However, the ending should not leave the audience hopeless. On the contrary, it should expand the audience’s thinking on life and leave the audience hopeful that the world is ultimately good. His Dark Materials, for example, a trilogy by Philip Pullman, ends with the two protagonists and lovers realizing that because of unfair outside events, they can never be together. They discuss options for staying together that would require otherwise unthinkable sacrifices, but ultimately conclude they have to separate and never see each other again in this life. They have both defeated impossible chances to do good, but they receive no reward. However, the story ends on a hopeful note. Although the lovers are separate, they each realize they can make the world a better place with the spiritual inspiration of the other. This is the best kind of tragedy.
I agree that the audience should not be left hopeless. They should be inspired by the ending and learn the lesson that the tragic story has to teach them. Tragedies should teach something and I think they should teach us little lessons about life, whether it is about sharing, listening to your elders or understanding relationships.
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