Undeserved Misfortune

In films it is very common to feel sorrow or pity towards a character that goes through something they do not deserve. This undeserved misfortune is evident in many film’s that appeal to the audience. In the movie Mean Girls the character of Cady Heron goes through undeserved misfortune as she finds herself a victim of popularity. The antagonist, Regina George, acts like her friend, but ends up stealing Cady’s crush by kissing the guy right in front of her. In that moment, the majority of the viewers feel hatred toward Regina and pity for Cady. This helps the audience have a strong positive feeling about Cady despite her actions later on in the film.  Undeserved misfortune is essential to keep the audience interested. If Cady had not received undeserved misfortune, then the audience would have hated both Regina and her, making the movie less intriguing. The viewer usually sides with the good character that receives undeserved misfortune because they are more relatable.