dramaticness

His novels in the second place are idealistic novels;—because the duties of ordinary life are suppressed in them;—because they owe their dramaticness in general to the conflict between “passion” and “honour” [Cf. Alfred de Vigny, Grandeur et Servitude militaires];—and because vanquished honour and passion find no other refuge in them than in death [Cf. the habitual dénouements of classic tragedy].