Let us delve into the themes of life and creativity. The unfinished works of writers and artists are a source of endless fascination and can leave readers and viewers pondering "what might have been."
i. The Art of Dying: The Unfinished Novel
Unfinished works serve as a stark reminder that life can be unpredictable and fleeting. The sudden deaths of authors left their stories incomplete, just as life can end unexpectedly, leaving plans and dreams unfulfilled.
Even in their unfinished state, these works have had a lasting impact on literature and culture, and demonstrate that a writer's influence can extend beyond their lifetime.
These are some examples:
The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens: Dickens had completed only six of the planned twelve instalments before his death in 1870.
The Original of Laura by Vladimir Nabokov: Nabokov left behind an unfinished manuscript on 138 index cards when he died in 1977.
The Mysterious Stranger by Mark Twain: Twain left behind three unfinished manuscripts related to this story when he died in 1910.
Answered Prayers by Truman Capote: Capote had a promising career and left this novel unfinished at the time of his death.
Unfinished manuscripts provide insight into the creative process of renowned writers. Readers can see the evolution of ideas, the development of characters, and the direction the story was heading. It's like peeking behind the curtain of literary creation.
Unfinished stories invite readers to use their imagination to fill in the gaps. This interactive aspect can be both frustrating and exhilarating, as readers speculate on how the story might have ended and what themes or messages the author intended to convey.
Even great authors are human and subject to the same limitations as everyone else. The unfinished nature of their work underscores the idea that perfection is elusive, and that the journey of creation is just as important as the final product.
Unfinished works remind us of the beauty and fragility of life and creativity. They challenge us to appreciate the moments we have and to find meaning in the process, even when the outcome is uncertain.
ii. The Unfinished Poem
Of course, there are several notable unfinished poems left by poets who died before they could complete their work.
1. 'The Aeneid' by Virgil. This epic poem was left unfinished when Virgil died in 19 B.C.E.
‘Hyperion’ by John Keats: Keats left this epic poem unfinished at the time of his death in 1821. It was meant to tell the story of the Titans' fall and the rise of the Olympian gods.
‘The Fall of Arthur’ by J.R.R. Tolkien: Tolkien never finished this poem about King Arthur, which he had been working on intermittently throughout his life. It was posthumously published in 2013.
The narrative poem ‘Christabel’ by Samuel Taylor Coleridge was left incomplete, with only two parts published in his lifetime.
Percy Bysshe Shelley was working on the allegorical poem ‘The Triumph of Life’ when he died in 1822. It remained unfinished and was published posthumously.
These unfinished poems, like the unfinished novels, give us a glimpse into the creative minds of their authors and allow us to appreciate their unique styles and visions. They also remind us of the fragility of life and the unpredictability of the creative process.
iii. The Incomplete Image
There are several works of art that were deliberately left unfinished by their creators for various reasons:
Michelangelo's Rondanini Pietà was left unfinished at the time of his death in 1564. Michelangelo began working on the sculpture in his later years, and the incomplete nature of the work adds to its poignancy and raw emotion.
Michelangelo, Rondanini Pietà Leonardo da Vinci began his painting Adoration of the Magi in 1481, but it remained incomplete when he left Florence for Milan. The unfinished state of the painting offers insight into da Vinci's artistic process and techniques.
Leonardo da Vinci, Adoration of the Magi
These deliberately unfinished works of art can be seen as reflections of the artists' evolving ideas, creative struggles and the complexities of the artistic process. They invite viewers and readers to engage with the art in a more intimate and participatory way, often leading to rich interpretations and ongoing discussions.
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