The difference between catharsis, individuation and eucatastrophe becomes more and more important. Each of these concepts points to the end of a story-line and how it should be percieved.

The oldest is of course the Aristotelian concept of catharsis. Here we find a way to deal with terror and fears in the classic tragedy by seeking psychological cleansing.

The Jungian concept of individuation is about growing from childhood to adult through different aspects of archetypes. Finally, when all this epic drama is over the person in question becomes an individual with no further need of archetypical influences.

In the Tolkienian concept of eucatastrophe we find joy and consolation. Going through what seems like a never-ending doom we are suddenly surprised by joy.

What kind of story do you want?