The Tragic Muse: Why Literature Finds Beauty in Suffering?

By Khadija Bilal

The theme of “suffering” is nearly always evident in many prominent and well-known literary works. Across different ages, the idea of suffering has fascinated many writers, poets,and artists who have often used the essence of suffering and human despair to give profound depth to their stories and narratives. This romanticization of suffering throughout the literature must not merely be considered as a stylistic technique to engage the audience; it should be taken as a visualization of the deep-rooted relationship of pain and beauty enforced by cultural and societal forces. Doubtlessly this paradox still lingers because suffering is often seen as a life-changing force, providing narratives with the power to extend an in-depth understanding of life and misery itself.

One major reason, why the idea of suffering in literature is given much more importance than other themes is due to its connection to rationality and personal development. Suffering is often deemed as a pain that refines the human soul and deepens one’s understanding of existence. In many renowned literary texts and studies, the theme of suffering is considered pure and authentic emotion, forming an individual’s path to their ultimate destiny of enlightenment. From Shakespearean tragedies to Dostoevsky’s deranged characters, suffering often functions as a pivotal tool of self-awareness for many individuals stuck in the dreadful cycle of existence. The Romantic belief that suffering is the price we pay to attain wisdom and emotional depth repeatedly suggests how tortured minds try to find refuge in their pain in order to overcome their fear of consuming a meaningless life.

Moreover, other reasons for the glorification of suffering in literature are its ability to heighten emotions, giving more profound meaning to the struggles and pain of characters. This technique of catharsis used by writers and artists is a way of eliminating falsity from the narrative in order to reveal raw truths about human nature. In many novels and poems, suffering serves as an aesthetic experience, intensifying the splendour of language and imagery. The melancholic prose of Emily Brontë, the haunting poetry of Sylvia Plath, and the bleak yet lyrical portrayal of life in Thomas Hardy’s works,perfectly depict how the terrible emotion of suffering can serve as a powerful tool to tune your emotion into something extraordinary. This channelling of pain into poetic expression allows readers to form a deep connection with the grief and despair of writers and artist.

The romanticisation of suffering in literature often offers an escape, to the readers, from the dreadful everyday struggles into something exceptional. Characters destined to suffer are often depicted as larger-than-life figures, carrying their tragic scars as a badge of nobility, making their character moreprofound and compelling. Characters such as that of Heathcliff from Emily Brontë’s “Wuthering Heights” or Jay Gatsby from F. Scott Fitzgerald’s "The Great Gatsby" suffer not only for love, passion, or ambition but also for their fate,making their pain more sacred. Therefore, their suffering,growing out of their passion and rage, resonates with the audience on a deeper emotional level, enhancing the literary appeal of the characters and the narrative.

Furthermore, the glorification of suffering in literature comes from various historical and religious traditions, which highlyemphasize the moral qualities of pain and hardships. Many literary works use Christian imagery, such as used in Victor Hugo’s "Les Misérables," or Islamic imagery, as depicted in “The Mathnawi" by Jalaludin Rumi, where suffering is often linked to purification, sacrifice, and ultimate salvation. Many literary works often tend to give meaning to their insufferable characters, by drawing resemblance from religious characters portraying them as pure and larger-than-life figures. One of the famous Dostoevsky's character, Prince Mushkin from “The Idiot,” echoes the same idea – how through suffering he achieves moral redemption. This religious idea of redemption is often highly influenced by cultural narratives where suffering is considered meaningful rather than a destructive force.

While on the contrary, literature’s portrayal of suffering as anappealing and transformative force has faced criticism for quite long time now. Some critics argue that this unhealthy glorification of suffering often develops a belief within an individual that pain is necessary to achieve emotional or artistic depth. This association of suffering with creativity, for the past few centuries, has often contributed to the myth of the tragic artist, implying that one must endure pain to produce great works of art. Additionally, in modern literature, this romanticization of suffering used to aestheticize the tragedies of the protagonists often overlooks the true meaning of struggles and harsh realities. Which, according to some critics, triggers the real pain rather than reducing it.

Despite these concerns and criticisms, the relationship between suffering and beauty will forever remain deeply present in traditional narratives and storytelling. Readersintense connection with various human experiences and complexities will forever attract them to narratives thatexplore human suffering. Their deep resonation with such literary pieces provides them a space where they feel connected and understood; through that connection, their suffering becomes meaningful. Whether it is a tragic heroine of classic literature, the crabby antihero of gothic fiction, or a character lost in its dreadful existential cycle, suffering continues to be the main theme that captivates and resonates with many. Ultimately, the struggle to uncover the beauty of the pain is not about glorifying the suffering itself; rather, it is about revealing profound emotional and philosophical depths within our suffering.

Khadija Bilal can be found on Instagram and TikTok with the username @depressedp0et as well as being the Editor-in-Chief at The Literary Times literary magazine (which we highly recommend).