Now watch Scarlett collapse into a puddle of melodrama when she is rejected by a man: It's worth watching just to see him give her a handful of soil in the middle of her crying fit. The perceived dramatic nature of a mental illness has notoriously meant it's too often conveyed as a means to broadcast sentimentality or sensationalism. She's just a teenager, after all, and her quirky desire to be human drives the entire plot of the movie. It's tough to pin down the exact personality traits of Sherlock Holmes, since his story has been recycled in so many incarnations. Not gonna lie, he was arguably the best-looking male love interest in the show. ", "This box is where I keep my toenail clippings and hairballs.". So maybe Glinda won the title of "good" by default, simply because anyone left who would question her goodness ends up fertilizing those bitchy apple trees who throw things at tourists. Cartoons have always included characters suffering from psychological problems, like how, Want more pop-culture disorders? Suffice to say, good ol King Triton had every reason to be concerned! In other words, would these be people we would actually like if we met them IRL? Take him through the process of dilemma, choice, action and consequence: (1) Something that matters must be at stake. Vulnerability is a two sided coin that often lands on its edge. Her low self-esteem is also evident in her song, "Let It Go," where she expresses the need to put up a facade: "Dont let them in, dont let them see, be the good girl you always have to be! Something for everyone interested in hair, makeup, style, and body positivity. Copyright 2023 Inspire Portal. But this guys record is hard to beat: multiple attempts at forcing himself on women, manipulation, and even trying to sell his girlfriend for a hotel. This coming-of-age comedy-drama features many of the tropes of teenage films (partying, first love, big exams), but through the lens of a boy dealing with mental illness. When she didn't get her way, Lisa's seductive personality turned incredibly abusive, showing a sociopath's lack of remorse even whenshe drove a fellow patient to suicide. Because of course we have to trust some people, dont we? She burns her way through three marriages over the course of a few years, sticking with each man only until he wears out his usefulness. I dont know about you, but I find it hard to sympathise with someone who nearly killed his girlfriend due to drunk driving and leaving her in the middle of the road. Nash emerged victorious over the paranoid delusions brought on by his schizophrenia by acknowledging that though they were there, they would not rule his life. Empathy is powerful and works incredibly well to soften jaded characters. Or would they be someone wed rather not be in the same room with? Yet Glinda can't stop smiling that vacant Stepford Wives smile. Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! Luckily inRain Man,this isn't the case, and the presentation of Raymond Babbitt's (Dustin Hoffman) autism is authentic and genuine. Everyone says Big was a bad character, but seriously they both sucked so much they deserved each other. He never did his own homework despite knowing his so-called best mate was fighting the worst villain of all time, and always expected Harry and Hermione to carry him. Disturbed, Elsa locks herself away and refuses to face the world out of fear of hurting more people. 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. She said homophobic things to Emily then ended up kissing her while she was grieving the death of Maya, and even tried to drown her. Seriously, she spent most of the time just whining and depending on Troy. She creates an emotional attachment to every object she finds, and this is another common problem among hoarders: they find sentimentality in random, worthless items. Our only evidence that Glinda the Good Witch is "good" is that she bears that title, and even then we don't know who bestowed it. Being in a relationship with her will always hurt her partner or friend in the long run . . She's the most selfish character in the series. Or how she basically used the unassuming Cady as a pawn? I'm sure of it. [] surprised. 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. They show no guilt or remorse for their behavior.". This necessary suspension of disbeliefof having to entertain the possibility of other realitiesmeans readers of fiction aren't merely learning to understand the world as it is, but, also, how to imagine a different one. Yet I still cant wrap my head around how her actions could be justified. Get the best of Cracked sent directly to your inbox! His struggles are both real, relatable, and inspiringbecauseof his mental illness, not in spite of it. Oh, and remember how he tried to restrict her friend group, just because he didnt get along with or approve of them? Hermione Granger from Harry Potter Series. Insteresting cases pop up when television actors portray a character for a long time. Life would be lonely and unfulfilling without at least one person to have a meaningful connection with, someone to share our most intimate dreams and desires, safeguard our secrets, and support us when we voice our fears. Why she ever wanted him back I'll never know. She literally needs constant praise, or as Rhett Butler puts it, she "needs to be kissed often." Discussions of fictophilia were generally initiated by people experiencing love, desire, or deep attachment to a fictional character and often wanting to discuss whether it was 'normal' or 'healthy,' or searching for others like them. RELATED: 10 Forgotten Keanu Reeves Roles You Need To Go Back & Watch. Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. Lets be real IRL, this wouldve been an absolute disaster. 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. No list of fiction's toxic families would be complete without the Wormwoods. 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. Or, as the Yale Child Study Center puts it, Asperger's sufferers show "a narrow range of capacities for memorizing lists or trivial information, calendar calculation, visual-spatial skills such as drawing, or musical skills involving a perfect pitch or playing a piece of music after hearing it only once. It then makes you wonder how these crowd faves have gotten away with it for so long; but hey, lets chalk it up to not knowing any better back then. Though we're sympathetic with everyone who leaves her, because if we knew someone like Scarlett in reality, it would be hard after a while to pretend to give a damn. The Best New TV Characters of the Last Few Years. In fact, it's probably easier to just think of her as Doc Holiday in a dress. Lets keep this short and simple: there was totally enough space for both her and Jack on that floating door. Remember that time when she got mad at Charlotte for not lending her rent money? They feel, think, and behave like real people. Put the character struggling with trust in a vulnerable situation. Which begs the question: what was the point, really? Oo yes, completely agree, Kathy. The North would probably have run for their lives if she showed up like this. A key symptom includes, "Avoiding work, social, or school activities for fear of criticism or rejection. We must convince them that a willingness to being vulnerable by trusting another will lead to something deeper and more meaningful than they ever imagined. So a trustworthy person we can be open with regarding our deepest beliefs, fears, and feelings. You know, just in case this piece has got you jaded or something. Alice from Alice in Wonderland clearly suffers from schizophrenia. Holden consistently, almost compulsively, refers to seeing the face of his dead classmate, James Castle, yet he never seems to have any emotional reaction to the event. He initially copes with Raymond's outbursts for financial gain, not realizing that he's becoming the routine and stability that Raymond needs in his life. Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, images, photos, graphics, etc. He is a human being! Now, lets move on to Disney characters who totally gave the wrong message to many young children. As discussed above, relatively effortless empathy with a fictional character imbues us with the perception that we are similar to the character in question. Matilda by Roald Dahl. 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. He's often overlooked but his behaviour is both abusive and problematic. But yes, Ferris seems like the cool and fun-loving rebel, but later on, you realise that he was plain selfish. He always felt massively inferior to Mufasa, which led to his thirst for superiority. This war talk's spoiling all the fun at every party this spring. The same is true for mental disorders in movies. Once there, he begins to have a differentperspective. These characters show the realities of living with them in sensitive and illuminating portrayals. You cant have a healthy relationship without vulnerability. This can come in many different forms, but some of the most common categories are: Prejudice. In a desperate attempt to save her, her family sends her to a group home, which specializes in mental health for young people. ", Elsa from Frozen is the sister with the magical powers. Reporting on what you care about. Not ever. Whether the characters you relate to fly on broomsticks, survive high school with perfectly-timed sarcastic comments or pack a punch in an action flick, fictional characters can be so relatable because they capture real human emotions. Filed Under: Filed Under: Create, Storytelling, The Boat, Write, Writing 6 Comments. If so, wed love to hear your own hot takes on our, On a different note, weve also previously written about, movies and TV shows whose characters arent such lost causes, . ", The first thing to keep in mind is that the character isn't just portrayed as being really smart -- he is obsessed with certain subjects and totally excludes all others. It's tough to pin down the exact personality traits of Sherlock Holmes, since his story has been recycled in so many incarnations. Shes in total denial about her manipulative behaviour and unfortunately, she wasnt a good friend either! 5. You character will probably never be able to trust others, even when people get close to her. In fact, she's likely suffering from sadistic personality disorder. Even ifJokerdidn't tangentially connect its main character to the DC Universe, itsinvestigation ofwhat might lead tothe origins of a "psychopathic clown" would be thought-provoking in the context of a callous society. Because while we know our characters have this deep need to belong, we also know they are deeply damaged. Want more pop-culture disorders? He or she may also be restless and almost constantly active.". But Belle didn't need to be kidnapped to develop a mental disorder; she comes firing out of the gates with one already fully developed: schizoid personality disorder. When we trust someone, we want to open ourselves to them because doing so signifies a high level of self-acceptance. He left his umbrella.". When Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper in one of his best roles) nearly beats his wife's lover to death he's institutionalized, not thrown in jail. Frank, callous, insensitive, brusque. 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). After all, everyone was 17 once, and likely tried really hard to articulate all the things they felt about stuff. 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. She impulsively purchases a talk show, where she's able to share her opinions with the world, while her borderline personality disorder creeps back into her life. Growing up and watching it again made me realise how much of a twat he was. OK, cool.". 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). Sure, the show presented her as a sympathetic underdog for a long time. Is she going to eat them? Ellen discovers ways to confront her deep-seated anxieties and embrace self-acceptance. Thanks for your comment. US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data. 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. Honestly, it was quite disappointing to watch her make one questionable decision after another on the Netflix spin-off; from acting all entitled with her dream job, to having an affair with her engaged ex-boyfriend. Bigot - One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ. But while were all for character development, none of his misdeeds was ever really addressed. Angela Ackerman is a writing coach, international speaker, and co-author of several bestselling resources including, The Emotion Thesaurus, The Positive Trait Thesaurus and The Negative Trait Thesaurus. But Ariel has another glaring, deep-seated issue that should be addressed. Do you possess expert skills in image creation and manipulation? She had to talk about herself all the time even when her friends were telling her big news like pregnancy, miscarriage or cancer, she somehow made the situation about herself. All the characters are problematic as hell, but she's on another level. Pat feels things too intensely, gets too worked up about trivial things, but struggles to succeed because he's perceived as too high-functioning to be broken. 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. I get so bored, I could scream." Vulnerability is what allows people to connect on a deep, meaningful level. Also she is blatantly using Dorothy as a human shield. Perhaps 70 years from now, experts will have a name for the ability to slow down time and punch people in slow motion. Of course they get together at the end, because nothing says genuine romance like forcing someone to admit they're a virgin against their will and then taunting them about it. And to top it all off, he was a terrible friend who was either constantly competing with them or trying to date them. Some symptoms are "feeling sad or having a depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed,loss of energy or increased fatigue, and feeling worthless or guilty. In fact, The Catcher in the Rye wasn't Salinger's only attempt to write about the disorder. Phoenix accurately and painfully shows the indignities suffered by Arthur for daring to exist with his conditions in aworld that refuses to accommodate them. Hence, the dangerous message it sends: consent doesnt matter if youre rich and handsome. Bonnie suffers from severe depression and punishes herself by becoming morbidly obese, her youngest son contends with autism and ADHD, and her eldest son Gilbert tries to hold his clan together while struggling with his own depression and anxiety. We can show our inner selves without fear of being hurt or having personal information misused. Content Warning: The following article contains discussions of mental health conditions, violence, and suicide. There are particular aspects that identify it as a disorder. And hes still supposed to be the good guy? He disrespects Native American culture in one episode, lies about being Jewish to attend a basketball in another and sold swimsuit photos of underage girls. We're guessing not even Disney would dispute that one. As much as were all for flawed yet complex characters, there just arent enough reasons to excuse Rorys terrible behaviour. A derivative work is protected as part of the . To put it simply, a character flaw is a personality trait that either makes a character's life more difficult or negatively impacts their relationships with other characters. So it's not until we see her full empire of secret garbage that we know she has a serious problem. Theres a famous line from the 2008 film The Dark Knight that goes, You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. The same could apply to some fictional characters who were supposed to be the good guys, but actually might not be. His crushingly omnipresent sadness threatens to derail every social victory he attains for himself and will consume him if he doesn't find ways to maintain equilibrium despite innumerable triggers. This is because people with avoidant personality disorder have a low threshold for criticism and often imagine themselves to be inferior to others.". According to The National Institute of Mental Health, ADHD "is a disorder that makes it difficult for a person to pay attention and control impulsive behaviors. Blunt - Characterised by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion. Cartoons have always included characters suffering from psychological problems, like how Winnie the Pooh represents mental illnesses. The Diagnosis: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), What Is ADHD? ", NEXT:10 Best Movies About Tortured Geniuses, Ranked. 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. And this is it gets tricky. Lady, I just dropped a house on someone.". From there, things just get worse. Required fields are marked *. 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. 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. Throughout her journey, Alice seestalking animals anda hookah-smoking caterpillar. Which makes it all the more sad when characters gradually turn their backs on her and her crazy hurricane of bullshit. Handing your character success on a silver platter is a sure-fire way to cheapen their development. 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. Have your character confide some of these fears or worries through dialogue, and rather than it leading to being rejected, made fun of, or having ones concerns brushed aside, the other person shows support. are the property of their respective owners. In real life, we seek connection with others because we need to feel like we belong, that it is safe to be ourselves with certain individuals. She starts out as a straight-A do-gooder with so much potential only to throw it all away! Dont think that Elsa had some serious depression? 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). Appropriately used, this could reduce word count and speed the pace. The 80s was obviously the era of mean and inconsiderate teenage guys starring in high school-set movies. Wasnt it a bit odd that Ariel was a total hoarder? "I find it hard to trust other people . One of the telltale signs of PTSD is reliving the traumatic event over and over. "He'll be back. She ends up befriending and falling in love with a beast before she knows he's secretly a human prince under a spell. People with antisocial personality disorder tend to antagonize, manipulate or treat others harshly or with callous indifference. 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. Belle from The Beauty and The Beast. 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). Alice from Alice in Wonderland clearly suffers from schizophrenia. It instead chronicles his years of professional genius, his downward mental spiral, and his eventual recovery in a tasteful way that isn't romanticized. Anyway, back to the matter of problematic fictional characters ever noticed that the true loves kiss was a recurring theme in early Disney movies? Don't even get me started on how badly she treated Aidan when he forgave her again and again. He's the most-portrayed fictional character in the world, running the gamut from Basil Rathbone playing a jolly English gentleman who fights Nazis to Robert Downey Jr.'s Victorian Rain Man/MMA fighter. Here are some of the best responses. These theories create a base for a framework of the growth milestones children will experience from birth and into early adulthood. 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. 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. One of the most enigmatic patients she encountered was Lisa Rowe, played with volatile intensity by Angelina Jolie. Presumably, their concerts were strictly dance-free. 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! The opening scene in the film depicts Ariel raiding a sunken boat for useless bullshit. Of course, how can I leave out the most divisive of fictional characters in recent TV history? Far from a simpledescent into madness, it is an accurate representation of an obsessive fugue state that is difficult to extricate from. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. Also read: 47 Upcoming Movies We Cant Wait to See in 2021. 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. Above all, someone suffering from the disorder will avoid human relationships, especially any that might result in sexual encounters. 20 Movie Characters Who Accurately Portray Mental Illness, 10 TV Characters Who Accurately Portray Mental Illness, Angelina Jolie's Best Movies Of The Decade (According To IMDB), 10 Best Movies Based on Young Adult Novels, 10 Jamie Foxx Characters Ranked From Heroic To Most Villainous, Nicholsonwon the Academy Award for Best Actor, 10 Forgotten Keanu Reeves Roles You Need To Go Back & Watch, terrifying psychological thriller trappings of, 10 Best Movies About Tortured Geniuses, Ranked, Luke Skywalker Used The Dark Side In The Sequel Era, Star Wars Canon Is Still Missing The Best Ever Sith Lord, Warner Bros Just Destroyed The Rings Of Power. Eventually, however, after Sam and Joon run away to start a sweeping romance, they realize that the stability Benny provided was necessary, and Joon's mental illness needs treatment, not just hopes and dreams. One of the great things about Charlie Brown is that he does not necessarily let his psychological issues ruin his life. 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. And stop by LinkSTORM to earn you degree in Fictional Character Psychology. According to the American Psychiatric Association, major depression "negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act." Vote up the cartoon character diagnoses that make the most sense. Unfortunately, she never grew out of this bratty mindset even in season 6, when she impulsively skipped a Broadway performance for an audition in Los Angeles. In one of the most critically acclaimed performances of her career, Natalie Portman portrays Nina Sayers, a star ballerina in the midst of heavy competition for the lead role in the popular ballet Swan Lake. Yep, the 00s were clearly the heyday of the cold and brooding bro kinda fictional characters. The Wicked Witch even tells Dorothy, "They're of no use to you," but Glinda convinces the girl never to take them off.