Yet Glinda can't stop smiling that vacant Stepford Wives smile. 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. 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. He's massively sexist he not only slut-shames Ginny but punishes Hermione for dating Krum, yet snogs Lavender and calls her problematic for liking him. You cant have intimacy without vulnerability. Once she settles into her new environment, she comes out of her shell thanks to a doctor (Keanu Reeves) with non-traditional and inclusive methods of approaching her mental illness. Or would they be someone wed rather not be in the same room with? No copyright infringement is intended. 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. Think again. Craig encounters patients in the facility with everything from autism to manic depression and beyond, and they're depicted in ways that aren't exaggerated, hypertrophied, or over-the-top. (Looking at you, Don Draper, Anakin Skywalker, and Cersei Lannister.). We have to let someone get close enough to see the real, authentic us. People with antisocial personality disorder tend to antagonize, manipulate or treat others harshly or with callous indifference. The North would probably have run for their lives if she showed up like this. Fictional characters with BPD are also often villainized instead of presented as people learning to exist with their illness. 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. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) isn't given a formal diagnosis in the movie but appears to suffer from extreme social anxiety, narcissism, and a lack of empathy. Autism has a spectrum spanning the most high-functioning and the most severe alterations to behavior, and the further along the spectrum, the greater the chance of sensationalism. Personal story time: Miles Teller is one of my all-time celebrity crushes, and yet I still wanted to strangle this character throughout the movie. For instance, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders suggests that sufferers are amused by the emotional turmoil of others. In a desperate attempt to save her, her family sends her to a group home, which specializes in mental health for young people. 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. But while were all for character development, none of his misdeeds was ever really addressed. #27: MAKE THEM SWEAT. Maggie is married to a loving husband but is unhappy, and Milo has always wondered if his first love is the one who got away. The Diagnosis: Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), What Is NPD? From there, things just get worse. 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. At one point, she even asks out loud, "Have I gone mad?" , 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. The Wicked Witch even tells Dorothy, "They're of no use to you," but Glinda convinces the girl never to take them off. So, you know, hes that insufferable. And hes still supposed to be the good guy? Copyright 2023 Inspire Portal. #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. He's a bully and an irresponsible portrayal of the "perfect" guy. Dont think that Elsa had some serious depression? And, sure enough, one of the main side effects of disposophobia is obsessing over the collection at the expense of daily obligations. Give important characters a backstory. No solutions to the Grapes' problems are easy or applicable, and the movie handles the stigma about mental illness and obesity with raw integrity by acknowledging the necessity of strong familial bonds. But its weird to think that your favorite silly, zany cartoon characters can suffer from those same afflictions. Why she ever wanted him back I'll never know. (4) That choice deepens the tension and propels the story forward. 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 . Thanks for your comment. When shy Lars Lindstrom (a very against type Ryan Gosling) finally gets a girlfriend his family is overjoyed until they find out it's a lifesize plastic blow-up doll. Also read: 47 Upcoming Movies We Cant Wait to See in 2021. As much as I love her style (most of the time), she was the absolute worst among the four leads. She collects everything she can find, despite having no idea what any of it does. We can simply be ourselves and set aside the mask we show to the world. "Not when we've put so much effort into prying them off her cold dead feet!". A lot of fiction gets more depressing when you realize that writers are usually writing about themselves, whether they admit it or not. 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. He is a human being! Get the best of Cracked sent directly to your inbox! Do you have an idea in mind that would make a great article? Are you frightened by MS Paint and simply have a funny idea? Dont think that Elsa had some serious depression? Advertise | Cut through the noise with integrated She's just a teenager, after all, and her quirky desire to be human drives the entire plot of the movie. 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. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism.". . WithInside Out,Pixar created a surprisingly sensitive and deft portrayal of a child suffering from anxiety and depression that was accessible to both children and adults. Handing your character success on a silver platter is a sure-fire way to cheapen their development. Want more pop-culture disorders? It's hard to be normal when the town constantly follows you down the road, singing. Lisa was a sociopath, characterized bya charismatic and manipulative nature she used to elicit close bonds from the patients around her. For starters, he lies to and tricks nearly every woman he meets just to get laid and even wrote an entire playbook on it! Now, lets move on to Disney characters who totally gave the wrong message to many young children. This is supposed to show that her heart is so pure that she's able to look past appearances and love someone for who he is on the inside. Ellen discovers ways to confront her deep-seated anxieties and embrace self-acceptance. Characters with a hard exterior may try to act tough, but when they see someone going through a situation that triggers emotional memories of their own past wounds, they cant help but empathise. All the characters we used to love but now, we realise theyre kinda awful Be part of Asia's most authentic travel community. 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. US residents can opt out of "sales" of personal data. Hermione Granger from Harry Potter Series. He must act. America's favorite literary rebel, The Catcher in the Rye's Holden Caulfield, has a special place in the hearts of readers. For now though,heres 8 more waysto find stillness in a [], Your email address will not be published. As discussed above, relatively effortless empathy with a fictional character imbues us with the perception that we are similar to the character in question. Uhm, sure, I guess if you dont factor in that he knew she was a high school student from the very start and went through with their relationship anyway. 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. It's tough to pin down the exact personality traits of Sherlock Holmes, since his story has been recycled in so many incarnations. Through therapy and reassessment, she's able to take her mental health seriously. When Joy and Sadness get pulled to the furthest reaches of Riley's subconscious, Anger, Fear, and Disgust assume control. 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. 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. He plays Melvin Udall, a best-selling author diagnosed with OCD, who performs obsessive rituals to combat his intrusively anxious thoughts. Everyone says Big was a bad character, but seriously they both sucked so much they deserved each other. Yikes, that doesnt sound good does it? 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). bastard.". Phoenix accurately and painfully shows the indignities suffered by Arthur for daring to exist with his conditions in aworld that refuses to accommodate them. Put the character struggling with trust in a vulnerable situation. Hence, the dangerous message it sends: consent doesnt matter if youre rich and handsome. On a different note, weve also previously written about movies and TV shows whose characters arent such lost causes. We are comfortable showing our true self (beliefs, emotions, dreams, ideas, weakness, and strengths) without fear of judgement. We all have a backstory, and your fictional characters each need one, too. ", "Care for a 70th rendition of 'Baa Baa Black Sheep,' my dear Watson?". You cant have a healthy relationship without vulnerability. 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. Some of you have already heard of this, but for the benefit of those who havent: Janis is the real villain, not Regina George. Depending on our attachment style we can find attaching to others very challenging or relatively easy. After all, there are people that would give anything to be him for just a day, despite his problems. You may be surprised that thiscomic charactersuffers from APD. The 80s was obviously the era of mean and inconsiderate teenage guys starring in high school-set movies. Want to burn your workplace down, beer in hand? 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. A fast-talking caffeine-dependent wordsmith, Marcy has never been one to shy away from sharing a good story or two. . 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. Tiggeris one of theWinnie the Poohcharacters who represent mental illnesses. And while those traits would win her a lot of competitive reality shows, they are also the definite symptoms of antisocial and histrionic personality disorders. Alice has manic mood swings, and tumultuous relationships, which lead the people around her to view her as selfish. Fearing she will lose the part to a rival dancer,Nina undergoes a grueling training regiment, the result of which incites a terrifying metamorphosis. A film buff, she has a Western collection of 250+ titles and counting that she's particularly proud of. But looking back on it now, shes the epitome of the Toxic #GirlBoss with blatant disregard for her staffs feelings. Way to go, my dude. He gets entrusted to his younger brother Charlie (Tom Cruise) after the death of their father and has no idea that Charlie is an opportunistusing Raymondto get at their father's fortune. After all, everyone was 17 once, and likely tried really hard to articulate all the things they felt about stuff. 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. His cold behavior is exhibited not only to the hyenas, but to every animal he encounters. Somehow, we must help them move past their pain. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Doing two good things doesn't excuse his white male privilege and the the literal 500 screw-ups he made. He also carries the constant fear of being rejected. She seemed oblivious to the fact that he only wanted her as a submissive despite him telling her countless times. 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. Has anyone ever seen the playful tiger sit still for more than two seconds? He was self-centred and constantly hurting people who were close to him. When it isn't either of those, its "madness" is the perfect fuel for horror films by misconceptions of aggressive psychosis. As the turn of the century neared, the White Russian was just another bad, outdated cocktail from the 1970s. Ever wonder why Lucy kept pulling that football away fromCharlie Brown? She literally needs constant praise, or as Rhett Butler puts it, she "needs to be kissed often." He literally attempts to rape Jenny in the first episode and it's never addressed again. And what do you know, according to the researchers behind the book Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things, the difference between just collecting and hoarding is that, "When people collect things, they typically want to display them to other people . Hoarders want to keep things hidden because of the shame they have. Appropriately used, this could reduce word count and speed the pace. In addition, her friendships with anthropomorphized teacups and footstools are stronger than any she's ever had with a human (outside of her father). 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. My POV character is a 15-year-old Latino high school sophomore living in 1974 Massachusetts, a whiz at foreign languages, and a burgeoning track star with Olympic Games potential. 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. It's tough to pin down the exact personality traits of Sherlock Holmes, since his story has been recycled in so many incarnations. Problematic fictional characters from popular TV shows 1. Obsessed with travel? 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. Though BPD is portrayed using humor in the movie, it accurately works to falsify the burgeoning myth that people with her condition are doomed to be self-destructive and self-involved. It can also trigger thoughts of suicide, which Holden fully acknowledges throughout the novel ("What I really felt like, though, was committing suicide. Discover unique things to do, places to eat, and sights to see in the best destinations around the world with Bring Me! In other words, would these be people we would actually like if we met them IRL? Who invites three men (none of whom she has ever met) to her wedding, just because one of them could be her biological dad? No? 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. In the beginning of the film, while the men's conversation changes from her to the war, she says, "War, war, war. content enquiries. 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. Not ever. Wait, are these thing humans as well? Which begs the question: what was the point, really? 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. Not gonna lie, he was arguably the best-looking male love interest in the show. But obviously the disorder existed long before there was a name for it, and Doyle didn't have to know what the disorder was called in order to have known somebody with those quirks, and written them into his fictional detective. You can find more from Amanda at gizmachronicles.blogspot.com. Her books are available in five languages, are sourced by US universities, and are used by novelists, screenwriters, editors and psychologists around the world. It may feel as if you are frequently unwelcome in social situations, even when that is not the case. Slowly but surely, fiction is putting ye olde stereotypical image of mentally ill characters as totally deranged psychopaths wrapped in straight jackets to rest. I just hate him. (5) The character must live with the consequences of his . Attachment mostly forms in the first year of life and there are four types; anxious, avoidant, secure and disorganized/fearful. You know, if they weren't busy digging bullets out of Confederates and calming night terrors. Believe it or not, lots of thebest cartoon characters on TVsuffer from mental illnesses. Not cool. She was selfish, rude and manipulative, constantly messed with other peoples relationships and refused to support Marshall when he got the opportunity of a lifetime. Fictional characters can, under U.S. law, be protected separately from their underlying works. "I don't know what this is, but my teenage rebellion sense is tingling!". He always felt massively inferior to Mufasa, which led to his thirst for superiority. And you know what, we're going to give the main character, Ariel, a pass on all that. Personally, Im a fan of both the musical and the movie adaptation. Cinema in general has had a dubious history of portraying mental health in an authentic or even sensitive light. Fictional Characters Help Us Understand Others. 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's true that the disorder wouldn't be recognized until 70 years after Doyle invented the character. Fiction is a reflection of the real world, especially when it comes to our characters. Editorial | Contribute your travel stories or submit Yet I still cant wrap my head around how her actions could be justified. 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. He doesn't really pay attention to the fact that his restless behavior may actually be annoying to his friends. 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. 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. Let it be known that I actually used to look up to her, especially when I watched the series during my uni days. Then The Dude arrived and ensured that it wasnt just another caucasian, Gary. Oh, and remember how he tried to restrict her friend group, just because he didnt get along with or approve of them? and her bank account, but shes also a terrible friend. While they get closer handling the family business, Roy has to understand that the methods he used to control his mental illness have to be adjusted to accommodate his new fatherly role. Getty "Holmes, stop looking through my stuff for clues. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. Perhaps 70 years from now, experts will have a name for the ability to slow down time and punch people in slow motion. He technically kidnaps children, he cut Captain Hooks hand off and fed it to a crocodile, and he just laughed when the mermaids tried to drown Wendy. He is preoccupied entirely by his own short-comings in life. 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. The latter is obviously a horrible human being, but at least she was self-aware. No list of fiction's toxic families would be complete without the Wormwoods. "Congratulations, Dorothy. Jane Eyre. In fact, it's probably easier to just think of her as Doc Holiday in a dress. She is unable to control her emotions, which resulted in her hurting her younger sibling when they were children. Anyway, heres my take: her eventual descent into madness was no shocker. Check out the most narcissistic superheroes. The worst part is he's marketed to young girls as a hot bad boy type and we all bought into it. Belle is pursued throughout the film by Gaston, who wants to marry her, and while her staunch refusal to entertain any of his advances only because he is handsome seems admirable, she is more likely exemplifying the quintessential behavior of someone who has no interest in sex at all. A Beautiful Mind gave viewers a look at schizophrenia and Rain Man was one of the first films to explore autism. Ellen discovers ways to confront her deep-seated anxieties and embrace self-acceptance. Content Warning: The following article contains discussions of mental health conditions, violence, and suicide. According to the American Psychiatric Association, major depression "negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act." "I wouldn't have believed that the slippers were the key home! Gone With the Wind's Scarlett O'Hara is one of the most iconic heroines in American film. Most notable among them are a quick temper, a willingness to show a little skin to get what she wants and a cutthroat determination, regardless of who gets hurt. Bigot - One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ. 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. Even when he and Robin were together he lied to her under the guise of good intentions and romantic gestures. The Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is the quintessential example of NPD. Scar from The Lion King grew up in the shadow of his older brother,Mufasa. The Diagnosis: Antisocial personality disorder (APD), What Is APD? 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. 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. In fact, many teenagers who watched it would say that he and Aria Montgomery were such an adorable couple. Anxious Attachment Colloquially called 'bunny boiler' or 'clingy'. Also read: 7 Airbnbs That Were Featured in Movies & TV Shows. He was also quite nonchalant about cultural appropriation and emotionally abusive towards Kelly Kapowski. Vote up the cartoon character diagnoses that make the most sense. Because of course we have to trust some people, dont we? But okay, where do we even begin with this particular Disney princess? No, Glinda is by no means good. 11 Inspiring Fictional Female Characters. Think its normal for a girl to be BFFs with a talking tree? He bullies Dwight, treats Karen like shit and messes with Pam for half of season three to punish her for turning him down at the end of season two. Shuri from Black Panther. Dahl's classic tale of a precocious child with magical powers, living with vain . Finding inspiration, offering, and encouraging it through creative, and healing practices, ancient wisdom, and modern techniques, to fuel your writing, art, and life. One of them is appropriate. Or to put it more accurately those whose questionable behaviour didnt age well amid the current era of accountability. 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. There are particular aspects that identify it as a disorder. Is she going to eat them? Both suffering from severe depression and anxiety, they are forced to look at how their mental illnesses have shaped the course of their lives and affected the loved ones around them. Filed Under: Filed Under: Create, Storytelling, The Boat, Write, Writing 6 Comments. To obtain this type of protection, a creator must prove that the characters are sufficiently unique and distinctive to merit this protection. Above all, someone suffering from the disorder will avoid human relationships, especially any that might result in sexual encounters.