In Aristotle’s Poetics, it is said, “Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is admirable, complete, and … effecting through pity and fear the proper purification of such emotions”. While some argue that the Ancient Greek’s definition of comedy and tragedy are a thing of the past, I believe no modern book can help but fall under one of the principles. My own work A Note to Self, is a short-fiction, Young Adult (YA) piece that has many of the conventions seen in tragedy. Although when looked at with a contemporary view it is perhaps framed more accurately under thriller.
The short story follows nineteen-year-old Natalie, who believes her parents are keeping herself and her sister, Olivia, apart. The reader observes Natalie as she wanders the old family country house, which her parents had, ‘gifted’ to her as a coming-of-age present. What the reader comes to learn, is that Natalie suffers from acute trauma disorders, causing her to ‘lose’ memories and enter dream-like states.
Natalie’s relationship with her parents reflects turbulence most young adults experience with their own families. Both parties believe they know best, and this miscommunication leads to something far more destructive. In YA fiction, broken relationships are a common theme and can be an anticipated trope for the audience. At an age in which people can feel their most alone it seems only natural stories intended for them mimic their own frustrations.
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