Now you can break down stories into two big categories: tragedies and comedies. Earlier in the book, Don says the easiest way to tell the difference in Shakespeare is; tragedies end in a funeral whereas comedies end with a wedding. I also think there is another way to define the difference, character development.
My two favorite Shakespearian plays are "Hamlet" and "The Taming of the Shrew," a tragedy and a comedy. I think in tragedies such as "Hamlet" and "East of Eden," the character development is almost bell shaped. As Hamlet and Cal progress through their stories, they change until an event brings them plummeting back to where they began. In essence an unchanged being. Katherina, however, is much more amiable at the end of play and marries Petruchio (or if you've seen 10 Things I Hate About You, July Stiles dates Heath Ledger). The character changes, and change promotes a positive moving story.
Also from film, in "Stranger Than Fiction," Will Ferrell's character is instructed to look for clues to if his story is a tragedy or a comedy. Dismally, he realizes the tragedy of his story.
Whether you accept it or not, we are all living a story. Yours may be a history (dry, dull, boring), a tragedy (exciting, but woeful), or a comedy (strife, change, reward). Whatever it is, you can change it. Comedies are hard because of the change part. But at the end of all comedies is a wedding or a date with Heath Ledger (RIP) or Maggie Gyllenhall.
"One of the things that gives me hope is that, even with all the tragedy that happens in the world, the Bible says when we all get to Heaven, there will be a wedding and there will be drinking and there will be dancing.
namaste
vaya con DIOS
