Have you ever felt, in the course of reading a detective novel, a guilty thrill of relief at having a character murdered before he can step onto the page and burden you with his actual existence? Detective stories always have too many characters anyway. And characters mentioned early on but never sighted, just lingering offstage, take on an awful portentous quality. Better to have them gone.
In detective fiction, readers often experience a unique sense of relief when a character is killed off before making their appearance. This feeling stems from the burden that such characters can create, as their presence may complicate the narrative or distract the reader. The enjoyment of a story can be heightened by eliminating potential nuisances that unnecessary characters introduce.
Additionally, characters who are alluded to but never show up can carry an ominous weight, building tension without contributing to the story. These offstage personas often leave a sense of unease, making it preferable for them to be removed altogether. Jonathan Lethem's "Motherless Brooklyn" explores these dynamics, reflecting on the intricate balance of character presence and the impact it has on the reader's experience.
