--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If this were a fairy tale, this would be…" description: "\"“If this were a fairy tale, this would be the part where the fishboy appears and Diana shoots him through the heart. Because he is a tragic hero, he's ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/hannah-moskowitz-8975_fairy-tale_if-this-were-a-fairy-tale-this-would-be_5586.jpg" --- # If this were a fairy tale, this would be the part where… ![“If this were a fairy tale, this would be the part where the fishboy appears and Diana shoots him through the heart. Because he is a tragic hero, he's our fucking Gatsby, and he lived for his fish and he has to die for his fish. He would never let my fake authority, condoning his abandonment…” quote by Hannah Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/hannah-moskowitz-8975_fairy-tale_if-this-were-a-fairy-tale-this-would-be_5586.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/hannah-moskowitz-8975_fairy-tale_if-this-were-a-fairy-tale-this-would-be_5586.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/hannah-moskowitz-8975_fairy-tale_if-this-were-a-fairy-tale-this-would-be_5586.jpg) > ““If this were a fairy tale, this would be the part where the fishboy appears and Diana shoots him through the heart. Because he is a tragic hero, he's our fucking Gatsby, and he lived for his fish and he has to die for his fish. He would never let my fake authority, condoning his abandonment, making up rules about what's okay just to save his life, convince him to give up his family. He would never leave. He would know that without him, none of us will be as good. Me, without a friend; and the fish, without a brother; and the island, without a story; and Diana, without her something real, we will all be a little bit less than we were before we knew him. So he wouldn't leave. Not until I could come with him. And I have never been less able to leave than I am now. But this isn't a fairy tale, and he doesn't appear. We stand here for a long time. He really left. Because it was all that we could do.”” [Hannah Moskowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-moskowitz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A lament that a tragic figure, embodying sacrifice and loyalty, cannot be saved by authority or rules, highlighting the inevitability of loss and the void left behind. **In simple terms:** The hero's death leaves a lasting emptiness. Key Takeaway Loss is irreversible despite intentions. Themes sacrifice authority friendship mythic archetype inevitability Mood melancholic reflective somber Type philosophical narrative lament When to use this quote - grieving a fallen leader - reflecting on a friend's departure - contemplating the limits of power - examining the impact of loss on a community Key Concepts heroic tragedy social contract personal duty narrative void Practical Applications - memorial writing - counseling sessions Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to truly let go? - How do we honor those we cannot save? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fairy tale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tale/) [Fairy tales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fairy-tales/) [Fish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fish/) [Fish Brother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fish-brother-304889/) [Fishboy Appears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishboy-appears-304888/) [Fucking Gatsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fucking-gatsby-304886/) [Gatsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gatsby/) [Gatsby Lived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gatsby-lived-304887/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Tale Fishboy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tale-fishboy-304885/) [Tragic hero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tragic-hero/) ## Related quotes > [“If this were a fairy tale, this would be the part where the fishboy appears and Diana shoots him through the heart. 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Do a fabulous story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/go-on-she-urged-lie-to-me-by-the-moonlight-do-a-fabulous-story/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“He is a creature of will, and the beauty of his will overreaches the tawdriness of his real object: Daisy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/he-is-a-creature-of-will-and-the-beauty-of-his-will-overreaches-the/) [Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/) > [“I want you to lie to me just as sweetly as you know how for the rest of my life.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/i-want-you-to-lie-to-me-just-as-sweetly-as-you-know-how-for-the-rest/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“There was music from my neighbor's house through the summer nights. In his blue gardens men and girls came and went like moths among…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/there-was-music-from-my-neighbor-s-house-through-the-summer-nights-in/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“no girl can permanently bolster up a lame-duck visitor, because these day it's every girl for herself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/no-girl-can-permanently-bolster-up-a-lame-duck-visitor-because-these/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“Believe me, I may be a bit blasé, but I can still get any man I want.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/believe-me-i-may-be-a-bit-blas-but-i-can-still-get-any-man-i-want/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) ## More by Hannah Moskowitz > [“It's not just like that. I can't just swim away." "Why not?" "I'm afraid I'll drown." 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He would never let my fake authority, condoning his abandonment, making up rules about what's okay just to save his life, convince him to give up his family. He would never leave. He would know that without him, none of us will be as good. Me, without a friend; and the fish, without a brother; and the island, without a story; and Diana, without her something real, we will all be a little bit less than we were before we knew him. So he wouldn't leave. Not until I could come with him. And I have never been less able to leave than I am now. But this isn't a fairy tale, and he doesn't appear. We stand here for a long time. He really left. 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