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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/31047
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Are there good examples of the hero's journey that don't include any physical deaths within them?

My hero has crisis and 'death' of self/ideals/psyche; hero prevails in the end, all good. But, I just can't seem to bring myself to killing anybody. The best I have been able to do is to make the villain terminally sick, so when the hero vanquishes the villain, we learn that it is just a matter of time before he will die of natural causes.

I'm a pacifist and can't seem to condone myself writing about one person killing another person. Luke didn't kill Vader, and Vader killed the emperor, so that was two work - arounds. But I don't have any deaths in my story, and I'm wondering if this needs to change.

Does someone need to physically die? Is it best if it is at the hand of one of the good guys?

**Edit:** I think I might be able to kill him effectively by having the protagonist(s) 'show him' the horrors he has perpetrated. Sort of a 'endure your victims' sufferings' sort of device, after which - it's too much and he kills himself. I know this has been done but can't remember offhand where.

(I think this sort of self-reflection on the part of the villain can also highlight some other character traits among the ensemble.)

**Second edit:** I picked an answer but found all of the answers useful. Most of the answers were equally valuable. The conversation really moved my thinking. Thank you to everyone for your thoughts.

Original score: 19