Question Are open endings tragedy?

I picked up a new story but I'm not sure if the ending is tragedy or not... (for tagging purposes btw)

Basically, in the ending,

Spoiler: Spoiler

The two characters kiss on the beach after a confession, and one of them says "The ocean is calling for us, come here, come here. Do you hear it?" When asked if he was afraid, the other character says no. Then, the one who mentioned the ocean says "Me too. Let's go." and that's the end.

It's not mentioned whether they died or whether they just left, and the author confirms that it's meant to be an open ending. So...is this tragedy?

 

It depends really. You're free to imagine how they ended and the author will not give a fuck because he/she already left it to the reader's imagination.

 

Problem is the tagging though. I don't know if people will get mad at me if I don't tag it as tragedy, or if I'll end up warding people off because I do tag it.

 

I dunno doesn't seem like a tragedy to me

 

Either the man went into the ocean with his mermaid lover, or the man went into afterlife with the ghost of his lover. I think I’ll need more context than that.

Also, don’t be afraid to tag it With Tragedy, because not everyone hate tragedy, and if you intentionally didn’t tag it, people will get angry anyway. No point in hiding the fact.

 

What does the ocean mean to this couple?

 

Thank you!

It's more stockholm syndrome with a yandere boyfriend lol
MC finally accepts the ML after accepting the fact that MC enjoys being his victim and the scene ensues. The ending's just a bit better than what the MC wanted, for the ML to kill them.

And thanks! I guess tragedy it is.

 

The ocean is just "the way out" and the entire story involves murder and the MC's wish to be killed by him.

 

So...a satisfactory ending for them would be if the MC was killed by him? If they carry out this desire then is it really a tragedy?

 

Honestly I think it's a really good ending considering what happens to them throughout the story, that's why I was wondering whether it needed the tragedy tag lol
ML didn't end up killing MC but is that the real tragedy then? -x files theme-

 

OH! that's another way to look at it. I hadn't thought of that possibility. But then, I haven't read it....

I say it would depend on the definition of Tragedy used here on NUF... sorry, I can't find the def.

 

Trust me the definition just makes it more confusing lol
"Contains events resulting in great loss or misfortune"

 

Hmm... its generally believed that a death or two is a great loss or a misfortune....then the answer is yes.

I mean, you only need one or the other to be correct. Hmm and I think you can get enough people to agree to one or the other condition of a tragedy as described above.

Ghetto logic. ^.^

That was long and convoluted. It's time for bed. XD

 

That's why it's an open ending, nobody knows if they died, the author explicitly mentions that they could have walked off I guess if anyone believes that they're dead it's still a tragedy. Thanks and good night!

 

No. Even if a book has a sad ending it's still not necessarily a tragedy.

 

It's open, so... Up to you decide if it's a tragedy or not~

 

I'm just gonna tag it tragedy for now and maybe message a mod I guess while I'm at it maybe asking for an open ending tag might be good lol

 

An Open Ending tag sounds like a good idea. My only thing about that is that the wording might make people angry....cause, me for example, doesn't like to be told the ending for a novel I'm reading, It spoils the reading journey for me big time.

Maybe a Cliffhanger tag? And the definition could be something about how any novels that use this tag have in their story one or more cliffhangers. It doesn't specify when, where or how many, but it prepares people for that eventuality? What do you guys think?

 

I feel you on the spoiling part, but I think tragedy does similar as well. But regardless you still have to warn readers or they get angry at you. A story I'm translating did not have a bad ending but I think someone read an incomplete release and said it had a bad end on the review even if it doesn't. I did ask a mod though and was told to just tag it as tragedy anyway because that's better than getting scolded.

Cliffhanger feels a bit too uhh open?? Many stories I read have them at some point and some have cliffhangers every chapter

 

hehehe *sadist Femme* That's the whole point....if the cliffhanger is at the end...well, at least you let them know they were possible... And you don't spoil the surprise open ending.

But then, you can't satisfy everyone so all you can do is your best. And hide from the mob.