At one point, she even asks out loud, "Have I gone mad?" The story of Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie Foxx) may seem singular enough to be featured as the premise of a movie, but his circumstances are far more common than viewers might think. Cartoons have always included characters suffering from psychological problems, like how, Want more pop-culture disorders? 20 Movie Characters Who Accurately Portray Mental Illness - ScreenRant In the wake of a patriarch's absence, an entire family, the Grapes, begin to reveal signs of mental illness to varying degrees, exacerbated by poverty and declining circumstances. While PTSD is generally associated with people who've experienced horrific events like war, any traumatic incident can cause it. The 80s was obviously the era of mean and inconsiderate teenage guys starring in high school-set movies. We all have a backstory, and your fictional characters each need one, too. No, Glinda is by no means good. In that respect,Lars and the Real Girlput a positive emphasis on Lars' way of life by exploring how much it has helped his community confront their own biases. According to the Mayo Clinic, NPD is "a mental disorder in which people have an inflated sense of their own importance, a deep need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. With Nicolas Cage in the role of Roy, a con artist with obsessive-compulsive disorder,audiences might expect him to bring some of his grandiose showboating to Matchstick Men. Scar from The Lion King grew up in the shadow of his older brother,Mufasa. Depending on our attachment style we can find attaching to others very challenging or relatively easy. I dont know about you, but I think if this were someone who wasnt as cute as Ryan Gosling, it would definitely be deemed as downright manipulative. So why is it that the thing we fear is also the key to what we want most, this need that drives us to form trusting and caring relationships where we can be ourselves? What Is Schizophrenia? The worst example was him leading both Peyton and Brooke on, and making them both believe that he loved them. Joon Pearl Benny & Joon Benny (Aidan Quinn) and his sister Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson) live a fairly uneventful life until she stops taking her medication and her schizophrenia becomes unmanageable. People with antisocial personality disorder tend to antagonize, manipulate or treat others harshly or with callous indifference. The worst part is he's marketed to young girls as a hot bad boy type and we all bought into it. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. Jane Eyre. Do you have an idea in mind that would make a great article? Put the character struggling with trust in a vulnerable situation. Disturbed, Elsa locks herself away and refuses to face the world out of fear of hurting more people. Christian tells her he's not a "flowers and hearts" kind of guy because of his past and is only into BDSM, and yet she's so desperate for him to love her that she submits to him. ", NEXT:10 Best Movies About Tortured Geniuses, Ranked. Alice has manic mood swings, and tumultuous relationships, which lead the people around her to view her as selfish. Aside from the usual cognitive behavioral therapy, they examine the romantic relationships in their lives to try to find areas of their unhappiness that they can alter. They show no guilt or remorse for their behavior.". Because while we know our characters have this deep need to belong, we also know they are deeply damaged. are the property of their respective owners. She ends up befriending and falling in love with a beast before she knows he's secretly a human prince under a spell. Two new books will soon join these: The Urban and Rural Thesaurus volumes, which help writers write stronger, more vivid imagery by profiling 225 Fictional settings and the sights, sounds, smells, tastes and textures associated with each. The short story "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" also deals with the suicidal thoughts of a man trying to live a normal life after traumatic events, and the story "For Esme" parallels his own traumatic experiences in the military (it was published only five years after Salinger was hospitalized in Germany for his nervous breakdown). Oh, and who could forget the fact he couldn't handle his toddler son playing with a Barbie, or when he tried it on with his own cousin or when he was rampantly homophobic in the male-nanny debacle? Reporting on what you care about. Take him through the process of dilemma, choice, action and consequence: (1) Something that matters must be at stake. Fictional characters with BPD are also often villainized instead of presented as people learning to exist with their illness. 6 Beloved Characters That Had Undiagnosed Mental Illnesses Sadistic personality disorder doesn't just mean somebody is an evil dick. Vulnerability is a two sided coin that often lands on its edge. His misanthropic personality, which seems exempt from social graces, is comprised of inappropriate emotional responses and forces him to avoid social situations, which is accuratelyindicative of a number of personality disorders, including narcissistic personality disorder. At first, he might seem like that really funny and cool guy that youd love to be friends with. Search, watch, and cook every single Tasty recipe and video ever - all in one place! In the following infographic, the team at Withdrawal.net looks at 31 of the most prominent fictional characters who are remembered for their addictions that resulted in some major consequences. In addition, the disorder fuels a desire to restrict the autonomy of others, and to lie for the sole purpose of confusion. This seductive behavior, the incapacity to maintain enduring relationships and her persistent manipulation are all signs of a disorder that even Civil War-era doctors could have picked up on. Schizoid personality disorder's trademark symptom is self-imposed social isolation. You know, if they weren't busy digging bullets out of Confederates and calming night terrors. Even when the other person feels close and for them everything is fine, she'll feel like a thin, invisible wall is stuck between them. Throughout The Wizard of Oz, Glinda never gives any reason for murdering the witches other than that they're ugly and different and therefore -- according to good ole-fashioned Dust Bowl logic -- completely evil. Personally, I feel that having a set of guidelines for fiction writers is long overdue - while the instances of suicides and self-harm are fictional, the emotions they elicit (and the potential impact on readers feeling these emotions) aren't. While we can argue issues of censorship/political correctness/not being an arsehole until the cows . A derivative work is protected as part of the . Maybe they simply need help and cant bring themselves to ask. He and his military father often lock horns over trust issues. Ariel, there is a certain reality show we want to put you in touch with . We're going to avoid the obvious fact that Belle's relationship with the Beast who is imprisoning her shows all the signs of Stockholm syndrome (and in fact we've already detailed that here). . Not only is she messy with both her love life (who in their right mind chooses Big over Aidan?) And sure, you might say that he eventually redeemed himself in the end. This is the reason no one else will lodge with you. She tried to break up the marriage of her coach who was 20 years older than her and was the father of her crush, she kidnapped a girl, exposed a gay relationship, killed a guy, and when she had a teratoma she thought she'd eaten her twin. It didnt help that these fictional characters dont even have any justification (you know, at least a backstory) for why they act like that; something that probably wouldnt fly as well in 2021. Personally, Im a fan of both the musical and the movie adaptation. Holmes' hyper-keen observational skills, social mannerisms and overall personality have fueled Asperger's rumors everywhere from Holmes fan forums to Asperger's support forums. While some of these symptoms could just as easily stem from depression, it's important to also point out that J.D. Yet Glinda can't stop smiling that vacant Stepford Wives smile. Many movies about mental illness focus on the problematic lifestyle of the character afflicted, with them adapting to a neurotypical worldview, rather than the people around them adapting to their neurodivergent perspective. Bella Swan might have gotten a lot of flack for being utterly bland (hey, not her fault she was written that way), but at least she wasnt a centuries-old vampire who went for a literal 17-year-old. You cant have intimacy without vulnerability. And Ariel's compulsion does interfere with her normal life -- she lets down her father by hunting for trash instead of going to a concert she promised to attend. Wait, are these thing humans as well? Grow Reader Empathy By Showing A Protagonists Vulnerable Side, Vulnerability: The Key To Compelling Romantic Relationships, The Path To Vulnerability Leads To Deeper Relationships. Changing a characters mind about vulnerability is not easy, nor something that can happen quickly. As much as I love her style (most of the time), she was the absolute worst among the four leads. A lot of fiction gets more depressing when you realize that writers are usually writing about themselves, whether they admit it or not. One of them is appropriate. While there is the thought that a biographical drama about noted mathematician John Forbes Nash, Jr. (Russell Crowe) could evoke an exaggerated take on the mental illness that would tarnish his reputation,A Beautiful Minddoesn't do hima disservice. Don't even get me started on how badly she treated Aidan when he forgave her again and again. The Diagnosis: Avoidant personality disorder (APD), What Is APD? Doing No Harm: A Look at Writing Suicide and Self-Harm in Fiction No? The guy wanted to possess his girlfriend and control every aspect of her life. Representation is as important in fiction as it is in nonfiction, and it's good to see complex issues like depression, anxiety, and trauma increasingly being treated not only with . Presumably, their concerts were strictly dance-free. For for more in depth looks at your favorite characters, check out 9 Beloved Characters Made Horrifying by Japan and 6 Famous Characters You Didn't Know Were Shameless Rip-Offs. In It's Kind of a Funny Story,Craig is a depressed teenager whodevelops suicidal ideationand does the only thing he can think of in a particularly dark moment checks himself into a mental health clinic to get access to some medication. He is fun-loving, good-hearted, and a natural leader in his peer group, but cocky about his gifts. He left his umbrella.". From there, things just get worse. 5 Moral Dilemmas That Make Characters (& Stories) Better Fiction is a reflection of the real world, especially when it comes to our characters. This point struck home with me: Have your character confide some of these fears or worries through dialogue. So much emphasis is placed on show, dont tell nowadays, but dialogue provides a way for characters to tell, in their own distinctive speech patterns, what is driving them. Seriously, if we had a dollar for every time she whined about her talents being wasted and how her star shines too bright wed have enough to buy COVID-19 vaccines for even the most remote parts of the globe! At the end of the day, I still believe in possible character development and redemption, no matter how long overdue. She also seesa disturbing cat who can smile and is tortured by the Queen of Hearts, who maliciously intends to chop off Alice's head. I wouldnt be surprised. Check out the most narcissistic superheroes. However, he portrays the mental illness with understated intensity, especially when it comes to bear on hisvocation and his relationship with his teenage daughter, Angela (Alison Lohman). ", Elsa from Frozen is the sister with the magical powers. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Trust Issues. Based somewhat on Pete Davidson's life in the wake of losing his father,The King of Staten Islandfinds the comedian portraying Scott, a young man with a history of mental illness, trying to adjust to the death of his father (who lost his life serving as a firefighterduring the September 11th attacks) who also suffered from the same. She loses interest in all the games and activities she did with her sister, refusing to leave her room. Vulnerability In Fiction: Teaching Jaded Characters How To Trust By Vote up the cartoon character diagnoses that make the most sense. Schizoid personality disorder " is characterized by a long-standing pattern of detachment from social relationships," and a sufferer " often has difficulty emotions and does so typically in very restricted range, especially when communicating with others.". In Sweden, they send you a thank-you text when they use your blood. And this is it gets tricky. Vulnerability is one of those fascinating topics I find hard to let go of, probably because in real life, we spend so much time avoiding it, and yet true happiness can only be achieved when we fully embrace it. Insteresting cases pop up when television actors portray a character for a long time. So if Love and Belonging drives us, it must motivate our characters as well (especially in Romances!). #Vulnerability is what allows people to connect on a deep, meaningful level., #Fiction is a reflection of the real world, especially when it comes to our characters., The strongest, most compelling characters are those who are authentic, true-to-life., Put the character struggling with trust in a vulnerable situation.@AngelaAckerman #writetip, Trust is earned in inches, not miles. And to top it all off, he was a terrible friend who was either constantly competing with them or trying to date them. Filed Under: Filed Under: Create, Storytelling, The Boat, Write, Writing 6 Comments. Unlike other teen movies featuring the polar extremes of bursting out into song or chronic drug addiction, ThePerks of Being a Wallflowerfocuses ona boy named CharlieKelmeckis (Logan Lerman) who's just trying to get through his teenage years while dealing with the overwhelming PTSD and anxiety that comes with trauma. . It's unlikely that the writers who created these characters consciously decided they would give them an undiagnosed mental disorder as one of their traits. So, dont expect this list to include characters who are already deemed antiheroes or villains, to begin with. Editorial | Contribute your travel stories or submit Get the best of Cracked sent directly to your inbox! But Hollywood occasionally gets it right, and actors in the last few decades have shown a willingness to let their performances reflect growing public awareness in regards to mental health. You cant have a healthy relationship without vulnerability. The loneliness, negative thoughts, and perpetual isolation will be immediately recognizable for anyone with a mental illness, as will the words, "The worst part of having a mental illness is that people expect you to behave as if you don't. , Dialogue is an excellent way to show vulnerability in snippets, and allows us to show as well, so many subscribe to show DONT tell, but show AND tell can open a very personal door between characters, and encourage empathy on the story level and reading level. 14 Cartoon Characters That Actually Suffer From Mental Disorders - Ranker Vulnerability is what allows people to connect on a deep, meaningful level. One of the most enigmatic patients she encountered was Lisa Rowe, played with volatile intensity by Angelina Jolie. And hes still supposed to be the good guy? You cant have love without vulnerability. The fact that Glinda is the one who helps Dorothy get home in the end is almost sickening, given the mortal danger she put the girl through (not to mention the two deaths that are now on Dorothy's hands as a result). The strongest, most compelling characters are those who are authentic, true-to-life. Well, okay then. And if this were IRL, he would probably be locked up in prison for preying on teenagers, rather than actually marrying them later on. diverting attention away from intimacy issues (Edelstein & Gillath, 2008), . The film focused on Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), a happy-go-lucky 11-year-old who becomes depressed when her parents move the family to San Francisco. Cartoons have always included characters suffering from psychological problems, like how Winnie the Pooh represents mental illnesses. Conflict creates tension and is used to move a story forward by forcing characters to make decisions. I get that she was supposed to be the main character, but damn she was the worst friend in the history of TV shows, and SO selfish. He spends most of the film in the "manic" portion of bipolar disorder, without much of the depressive state, but whatviewers do see is very genuine; a man who can't see why no one is reacting to life the way he is. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Schizophrenia "is a serious mental illness that interferes with a person's ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others." Symptoms include hallucinations and delusions. Oh, and to top it all off, he straight up ghosted her after all that. forum to moderate!". Perhaps a secret of theirs becomes known. Build in several smaller moments.@AngelaAckerman #writetip, 6 Reasons Show Dont Tell Can be Terrible Advice for New Writers, Great Writing Links You Don't Want To Miss - WRITERS HELPING WRITERS, When Things Go Wrong15 Tools Inspired by Eastern Wisdom to Find Stillness in a Storm Part II. She needs the constant affirmation from her mirror. Are there any other problematic fictional characters that you believe should be on this list? Problematic fictional characters from popular TV shows 1. Connecting With Fictional Characters: The Power of Books When it isn't either of those, its "madness" is the perfect fuel for horror films by misconceptions of aggressive psychosis. One of the great things about Charlie Brown is that he does not necessarily let his psychological issues ruin his life. If you know someone with Asperger's, you're well familiar with this habit. He is preoccupied entirely by his own short-comings in life. After spending her teenage years being herded through multiple recovery programs for her eating disorder, Ellen (Lily Collins) doesn't see much point in trying to escape her anorexia, especially since every time she begins a new therapy she ends up weighing less than she did before she started. Dahl's classic tale of a precocious child with magical powers, living with vain . Jack Nicholson's character inAs Good as It Gets(for whichNicholsonwon the Academy Award for Best Actor),who wears gloves in public and won't step on cracks in the sidewalk,is so much more than an eccentric New Yorker. Dont think that Elsa had some serious depression? Oh, and the fact that she would move heaven and earth (and ruin lives) for someone as unremarkable as Fitz? We're guessing not even Disney would dispute that one. That need to demean people in the presence of others is a primary symptom of sadistic personality disorder, and Glinda's unwavering enjoyment throughout the ordeal is a testament to her sickness. bastard.". Then, when she discovers that her step-daughter, Snow White, has become "the fairest of them all," extreme jealousy and envy sends her into a murderous rage. It may feel as if you are frequently unwelcome in social situations, even when that is not the case. When Joy and Sadness get pulled to the furthest reaches of Riley's subconscious, Anger, Fear, and Disgust assume control. Having lost much of their resources, his wife (Zoe Saldana) attends Columbia University to get a better degree, and with it a better job. Updated by Kayleena Pierce-Bohen on January 17th, 2022: The challenges brought on by a global pandemic in 2020 have now, two years later, led to a resurgence in theexploration of mental illness and mental health disorders in current media, with an emphasis on authenticity and care towards humanization. Check out, The Greatest Talking Animals in TV History, The Greatest Fictional Pets You Wish You Could Actually Own, This Artist Turns Disney Characters Into Pokemon Evolutions, A Ranking of Disney Villains, Based on How Stupid Their Plans Are, The Greatest Cartoon Characters In TV History, The Most Attractive Cartoon Characters Of All Time, The Best To Worst Kingdom Hearts Characters, The Greatest Cats in Cartoons & Comics, Ranked by Fans, 13 Villains Who Went Evil Because Of A Wounded Ego. Whether it's because she keeps it so well hidden from the other merpeople or because some problems are just too big for a crab and a fish to tackle, no one in the film ever addresses the fact that Ariel is a pathological hoarder. Follow the BuzzFeed Community on. Scar shows no remorse for what he does. The opening scene in the film depicts Ariel raiding a sunken boat for useless bullshit. He was also quite nonchalant about cultural appropriation and emotionally abusive towards Kelly Kapowski. She was incredibly entitled and self-centred. The Diagnosis: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), What Is ADHD? In one of the Holmes stories, A Study in Scarlet, he doesn't know that the Earth revolves around the sun (because, he says, the information doesn't have any effect on his everyday life). Angela yearns to be closer to her father, as well as gain an insider perspective into the world of the con, so she asks to join his next big scheme. Vulnerability is really all about laying ourselves bare. Glinda then takes the dead woman's slippers -- the only keepsake by which the Wicked Witch might remember her sister -- and forces Dorothy to wear them. Appropriately used, this could reduce word count and speed the pace. Not cool. These tortured creatures were Munchkins once. Then The Dude arrived and ensured that it wasnt just another caucasian, Gary. Oo yes, completely agree, Kathy. And this is it gets tricky. She collects everything she can find, despite having no idea what any of it does. In other words, would these be people we would actually like if we met them IRL? Rather than ostracize him, his community plays along with his delusion at the behest of his doctor, helping himcome to terms with prior trauma while at the same time becoming more introspective and tolerant as a whole. But there are some key characteristics in the original Arthur Conan Doyle version that tend to crop up again and again, and they all indicate a severe case of Asperger's. Is she going to eat them? The Good Witch is so dead set on demeaning the Wicked Witch in front of a crowd that, in a weird magic pissing contest, Glinda calls the Wicked Witch's power into question and throws out the threat that someone might drop a house on her, too. schoolworkhelper If Catcher had been written today, Holden would be nursing a Pabst in this picture. So, you know, hes that insufferable. And most telling is that Holmes' talents are coupled with an inability to interact socially with anyone but Watson. my all-time favourite fiction writing book series. One of the chief signs of antisocial personality disorder is the inability to understand the motivations and feelings of other people. Think again. Living in an era when women weren't considered their most attractive unless their mouths were shut, Scarlett was portrayed as a hard-workin', hard-drinkin', hard-screwin' Southern belle who wouldn't take shit from anyone. Mark Ruffalo is at his mercurial best depicting Cam, a single father suffering from manic depression, unsure of how to take care of himself let alone his two spirited daughters. Sometimes it can be a powerful way to find out what the characters are really feeling, and in turn how to move the story forward, building from that place. Or when she sent Aidan to help an injured Miranda? Imagining Famous Fictional Characters Riding Public Transportation with Love is not supposed to be a prison with your partner the fucking guard, isolating you from everyone else in the world. It also encourages us to look at the world in a different way and to see the relatable side of things. We're supposed to think he's a hero and deserves a happy ending after a lifetime of shitty behaviour because for five seconds he says sorry after sending Emily's entire family, including her SON, to literal hell?! According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Schizophrenia "is a serious mental illness that interferes with a persons ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions, and relate to others."