Is It Okay For My Protagonist To Fail?

I’ve been asked this question multiple times, so I decided to write a blog post about it and just tell the whole world instead of having to repeat the answer over and over again.

Plus, I’m going to start answering your questions about writing, so comment below if you have any questions you’d like me to answer.

Now, onto the question!

To put it simply, the answer is… yes and no.

Imagine dedicating hours to reading a book. It’s well written, the characters are relatable, and the plot structure is perfect. You’ve reached the darkest part in the story. The characters’ hope have been doused like water thrown on a fire, and although you know the protagonist has to win in the end, you’re sitting on the edge of your seat, trying to grasp hope in the most hopeless part of the story.

As the story nears the end, your hope grows. The protagonist must find a way to defeat the villain, right? And his internal conflict will be resolved, and maybe he’ll even get the girl.

And then the book ends and none of that happens. The protagonist fails. Completely. The villain is victorious, the internal conflict is still raging on inside the protagonist, and the love interest ditched him. He loses everything.

You took your time to read this story, went through countless adventures and near-death experiences with these characters, only for them to fail. You probably feel cheated, right?

So, that’s the no part of the answer. But it is possible for your character to fail and pull it off.

Your character must gain something, even if he doesn’t defeat the villain. Maybe his internal conflict is resolved, even though he loses externally. Or maybe he gains something he didn’t realize he needs but fails in every other way.

So, yes. Your character can fail. But he must gain something in the end, even if he fails in other ways.

10 thoughts on “Is It Okay For My Protagonist To Fail?”

  1. Ashly Vye (Volcana Shard) says:
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    This is awesome and so true! Thanks!
    Sort of like in the Mistborn trilogy… I won’t say anymore so I don’t spoil it for those who haven’t read it, but that’s a good example I think.

    Also, I do have a question: What do you find are the best elements to put in a teen/YA fiction of any genre? What are some good elements to add in to make the story both grip them, and impact them?

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  2. S. M. Metzler says:
    Reply

    Awesome post!! For me, I’m satisfied if there’s a character arc and the protagonist’s first goal at the beginning of the story fails as events he experiences in the story give him new goals that he succeeds to meet at the end. Take The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, for example. Each of the characters have different motives (freeing Tumnus, getting back to London, getting more turkish delight), but at the end, they ditch those motives as they learn more about their predicament and who they are, and their new united goal is to win the war for Aslan, save Narnia, and kill the Witch.
    Okay, here’s my question for you: What plot/character tropes (cliches) are your favorites and which ones are you sick of?

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  5. Penny Wood says:
    Reply

    That was so true! It would be a good idea to let your protagonist fail sometimes, even at the end. But totally agreed, he has to gain something.
    Btw, I love your blog! The name is Penny. Nice to meet ya! 😆

    Liked by 1 person

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