ProfoundlyFadedPrincess
Dreamer
It is probably one of the biggest no-no's in modern writing and has been rightly made so by the overuse of this trope when dealing with gay characters in a bid to be more representative, but I would like some advice on how to work with a gay character's death in my novel.
When I outlined him, the character is called Rydal he wasn't gay. In fact, he was, at the simplest level, the first murder victim of this novel. As I began to examine why he ended up in the situation where he did die, what came out of it was that the reason is that he submits to his mother's insistence on putting his lover aside to marry and have children. Rydal is the Crown Prince of the Kingdom, but his sister who is Queen has not produced any children. Had Rydal not submitted to his mother's demands, he would not have died.
The mother is homophobic - disgusted by her son's relationship - to be honest, as one of the Antagonists, the mother is an altogether pretty horrific character - hateful and jealous while also being a raging hypocrite. She does have some good points, but by this juncture, she is not a pleasant woman.
But I'm still struggling with how to deal with this issue. I don't want Rydal to come across as the Red Shirt, because he isn't. His relationship isn't secret, this decision he makes brings him quite a lot of criticism for it because he does have two other brothers (one of whom is his half-brother who although illegitimate, is in succession for the crown because he is the son of the previous King) and to be honest, his murder is a horrific turn of the screw in the novel.
In terms of attitudes towards homosexuality in the novel, it is a bit of a complex issue for the novel. Most people accept it, but the Religious outfit of the World disagrees with it as homosexuality cannot create birth, and the religion is based on the never-ending cycle of Birth, Life and Death. That said, Rydal's siblings don't want him to submit to his mother.
For further context, Rydal is one of four murders within the novel with the other victims being straight characters.
So all in all, I'm wondering how other people would deal with the scenario?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
When I outlined him, the character is called Rydal he wasn't gay. In fact, he was, at the simplest level, the first murder victim of this novel. As I began to examine why he ended up in the situation where he did die, what came out of it was that the reason is that he submits to his mother's insistence on putting his lover aside to marry and have children. Rydal is the Crown Prince of the Kingdom, but his sister who is Queen has not produced any children. Had Rydal not submitted to his mother's demands, he would not have died.
The mother is homophobic - disgusted by her son's relationship - to be honest, as one of the Antagonists, the mother is an altogether pretty horrific character - hateful and jealous while also being a raging hypocrite. She does have some good points, but by this juncture, she is not a pleasant woman.
But I'm still struggling with how to deal with this issue. I don't want Rydal to come across as the Red Shirt, because he isn't. His relationship isn't secret, this decision he makes brings him quite a lot of criticism for it because he does have two other brothers (one of whom is his half-brother who although illegitimate, is in succession for the crown because he is the son of the previous King) and to be honest, his murder is a horrific turn of the screw in the novel.
In terms of attitudes towards homosexuality in the novel, it is a bit of a complex issue for the novel. Most people accept it, but the Religious outfit of the World disagrees with it as homosexuality cannot create birth, and the religion is based on the never-ending cycle of Birth, Life and Death. That said, Rydal's siblings don't want him to submit to his mother.
For further context, Rydal is one of four murders within the novel with the other victims being straight characters.
So all in all, I'm wondering how other people would deal with the scenario?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.