Opinion Wanted: What type of tragedy inspires more emotion from you?

Question

I've a few ideas for a tragedy stories I'm trying to get out of the brainstorm phase and into writing. Which type of tragedy would do a better job of getting under your skin and tugging your heartstrings? I understand writing style plays a large part, but bear with me.

Setting:

- Modern Day (more immediate, gritty, but less romantic)

- Other time setting (medieval/future, more distant/disconnected, but able to be romanticized and stylized more)

Style of Tragedy:

- Protagonist vs World (action parts him from family, friends, pits him against antagonists)

- Family vs Circumstance (protagonist and family must deal with antagonists together)

- Protagonist vs Self (with antagonists taking clear advantage of protagonist's shortcomings)

Answer 1

Definitely modern day setting.  Protagonist versus self would be my pick.  People relate easier to both.  I was reading a P vs. W book for school, and a P vs. S book for pleasure at the same time.  I know writing style probably had to do with some of this, but I read the pleasure book (100 pages longer) in three days.  I'm still working on the school book and it's been three weeks.  It's a very dramatic story, the boy is trapped on a life boat with a tiger for practically a year, but I can't relate to it.

Answer 2

I like other time settings as opposed to modern time settings and I sympathize more with PvsW or PvsS.  But I also have found that sometimes it doesn't matter as much what the conflict or setting is as long as the character is relatable and I can identify with them easily.

Answer 3

Hmm... I think it would be more personal in a modern day setting.  People can feel disconnected from a more romanticized setting (then again, I cried like a baby when Dumbledore died, and that's more like a magical world setting, no matter where the Dursley's live).  Anyway, either setting would work, but it depends on how much you want to set things up.  If you want to start with the tragedy immediately, I'd so go with modern so you don't have to establish a setting first.

I'm going to ramble about each style of tragedy to get my thoughts in order.  ^^;

PvsW. is the story of an outcast/loner/scapegoat.  He (or she, but I'll use he to avoid having to put he/she every time) is completely alone, with no one to rely on.  You'd have to do a lot more reminiscing and thinking in this one to make it work, because the protagonist would most likely be on the run.

FvsC.  I generally think of this one as somewhat less depressing because even if though the family is horribly off, they still have each other.  It can be terribly heart wrenching, but it can also be inspiring.

PvsS.  This one also takes a lot of introspection on your protagonist's part, but you could portray many of his problems through his interactions with others too.  It would depend on what the trouble is (probably avoid anything that's been too overdone because people may lose interest before even starting), but I think this one is my choice.  You'd have a good many ways to portray the tragedy in this one, especially since the protagonist will largely bring it on himself.