In fact, The Catcher in the Rye wasn't Salinger's only attempt to write about the disorder. A character can also have an internal struggle when they have to act against their morals or grapple with opposing beliefs. Or to put it more accurately those whose questionable behaviour didnt age well amid the current era of accountability. So if Love and Belonging drives us, it must motivate our characters as well (especially in Romances!). She could have evolved into a great, complicated character but instead just made bad decision after bad decision. 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. Bigot - One who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ. Eowyn from the Lord of the Rings Series. Even more important, many will feel compelled to act, either to intervene, to support, or to commiserate. She starts out as a straight-A do-gooder with so much potential only to throw it all away! Shows like Girls, Monk, and Parenthood allow the spectator to get a small sense of what its like to be around a person afflicted with a mental illness. Angela is also the co-founder of the popular site, Writers Helping Writers, as well as One Stop For Writers, an innovative online library built to help writers elevate their storytelling. Now, lets move on to Disney characters who totally gave the wrong message to many young children. Not gonna lie, he was arguably the best-looking male love interest in the show. You may be surprised that thiscomic charactersuffers from APD. Oo yes, completely agree, Kathy. You know, if they weren't busy digging bullets out of Confederates and calming night terrors. Believe it or not, lots of the, People are used to seeing mental disorders on TV. Characters Who Didn't Live Happily Ever After, Cartoon Characters You Never Realized Suffer From Mental Disorders. I'm still grossed out when I think about how he and Aria got married rather than him ending up in prison for literally preying on teenage girls. 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. He and his military father often lock horns over trust issues. Thanks for your comment. The Diagnosis: Avoidant personality disorder (APD), What Is APD? bastard.". In Sweden, they send you a thank-you text when they use your blood. 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. Wait, are these thing humans as well? He's supposed to be the rebel and the hero, but spends about 75% of the movie repeatedly sexually harassing Claire, almost to the point of assault when he puts his face between her legs without her knowledge or consent. These are tackled through dark comedy and emotionally vulnerable drama by acompelling performance by Davidson, making the portrayal of mental illness particularly effective. 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. Yes, poor Alice, you have. 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 literally needs constant praise, or as Rhett Butler puts it, she "needs to be kissed often." For now though,heres 8 more waysto find stillness in a [], Your email address will not be published. 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. ", 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. Oh, and to top it all off, he straight up ghosted her after all that. I know he has issues, but it doesn't justify him being the shittiest person, emotionally cruel and manipulative at all times. Scar shows no remorse for what he does. Depictions that are seen as genuine across myriadgenres, from drama to comedy, allow viewers to learn about mental illness through accurate portrayals,perhaps even further cementing the need for understanding in the face of stigmatized thinking andimproved mental health programs. Doing two good things doesn't excuse his white male privilege and the the literal 500 screw-ups he made. It isnt necessarily a negativesometimes, we crave it. 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. Yes, I definitely did just lump these two in the same item. At the end of the day, I still believe in possible character development and redemption, no matter how long overdue. 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. Blunt - Characterised by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion. Follow the BuzzFeed Community on. These characters show the realities of living with them in sensitive and illuminating portrayals. If anything, many would say hes the most entertaining one in the show until you realise just how gross his actions are. Think again. "That's the only reason you're not a side dish right now.". Salinger himself likely suffered from PTSD. happy writing, and thanks Jo for welcoming me here! When it isn't either of those, its "madness" is the perfect fuel for horror films by misconceptions of aggressive psychosis. 11 Inspiring Fictional Female Characters. Belle from The Beauty and The Beast. 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 . The stigma is lifting, and with its absence, genuine depictions are showcased. 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. . The reality of substance abuse is brought to life every day with many movies and television shows portraying characters who are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol. And stop by LinkSTORM to earn you degree in Fictional Character Psychology. He must act. You can read more from Chris at raddystuition.com or Twitter. The latter is obviously a horrible human being, but at least she was self-aware. It's true that the disorder wouldn't be recognized until 70 years after Doyle invented the character. They show no guilt or remorse for their behavior.". Cartoons have always included characters suffering from psychological problems, like how, Want more pop-culture disorders? Trust and bonding issues. Following World War II, Salinger was diagnosed with "battle fatigue," which sounds much milder than PTSD (and in fact sounds like it could be cleared up with a quick nap). This is based on the legal theory of derivative copyrights. 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. In reality, Belle would have probably preferred he stay a beast and all his servants stay candlesticks and clocks, though she'd never admit it. Delighted to welcomeAngela AckermanofWriters Helping Writers&One Stop For Writers,writing coach, speaker, &co-author of manybestselling resources,including one of my all-time favourite fiction writing book series,which if youve been in your writers garret for the last few years, are soinvaluable, youll wonder how you ever managed without. But behind this mask of ultraconfidence lies a fragile self-esteem that's vulnerable to the slightest criticism.". In reality, it was a primitive way to diagnose the thousands of mental breakdowns following conflict that we now call PTSD. He or she may also be restless and almost constantly active.". Dahl's classic tale of a precocious child with magical powers, living with vain . 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. When we trust someone, we want to open ourselves to them because doing so signifies a high level of self-acceptance. She slept with Dean when he was still married to Lindsay and had a long-term affair with Logan when they were both in separate relationships. 1. 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. Hence, the dangerous message it sends: consent doesnt matter if youre rich and handsome. The assailant couldnt steal her good mood. Matilda by Roald Dahl. Silver Linings Playbookreally kicks off uponhis release, when he loses his wife and access to his child and moves back in with his parents. Press | Send us your Press Releases & Media Invites. 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. Seriously, she spent most of the time just whining and depending on Troy. Check out the most narcissistic superheroes. Fiction is a reflection of the real world, especially when it comes to our characters. For starters, he lies to and tricks nearly every woman he meets just to get laid and even wrote an entire playbook on it! 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. Plus, she was portrayed as a strong and independent woman, but literally ruined people's lives just because she's infatuated with Fitz. Maybe they simply need help and cant bring themselves to ask. RELATED: 10 Forgotten Keanu Reeves Roles You Need To Go Back & Watch. As the turn of the century neared, the White Russian was just another bad, outdated cocktail from the 1970s. You can! Schizoid personality disorder's trademark symptom is self-imposed social isolation. The 80s was obviously the era of mean and inconsiderate teenage guys starring in high school-set movies. He left his umbrella.". Even when he and Robin were together he lied to her under the guise of good intentions and romantic gestures. Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. 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. Who doesnt love Charlie Brown from Peanuts? Though Winona Ryder's character was the protagonist ofGirl, Interrupted,the suicide attempt that landed her in an all-female mental institution was the catalyst for more engrossing stories featuring her fellow patients. Oh, and the fact that she would move heaven and earth (and ruin lives) for someone as unremarkable as Fitz? What curse was placed on the O'Brien family that would give them a son with a webbed foot? From giving up her voice just to be with someone she hasnt met, to trying to trick him so theyd live happily ever after; these are just the tip of the iceberg. 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. "I find it hard to trust other people . We made them that way. Let it be known that I actually used to look up to her, especially when I watched the series during my uni days. If so, wed love to hear your own hot takes on our Facebook page! Heattempts to control his condition for a chance ata relationship with a waitress at his favorite diner, but he's rude, arrogant, and entitled. We're guessing not even Disney would dispute that one. Your email address will not be published. ", Elsa from Frozen is the sister with the magical powers. In fact, it's probably easier to just think of her as Doc Holiday in a dress. Want to burn your workplace down, beer in hand? Then The Dude arrived and ensured that it wasnt just another caucasian, Gary. The guy wanted to possess his girlfriend and control every aspect of her life. Chuck Bass - Gossip Girl Granted, nobody in the show was actually a good person and despite their impeccable taste and style they all had more issues than Vogue. Oh, and remember how he tried to restrict her friend group, just because he didnt get along with or approve of them? With degrees in anthropology and archaeology, she plans to continue pretending to be Lara Croft as long as she can. Alice from Alice in Wonderland clearly suffers from schizophrenia. Do you possess expert skills in image creation and manipulation? 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 . 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. Instead he concentrates on the visual of seeing the blood and teeth everywhere, or the look on James' face. Which makes it all the more sad when characters gradually turn their backs on her and her crazy hurricane of bullshit. 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). Through therapy and reassessment, she's able to take her mental health seriously. The same is true for mental disorders in movies. Don't even get me started on how badly she treated Aidan when he forgave her again and again. The Diagnosis: Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), What Is NPD? 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. Holden is intensely contemptuous of the insincerity of the world and people around him (the "phonies"), yet still strives to find his place in a society he ultimately despises. 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). But while were all for character development, none of his misdeeds was ever really addressed.