I have been thinking about Tragedy lately, for no reason in particular; but I have come up with a germ of a thought in this regard.
It has been said Shakespearean Tragedy usually ends with a stage full of dead bodies and a ‘measure of justice hovering high above’. …And Chekovian Tragedy ends with everybody being disillusioned, embittered, heartbroken, disappointed, shattered – but still alive.
…And here is the germ:
I have noticed much of American Tragedy foretells the ending with a car chase and a building or two blowing up and then the bad guy gets wounded a bit – but the suggestion is he is still breathing and able to return in the Sequel.