The Unluckiest Characters in Children’s Literature

It’s pleasant to think that children’s books are joyful escapes into worlds of innocence and light and happy endings, but it’s also a little delusional. Not everyone gets the happy ending, and not all characters have the luck of the Irish. In fact, some of the most memorable characters in children’s books are the unluckiest people you’ll ever meet.

The Wicked Witches of Oz (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz)
Not to say they didn’t have it coming, but what are the odds that two sisters would perish within a week of each other, victims of a falling house and a bucket of water? That’s some seriously bad karma.

The Baudelaire Siblings (A Series of Unfortunate Events)
These three siblings are drowning in bad luck. Dead parents, an evil villain at their heels, and every opportunity for a safe and loving home lost. The only person who has it worse is Lemony Snicket himself.

Rumpelstiltskin (Rumpelstiltskin)
Not a good guy by any stretch, but you have to feel a tiny bit sorry for someone who almost got away with an ingenious plan. If only he had kept his mouth shut, that girl never would have guessed his name.

Alexander (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day)
You know you’re going to have a bad day when your cereal doesn’t have a special surprise in it. For Alexander, things just go downhill from there. I hope his luck turns around tomorrow — otherwise, he might have to move to Australia.

Severus Snape (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone)
Poor Severus. The love of his life marries someone else then is murdered by the evil Lord Voldemort. He falls in with a bad crowd, can’t get the Defense Against Dark Arts post, and is guilted into becoming a double agent. All the students at Hogwarts hate him. He kills a friend, and then is bitten to death by a giant snake. There aren’t enough four-leaf clovers in the world to save this guy.

The Lorax (The Lorax)
The Lorax had it pretty good until the Onceler came to town. Then, unfortunately, his luck ran out. He loses his birds, bears, fish, and trees to some pretty ugly Thneeds. In despair, he left town and has never been heard from again. It’s like “The Sopranos” for children.

Beth March (Little Women)
Of all the March sisters, Beth was the most kind, patient, and gentle. Unlike bratty Amy or impetuous Jo, Beth didn’t have an obvious flaw. Alas, being good doesn’t guarantee a happy ending.

The Wolf (The True Story of the Three Little Pigs)
If you believe the Wolf, he is tragically misunderstood. All he wanted from those little pigs was a cup of sugar, so he could bake a cake for his poor old granny, and instead they called the cops. Now he’s cakeless and in jail. That’s one unlucky wolf.

The Tree (The Giving Tree)
This poor tree can’t catch a break. It started out young, vibrant, full of leaves and apples. By the end of the story, it’s nothing more than an old stump. Just knock on wood that doesn’t happen to you.

Violet Beauregarde (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
Actually, any child who wasn’t Charlie was pretty unlucky in this book, but turning into a giant blueberry does seem particularly tragic. Her luck probably would have held out if only she’d listened to Willy Wonka’s rules.

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)
I know she becomes the face of a revolution and ultimately topples an oppressive dictatorship, but up until then, Katniss had a pretty rough life. Dead father, tribute in the Hunger Games not once, but twice, and pawn in everyone’s political games, this girl deserves a vacation.

Want to see who fared a whole lot better? Check out The Luckiest Characters in Children’s Literature.