“Honest people don’t hide their deeds.”
In storytelling, tropes are familiar patterns that resonate with readers. One of the most striking tropes that always garners a strong emotional response in the realms of romance and fantasy is the ‘unfulfilled promise’. Whether it’s a character’s dashed dreams, a relationship that is never able to blossom or a hero’s journey that falls short of expectations, the unfulfilled promise trope adds a layer of depth to a narrative. These tropes create tension by playing off of a reader’s hopes and fears, making a story more relatable and bittersweet. But, what exactly defines this trope? How is it used across genres? And how can you start writing your own effective unfulfilled promises? Join us at What We Reading as we explain what an unfulfilled promise is, how they function in storytelling and why they leave such a profound impact on audiences!
What Is The Unfulfilled Promise Trope?
The unfulfilled promise trope centres around the idea that not all goals, dreams or missions come to fruition in a story. It taps into the emotional weight of expectations and subverts them with failure, loss or missed opportunities. By toying with the contrast between anticipation and disappointment, authors are able to revel in the imperfections of characters and how unpredictable life can be, adding complexity to their narratives.
At its core, the unfulfilled promise trope is all about falling short of expectations, whether that comes about from a character’s actions, circumstances or the nature of the plot itself.
Promises in stories can come about in many different ways in books – literal agreements made between characters, personal goals or the promise of a satisfying or fulfilling outcome. When these promises aren’t met, it reminds readers that not every journey leads to things being neatly sorted and a happy ending.
Common Forms Of Unfulfilled Promises
Broken Promises
Broken promises occur when a character makes a commitment but fails to honour it, whether that is due to circumstance, betrayal or a personal failure. These promises are often devices to build tension and conflict, especially amongst close characters where trust and dependence is assumed to be a given.
Failed Goals
In tragic stories, characters may pursue a specific goal, only to fall short. Whether it’s a personal accomplishment, love or redemption, these failures can be the end result of internal struggles, external obstacles or the realisation that their goal had unobtainable the entire time. These forms of unfulfilled promises emphasis the reality that graft isn’t always enough to ensure success.
Missed Opportunities
One of the more subtle forms of unfulfilled promises, missed opportunities revolve around certain decisions characters fail to make, only realising what they’ve lost when it is too late. This often leads to a lingering sense of regret and a ‘what could have been’ moment that resonates with the audience.
5 Examples Of Unfulfilled Promises In Books
Of Mice And Men – John Steinbeck
Unfulfilled promise: The American Dream – George and Lennie both share a vision of one day owning their own piece of land where they can live freely. This dream represents the traditional view of the American Dream, as well as the hope and security in their otherwise difficult lives as migrant workers. However, as their story unfolds, the harsh realities of the world gradually crush their dream. Lennie’s death at the end of the novel seals the fate of their unfulfilled promise, symbolising the broken dreams of the working class during the Depression era.
The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
Unfulfilled promise: Redemption for past mistakes – Amir’s promise to atone for betraying his childhood friend, Hassan, drives much of the narrative in The Kite Runner. Whilst Amir does return to Afghanistan to save Hassan’s son, the guilt of his actions in the past continues to weigh him down. His attempt at redemption is ultimately left unfulfilled as he cannot undo the harm he caused or save Sohrab from trauma.
Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro
Unfulfilled promise: Escape from fate – In Kazuo Ishiguro’s dystopian novel, Kathy, Tommy and Ruth are raised in a boarding school for clones who will eventually have their organs harvested. Despite their hopes for an escape from their predetermined fates, they slowly come to realise that they cannot change their future. Their lives, filled with a yearning for freedom, eventually end in quiet resignation, highlighting the unfulfilled promise of free will in their world.
Check Out Our Never Let Me Go Review
Wuthering Heights – Emily Brontë
Unfulfilled promise: Eternal love between Heathcliff and Catherine – Heathcliff and Catherine both promise each other undying love. But, societal pressures and their own stubbornness prevent them from being together. Catherine marries Edgar, and Heathcliff soon becomes obsessed with revenge. Even after Catherine’s death, Heathcliff’s obsessions remain unfulfilled, leading to a hauntingly bitter and tragic ending.
One Hundred Years Of Solitude – Gabriel García Márquez
Unfulfilled promise: The Buendía family’s search for happiness and meaning – The Buendía family has been plagued for generations by cycles of misfortune, failed ambitions and repetitive mistakes. Despite their best efforts, they are unable to escape the fate that appears to be haunting them. The family’s promise of finding joy or purpose remains unfulfilled, leading to a tragic ending where the Buendía lineage is extinguished.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
