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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/36130
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/36130
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

I'm going to do something I swore I never would: I'm not going to answer the question. This is because I don't think you really need to get the reader to care for the dead character. Instead of answering, I'm going to explain why below. If I'm totally off on the wrong track, please let me know.

* * *

I once wrote a story similar to your situation. The main character's brother, while not dead, was captured by the enemy, and not shown until the end of the tale. The whole goal of the story was to get him back. I struggled with the same problem you have, thinking that as the goal of the story, some sympathy with the brother would be needed since he never showed up until the very end. As it turned out later, I was wrong.

The story is in fact _about_ the main character (or MC). As long as you have developed your main character correctly (which I detail [here](https://writing.stackexchange.com/questions/20184/building-empathy-with-a-character-and-interest-in-a-story/20189#20189) and [here](https://writing.stackexchange.com/questions/29263/how-to-make-a-characters-personality-trully-distinguishable-memorable/29266#29266)), the simple fact that the _MC_ cares about the dead character is enough.

The only time you might need to worry about creating sympathy with the dead character, is if things come to light which make him unfavorable in the eyes of the reader. Even if the MC still cares about him, the reader might start wondering why, and that logic, if left unanswered, can actually start damaging the reader's sympathy for the _MC_ as well.

To avoid that, have some strength for the dead character come to light, preferably something which negates the bad thing we've discovered. He was a thief? He was remorseful and returned everything years later. He was selfish? Maybe he made the ultimate selfless sacrifice when it counted.

* * *

As I mentioned above, you don't need to create sympathy with the dead character unless there is something actively working against you. If there _is_ something working against you though, and you do need to include the strength I mentioned above, how do you include it? In a backstory?

Probably not. While there's nothing inherently wrong with backstories, there is something wrong with writing more than you need. All you need in this case is to make the reader aware of the dead character's strength. In nine cases out of ten, you won't need a backstory for that. Take my two examples above:

- You need to show that the dead character - a thief - was remorseful and returned everything he stole. 
  - He mailed them just before he died, and his victims start receiving the packages when it is convenient to the story. 
- You need to show that the dead character - a selfish person - made the ultimate selfless sacrifice when it counted. 
  - There's a host of ways to do this. Off the top of my head, maybe new forensic evidence is found at the scene of the sacrifice, and the truth is discovered. 

* * *

**Conclusion:** Always ask yourself why a character needs reader sympathy. In this case, the simple fact that the MC cares for the dead character is enough. The MC is the _Main_ Character for a reason: _she's_ the one we want to win in this story, not the dead character.

The only time your dead character needs sympathy is when there is something actively working against him. Even then, don't be confused: the dead character does **_not_** need sympathy because the reader needs to be on his side. The dead character needs sympathy because, with the information the reader has, it is _illogical_ that the MC cares about him the way she does. Supply the reason for why the MC cares about the dead character, and you're golden.

Best of luck!

Original score: 10