Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

Straw Angst

 Straw Angst
type
FeatureClass
 Straw Angst
label
Straw Angst
 Straw Angst
page
StrawAngst
 Straw Angst
comment
If a Character Flaw is introduced in fiction, there are only a few conclusions it can reach: it's something to overcome, it becomes quirky and cartoonishly exaggerated, or it completely takes over their motivation or sanity. This trope is the last one.
This trope is in effect when a work treats anger, hatred, and other negative emotions as being a lifestyle, which one either follows or does not. In Real Life, people are complex things which can feel a variety of emotions and motivations, all at the same time, and often overlapping in undetectable ways. For example, a loving father who wants to protect his daughter may also hate all of the various forces that can harm her. A bigot may hate a particular group, but otherwise have innocent, tragic, sympathetic or even noble qualities about them. Granted, even in Real Life, personal faults fuel subconscious behavior, but in fiction, the proportion is greatly exaggerated.
This trope is where negative emotion or Angst is no longer functional or conducive to whatever passes for a "normal" life in the work. Rather than channeling their negative emotions into constructive pursuits or having a mere Moment of Weakness, a character flat out gives in to "The Dark Side" (or, said moment is treated as a sin too terrible to be justified or forgiven). A father who doesn't just want to protect his daughter, but control every facet of her life and will disown her if she disobeys. A Spirited Competitor who doesn't just hate to lose, but so averse to losing that they become a Blood Knight or The Berserker. A crimefighter who isn't just out to avenge their murdered loved one, but forego any kind of normal life or personal feelings unless they can be used to further their crusade.
What makes this "Straw Angst" is that, as we said, everyone feels complicated emotions and sometimes what we think are positive emotions can be intertwined with negative ones. A Kindhearted Cat Lover may be lonely inside and only feel love from their feline friends. Someone greatly fulfilled by The Four Loves may actually be terrified of being alone (because Loners Are Freaks) and feel their worth is tied to the love of others. A desire to help people or fight For Great Justice may come from someone who truly loathes crime and injustice in any form. But as we said, "Straw" Angst needs to have these flaws "resolve" somehow.
A Shadow Archetype usually embodies these emotions, as they represent emotions, feelings and traits that a person tries to deny. A God of Evil or substance Made of Evil may also embody it and/or induce it. See also the Seven Deadly Sins.
A person of Incorruptible Pure Pureness or a Purity Sue would be on the extreme far opposite as someone whom the story claims has no angst or negative emotions. For this type of person, loving all people and animals has no deeper need and fighting crime and injustice has no angst or trauma to fuel it—it's just what they do. On the other end, see Ambiguous Innocence, where a character has no negative emotions or angst, but this means they also lack restraint, fear, or an aversion for doing horrible things accidentally or for fun.
Good Is Impotent plays with this trope, as it acknowledges that moral "goodness" can't get anything done without negative feelings, but still creates a dichotomy that separates the two into "good" and "evil".
Deconstructions of this trope usually include Happiness Is Mandatory, Getting Smilies Painted on Your Soul, Crapsaccharine World, and The Complainer Is Always Wrong, where negative emotions are suppressed or outright forbidden.
 Straw Angst
fetched
2023-04-29T23:29:24Z
 Straw Angst
parsed
2023-04-29T23:29:24Z
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to AlwaysChaoticEvil: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to AsLongAsThereIsEvil: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to DrunkOnTheDarkSide: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to EmotionEater: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to FreakOut: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to IfYouKillHimYouWillBeJustLikeHim: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to KirbysDreamLand3: Not an Item - UNKNOWN
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to PassionIsEvil: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to RevengeBeforeReason: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to StrawNihilist: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to TheHeartless: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to ThePowerOfHate: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to ThenLetMeBeEvil: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to ThereAreTwoKindsOfPeopleInTheWorld: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to WithUsOrAgainstUs: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingComment
Dropped link to thedarkside: Not an Item - FEATURE
 Straw Angst
processingUnknown
KirbysDreamLand3
 Straw Angst
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Straw Angst / int_3d9ea851
type
Straw Angst
 Straw Angst / int_3d9ea851
comment
In Pokémon Strangled Red, Steven gives up after his Charizard dies, refusing to carry on, and violates natural laws in order to bring her back... turning himself into a monster in the process.
 Straw Angst / int_3d9ea851
featureApplicability
1.0
 Straw Angst / int_3d9ea851
featureConfidence
1.0
 Pokémon Strangled Red (Fanfic)
hasFeature
Straw Angst / int_3d9ea851

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Straw Angst
processingCategory2
Help! Help! This Index Is Being Repressed!
 Pokémon Strangled Red (Fanfic) / int_74e53f79
type
Straw Angst