Time for another rant! It’s only been a couple of weeks, but I must release my inner rage. Because I’m trying to be a nicer person, I have to release all my pent up anger through these rants. It’s time for another rant.
Today’s topic is broken homes/missing parents. I have so much to say about this I don’t even know where to start, I’ll try my best though.
Okay, let’s start with the fact that I think it’s just lazy writing. This whole trope is mostly present in YA, most specifically anything with magical elements. Now, think back to when you were a teenager. Would your parents have let you run around with mythical creatures putting yourself in constant danger and not worry about you at all? Most likely not. Which is why authors tend to feel the need to get rid of the parents. They just want to get rid of that hurdle as early on as they can. I absolutely hate this.
Even if the author decides to keep the parents, they’re most likely a single parent and they never listen to the main character and end up dating someone who is really an awful human being and only the protagonist can see how evil they truly are. I can honestly name you at least three series where this happens right off the top of my head.
I read a book the other day where this girl’s mother was actually a really good parent. She seemed a bit sketchy at first, but that was just because I was so used to reading about characters with sucky parents. But no, in this book, this girl’s mother was there for her. She listened and just comforted her when she didn’t want to talk about it. This mother even stood up to her asshole of a husband for her daughter, even threatened to leave him if he didn’t stop being an asshole, because she genuinely cared about her daughter and wouldn’t let her be bullied.
I also feel like broken families are added into a plot just to add to the characters’ suffering. You know, they just aren’t miserable enough, let’s kill off some of their family members. I just don’t see why authors have to go for the family. At this point, I would be more surprised to read a book with a happy family where no one has died than I would if I read a book where they all die.
Also, I feel like almost always the parents who are there are either horrible or they are just really distant and don't care that they actually have children. Like, authors there are actual good parents out there. Not all parents are horrible. My parents are great, I honestly don't know what I would do without them, so I honestly have a hard time relating to these characters in this aspect.
It’s to the point where I want to rip my hair out every time a shitty parental figure is introduced. Can we not have a stable influence? Honestly, most of these characters need it.
Anyway, thoughts?
I absolutely agree, although I also understand why the authors feel the need to leave the parental figures out of the story or very distant from the protagonist. Really enjoyed reading this rant, found it very, very relatable.
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