurt

Step 7: thinking that forgiveness from those they hurt will make the guilt go away so they go apologize with the expectation of forgiveness just to assuage their own guilt (selfishly and without meaning)

Step 8: relapsing back into their bad actions because they feel this whole redemption thing is too hard / pointless

Step 9: self loathing and self destructive behavior or unhealthy coping mechanisms to either try and take the pain away, or cause more for themselves because they feel like they deserve it

Step 10: someone pulls them out of their downward spiral and slaps some sense into them to stop destroying themselves

Step 11: learning that they should really be apologetic and not just apologize out of the selfish need for forgiveness to assuage their own guilt, learning that it’s a person’s right to not forgive them and that’s okay

Step 12: coming head-on with their past actions and the ramifications they’ve had, learning all the hurt they’ve brought and apologizing for it, trying to make it right, and knowing that some people won’t forgive them and that there are things they can never make right

Step 13: making peace with their guilt and knowing while that it’s never going to go away, they are working towards being better and have found people to help them with that.

[the-wanderer]

[lesbunnian]

The trope of 'i know this character did a lot of damage and bad but they're hot and I'm sad they either die/get what they deserve' is a fascinating test for people.

Well, test, is a bit much. But my point technically stands. It's one thing to be sad about that character dying/getting punished cause you like or even care about them. But it's another to take that as an absolving of everything they've done up to that point.

A death redemption is usually a way to avoid living with the guilt. Real redemption means living through it and putting in the work..

[fandomshatepeopleofcolor]

Can I ask what your thoughts on the 'redemption trope' are? In many of your posts you hinted that bad guys shouldn't be excused or appreciated so I was wondering. Or is it just because it's mostly white caracters who are concerned? Like do you think Zuko from ATLA shouldn't have been redeemed?

I really think it depends on the circumstances.

Like take Zuko and Regina Mills. They’ve both done bad things but I was totally here for them to be redeemed because of the circumstances.

 When I think of those two this quote comes to mind:

“Imagine a story where everything goes wrong, where everyone has their back against the wall, where everyone is in pain and acting selfishly because if they don’t, they’ll die. Imagine a story, not of good against evil, but of need against need against need, where everyone is at cross-purposes and everyone is to blame”

- Richard Siken

Now while the quote might not fit perfectly just something about it resonates the redemption of the two characters I mentioned. Zuko was pursuing the Avatar in search of his honor and his father’s love and respect. Regina became what she became because of what was stolen from her: her life, her innocence [not being evil], her true love.

Also both those characters eventually wanted to do better, wanted to be better. Whether it was because Zuko finally realized what he was truly meant to do or because Regina want Henry to love her they wanted to be redeemed.

On the flip side of that you have Kylo Ren’s ass who has none of this and he’s still a patricide doing space Nazi with no ounce of remorse. The only redemption I think he deserves, if any, is in his death. He doesn’t deserve what Zuko and Regina got.

mod v