When I free associate the word “melodrama”, I think of a story filled with over the top passion, scenes that leave people stunned, and unexpected plot changes. Words that come to mind include “dramatic”, “emotional”, “sensational”, and “exciting”. The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines melodrama as “drama in which many exciting events happen and the characters have very strong or exaggerated emotions”. This definition is quite similar to my pre-conceived notions in terms of what characterizes the word “melodrama”.
One aspect that I did not include in my free association was the importance of characters. The characters are what create the “exciting events” due to their exaggerated emotions and vivacious personas. For the most part, readers and viewers find the characters in a melodrama amiable, which is why when there is a major plot change, such as the death of a character, readers and viewers have a strong emotional reaction.
At first, I did not find Lady Audley’s Secret to be a very melodramatic novel, but as the story has continued to progress and characters have developed, it has become quite sensational. Robert Audley has begun somewhat of a “journey” as he attempts to solve the mystery of his good friend George Tallboys’ disappearance. In my mind, one of the most melodramatic aspects of the novel is the two-faced, or deceitful, nature of Lady Audley. This has become especially noticeable now that Robert Audley has confronted Lady Audley with his knowledge of what she has done. The “childish beauty” that most people see in Lady Audley is rapidly fading as the “darker half” of the mendacious woman is taking over her character (254, 261). I am finding myself more and more intrigued in both the plot of the novel and the character changes as the drama and mystery of the story develops. Many exciting events have happened and characters have expressed countless “exaggerated emotions”, which is why Lady Audley’s Secret fits so well into the melodramatic category.
When I think of modern-day melodramas, The Fault in Our Stars immediately comes to mind. John Green’s novel is filled with all the essentials for a melodramatic story. With two lead characters that have terminal cancer and an unbreakable love for each other, it is easy to see why The Fault in Our Stars is melodramatic. The passionate novel evokes emotions from the reader in every chapter.