How To Write Death Scenes

Summary

The website content provides guidance on crafting death scenes in literature from two perspectives: the dying individual and their loved ones, emphasizing the importance of showing rather than telling.

Abstract

The article "How To Write Death Scenes" discusses the nuances of writing death scenes from the perspectives of both the dying character and their family and friends. It suggests that each death should serve the story and encourages writers to show rather than tell the emotional landscape of the characters involved. The dying character may grapple with existential fears, religious beliefs, or a sense of relief from suffering. Family and friends might exhibit a range of reactions from genuine grief to hidden anticipation of inheritance or even guilt if they are responsible for the death. The article also references an external resource on the art of showing versus telling to enhance narrative depth.

Opinions

The author advocates for authenticity in death scenes, ensuring they contribute meaningfully to the story.
Emphasis is placed on the importance of character introspection, such as contemplating the afterlife or reflecting on life choices.
The article suggests that the dying character's religious beliefs or lack thereof can significantly shape their deathbed thoughts and actions.
It highlights the potential for complex emotions among the dying character's loved ones, including both sincere sorrow and self-interested motives.
The author acknowledges the existence of individuals who might feign grief for personal gain, adding a layer of moral complexity to the death scene.
The article implies that nurses in palliative care often observe a common regret among the dying, which is not living an authentic life.

Two points of view

I will talk about two ways or points of view with regards to writing death scenes, the two points of view being the person dying and the dying person’s family and friends. With each death of a character it has to serve the story and with each scenario remember to do as much showing as opposed to telling as possible, here’s a link to my Medium article giving advice on that — https://idworr.medium.com/showing-versus-telling-b8778600bf1d.

Write the person as a basket case, fearful of what awaits for them after they die. The character could be going over in their head wondering if there is an afterlife, is there truly a heaven and hell and if they’ve lived a good enough life to get past the Pearly Gates or will they face damnation. They could also be wondering if there’s simply nothing after they die or does reincarnation happen and will they get a chance to live again.

If the dying person lived according to the teachings of their religion, they might be looking forward to meeting whatever deity they worshipped while alive. But there’s also the other side of that coin, if the person lived an evil life, they might be hopeful that there is no afterlife or fearful that there is one and they will face an eternity of punishment.

For example, let’s say the dying person was a drug dealer who murdered several people. You could have a scene where he’s praying, kneeling at a church altar trying to justify what he did. Something like this, “Dear Lord, if you’re there, yes I was a drug dealer but if there wasn’t a market for the stuff it would never have been sold, and people are responsible for taking the drugs. And I used the money I made, some of it anyway, to build an orphanage and I paid for ten children’s cancer treatment. Would that not account for something?”

If the character was suffering from a debilitating terminal illness, they may believe that death is a relief, thankful that their suffering will soon be over.

Another way to write a death scene is that the person is looking back on their life with regrets. I remember reading about nurses who work in palliative care units where the number one regret of a person dying is that they didn’t live a life that was true to themselves as opposed to what other thought they should do.

From the point of view of the family and friends, usually they will be distraught over losing the person. Show them crying, telling the person they are loved and will always be remembered.

Where I said usually they will be distraught, there are some selfish people in the world which can be reflected in a story. A family member might know they will be collecting a big inheritance from the dying character and will put up a front of dread over losing their loved one, but in secret are going over what they will do with the money when they receive it.

This could be done like this:

Shawn held his father’s hand, tears rolling down his face, “Dad, I don’t know what I am going to do without you.” But in the back of their mind they’re thinking, actually, I do know, I’ll pay off my mortgage and use the money to further enrich myself.

It could also be where the person faking sadness over the death is responsible for it, they might have poisoned their spouse to collect the life insurance payout. With the above example as the person lay dying, the killer could sprout alligator tears, “You’re the love of my life, I can’t live without you.” And in their mind they’re thinking, but I can certainly live with the money.

Hopefully this helps you with your own death scenes.