Redemption Arcs - Tumblr Posts
The reason that I love redemption arcs so much is because, on a very bone-deep level, I struggle with the concept as it applies to myself. And not because the things I’ve done have been too terrible to forgive but because, at first glance, I don’t seem to have done anything very bad at all. And there’s something that is so terrifying about having your good qualities on the surface and something about being loved for your qualities and never in spite of them that can mess with your head because you know, in your heart, that those qualities are not who you are, at least not all of who you are, that you’re capable of really ugly, terrible things and that you’ve done them too. but no one ever sees them because you hide them.
and if you’re just loved for the good you do- that isn’t you, that isn’t all of you and that you know you sometimes do out of fear or pride or just so that your sense of self doesn’t entirely crumble- then are you really loved for you? redemption arcs are stories where a character isn’t loved for their actions but in spite of them. they are loved in a way which doesn’t excuse the harm they have done- the whole point is that they are called to do better- but which is truly, shockingly unconditional. the whole point is that the narrative loves them enough to redeem them even though, looking at them through the lens of their actions, there is nothing to love.
and idk i just need that in my life really badly.
I am a simple woman. I see an evil fictional man who shows the slightest hint of being a decent person and I go wild
Look in all seriousness you can't redeem a character without showing them being pathetic, deep loser energy. There are no cool redemption arcs. They have to be in the trenches. They have to hate themselves for the mistakes they made. They have to apologize and take whatever is given be it forgiveness or a punch to the jaw. ONLY then will the redemption arc be actually good because it will be cathartic. And then they get to see the good things, they get to be touched gently and held while they sleep.
These things can overlap, even into a circle but without the pathetic loser boy saga your redemption arc will feel hollow.
