History Main / IJustWantToBeFree

* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': This turns out to be the ultimate goal of [[spoiler:Evil Morty, who schemes to find a way past an artificial metaphysical structure known as the "Central Finite Curve", an invisible bubble built around the corner of the multiverse where Rick is the smartest man in the universe (which he likens to "an infinite crib built around an infinite fucking baby"), because he is sick to death of being surrounded by the influence of a narcissistic MadScientist sociopath who literally treat Mortys like disposable livestock. Of course, his plan also includes killing as many Ricks and Mortys as he can in the process, seemingly out of spite, because he hates Rick (and by extension, Mortys who remain subservient to their Ricks) ''that'' much.]]

* In ''Fanfic/{{Daemorphing}}, it's the motivation of basically everyone except the Andalites.

** Alma and Kanda from were [[spoiler: [[{{ArtificialHuman}} created]] and contained in a lab]]. Alma lives in hope of the day the [[spoiler: experiments]] will be over and they'll be free. He doesn't take it well when he realizes it will never end. While he too wants to be free, Kanda is more resigned, working for the Black Order even after he's no longer physically trapped. He dreams of finding a [[spoiler: [[{{ReincarnationRomance}} certain person]]]] and was willing to stay tied to the Order until then.

* Rapunzel in Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'', she has lived her entire life inside the tower that her "mother" raised her in and desires to see what's beyond it.

* ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' faced a viking warrior cursed by Aku. The man was mystically bound by his stone surroundings, and could not die unless he was killed in battle. Being an excellent warrior as well as a stone giant, actually finding a warrior skilled enough to defeat him in honorable combat (so as to join his fallen brethren in Valhalla) and break the curse of eternal-life-within-stone was near-impossible until Jack came along.

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%%* In TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering, this is the motivation that drives the pure red ideology.
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->''"Oh, to be free... Not to have to go *POOF* What do you need? *POOF* What do you need? *POOF* What do you need?! To be my own master! Such a thing would be greater than all the magic and all the treasures in all the world!"''

* The ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' animated series had the Genosha story arc, where mutants were enslaved to use their powers for labor. They were told they'd be released when the work was done. [[BlatantLies Yeah...]]

** Much of Fenris' personal quests in ''VideoGame/DragonAge2'' are about how he doesn't feel free [[spoiler: even after escaping his Master, Danarius,]] and is semi-actively hunting him down to ensure he actually gets to be free.

* Robyn's main motivation in ''WesternAnimation/{{Wolfwalkers}}''. While Robyn initially wants to hunt wolves with her father, it's soon made clear that what she ''really'' wants is the freedom that comes with it, since she feels trapped by the constraints of the strict Puritan society she lives in. She gets a taste of that freedom after meeting Mebh and becoming a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent Wolfwalker]], but she still needs to learn to fight for the freedom she wants, even when society pushes back against her.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
** The series as a whole is about dreams and freedom, expressed through piracy. This is especially apparent with the [[MagneticHero transformative qualities of the protagonist]]. Of course, for ''major'' characters, this seems to translate to "leave whatever the hell you're doing and [[RuleOfCool do something unexpected]]". The emphasis on dreams goes both ways: with villains, the protagonist doesn't kill them but leaves them alive [[AFateWorseThanDeath to watch their hopes and dreams crumble around them.]]
** This is so often the case that when one character chose to be free to ''stay where she was and continue to be a responsible leader'', it seemed out of place. In fact, the main character's primary motivation is to become the 'Pirate King' because it's the person, "with the most freedom in the world".
* In ''Manga/ShamanKing'', many characters seek the power of the greatest spirit in order to fulfill their dreams, though Yoh, the protagonist, seeks it in order to not be bothered by having to work for anything anymore. To him, it's logical to work himself to death (literally) if it means freedom later in life. Some characters are so caught up in the concept of needing the Great Spirit to accomplish their goal that they forget they could do it anyway.
* Some of the [[SealedInsideAPersonShapedCan Tailed-Beast Hosts]] from ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'' seek freedom from the stigma of being the hosts of demons, and thus the requirement of being war machines. Killer Bee, host of the Eight-Tails, fakes his death so he can get away from his responsibilities.
** And the bijuu themselves want to escape their hosts, which, incidentally, is fatal for the human in question.

* ''Manga/{{Inuyasha}}'':
** Kikyou wanted to be a normal woman, freed from the destiny of having to protect the Shikon no Tama. It was a dream she could [[spoiler: only fulfill in death]].
** Kagura is a wind youkai enslaved by magic to serve the BigBad. Her overwhelming desire is to be as free as the wind and willing to work with Inuyasha's group and especially Sesshoumaru to achieve her ends. In the end, [[spoiler: like Kikyou, she could only achieve her dream in death]].
---> ''"I am the wind. As free as the wind."''

* In ''Manga/{{Area 88}}'', Shin Kazama wants nothing more than to be free of his involuntary servitude in Asran's foreign legion.
* ''Anime/LupinIIIIslandOfAssassins'': Among the assassins, there were those who wished to defect, due to being burdened with guilt from being [[ForcedIntoEvil forced to commit murder]], by Gordeau. As long as they bore the Tarantula insignia on their hands, the toxin contained in the ink would kill them if they ever left the island. But Doc's newly discovered antidote provided them with a glimmer of hope, so they hatched an escape plan. Sadly, the group was betrayed, and [[EverybodysDeadDave none of them make it off the island]]; including Bomber and [[spoiler: [[BrokenBird Ellen]]]].
* An important theme in ''Manga/AttackOnTitan''.
** For Eren and Armin, TheWorldIsJustAwesome and they dream of living free from the Walls. This desire gets them labeled as heretics or "suicidal bastards", choosing to risk their lives as opposed to living a peaceful life.
--->'''Armin:''' ''[earlier]'' So why do you want to go to the world beyond the Walls?\\
'''Eren:''' From the time we are born, we are free... it doesn't matter how strong those that would deny us that freedom are... flaming water... frozen earth... I don't care what it is!... The person that sees them will be the freest person in the world! Fight... I'd gladly give my life for that! [[TheAntiNihilist It doesn't matter how terrifying the world is! It doesn't matter how cruel the world is!]] [[SurvivalMantra Fight]]... [[{{Determinator}} Fight]]... [[HeroicWillpower Fight]]... [[LastStand FIGHT]]!!!
** The Survey Corps' symbol is called the "Wings of Freedom", exemplifying their desire to free humanity from living trapped inside the Walls. Most people think them insane for risking their lives on something most people have long since given up on.
** This is eventually revealed to be part of what motivates [[spoiler: the Warriors. Members of an ethnic minority confined to internment camps, their superiors in the military promised their families would be freed in exchange for their service. Reiner in particular dreamed of freeing his people from the camps but loses all hope as time goes on and his mission requires him to commit more crimes. After the TimeSkip, this dream of freeing their people through exemplary military service is adopted by the younger Warrior Candidates under his watch]].
* In one episode of ''Anime/ScienceNinjaTeamGatchaman'', Joe falls for a girl named Maya who turns out to be working for Galactor -- but only because her parents and siblings all work for Galactor. Unlike them, she wants out and the Onna Taicho (Female Captain) [[spoiler: Berg Katse in female form]] promised Maya that she could leave if Maya successfully captured and killed the Science Ninja Team. However, [[YouHaveFailedMe Maya fails of course and Berg Katse kills her.]] Worse, [[KickTheDog Berg Katse asks Maya what made her think she could ever leave Galactor alive. Jerk]].

* ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'':
** Hayasaka was [[LegacyOfService born into servitude]], which has robbed her of a normal childhood. [[spoiler:While being treated as a joke, when she mentioned that she wants to switch jobs, she was serious. Not only is her job full-time with next to no time for any hobbies or proper sleep (for the last ten years), she also has to constantly lie and report on her best friend and honorary sister. At the end of the Kyoto trip, she finally is relieved of her duties and can properly be friends with Kaguya.]]
** Kaguya has been treated as little more than a pawn by her family her entire life. As a result, she desperately wants to be able to cut ties with them and choose her own path. She even admits to Shirogane in Chapter 218 that her ideal self would be someone who rules the entire planet just so that ''nobody'' could tell her what to do.
* ''Manga/DGrayMan''
** Alma and Kanda from were [[spoiler: [[{{ArtificialHuman}} created]] and contained in a lab]]. Alma lives in hope of the day the [[spoiler: experiments]] will be over and they'll be free. He doesn't take it well when he realizes it will never end. While he too wants to be free, Kanda is more resigned, working for the Black Order even after he's no longer physically trapped. He dreams of finding a [[spoiler: [[{{ReincarnationRomance}} certain person]]]] and was willing to stay tied to the Order until then.
** Lenalee initially, when she first was recruited to the Black Order. Eventually she gives up on freedom when her brother joins so she won't be alone.

* In ''Fanfic/ASLInRed'', the sixteen-year-old Law ran away from the Navy's custody when he realized he would be kept secluded till his last day for his powers. It gave him big issues about being locked up, so much the possibility of the Marines capturing him again almost made him cut his own head off.

* ''Animation/{{Padak}}'': Padak's ultimate goal is to escape the restaurant and go back to the Seas, unfortunately her tank mates are less than cooperative with the exception of Spotty. [[spoiler: Ultimately both fail to escape and die, though her actions do inspire the Master to successfully escape himself.]]
%%* This is Scamp's motivation in ''WesternAnimation/LadyAndTheTrampIIScampsAdventure''.

* Shilo Wallace in ''Film/RepoTheGeneticOpera'' wants to be free after 17 years of being trapped in her own home. Magdalene "Blind Mag" Defoe also counts.
* The "trapped woman" version of this trope is the theme of ''Film/RachelRachel''. Rachel Cameron is a 35-year-old spinster in a small Connecticut town, stuck in a job as a schoolteacher and stuck living with her [[MyBelovedSmother demanding, domineering, widowed mother.]] She dreams of escape, sexual pleasure, and a more fulfilling life.

* LaResistance of ''Literature/LesMiserables''. On the individual level, Jean Valjean ended up spending 19 years in prison as a result of several escape attempts after being imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread.
* ''Literature/TheScarletPimpernel'' applies a PerspectiveFlip to this trope, as the French peasants who revolted against their aristocratic oppressors during UsefulNotes/TheFrenchRevolution are portrayed as [[WellIntentionedExtremist becoming the monsters]] who have taken over France. The eponymous SuperHero TropeCodifier has made it his mission to rescue their French aristocrat prisoners Underground Railroad-style.

%%* Edmund Dantes in ''Literature/TheCountOfMonteCristo''

* One goal of the Deryni characters in Creator/KatherineKurtz's ''Literature/{{Deryni}}'' books is this, at least it's certainly on the list (once the rebellions and invasions and assassins are defeated). Kelson is exhorted to be a king to humans and Deryni by a figure of Camber visible only to Deryni, and he founds a new ''scola'' to preserve and teach Deryni magic and ethics. Essentially, Kelson, his courtiers, and others aspire to TheUnmasquedWorld, which would imply this trope.
* ''Literature/ThursdayNext'': In ''Something Rotten'', this motivates Bartholomew Stiggins' assistance at the old cloning facility. Thursday went there to find a Shakespeare clone to sort out ''The Merry Wives of Elsinore'' in the [=BookWorld=]; Stig went along to get information to allow him and the other Neanderthals (who were engineered sterile) to reproduce.

* Malcolm Fell Attwell, of ''Literature/{{Pact}}'', was BornIntoSlavery to an [[AnthropomorphicPersonification Incarnation of]] [[HorsemenOfTheApocalypse Conquest]], like his father before him, due to a mistake made by his illusionist grandfather which led to Conquest laying claim to his family's bloodline. Fell serves as TheDragon to Conquest, knowing that one day he, as well, will be forced to raise children and bind them in Conquest's name, as his father did to him, with even deliberate suicide not being an option. When Blake Thorburn offers him temporary freedom as one of his [[CombatByChampion champions]] in his war with Conquest, Fell accepts, knowing the [[ColdBloodedTorture potential consequences]]-in the end, it's the best chance that his family has had at freedom in a century.
* The ''Literature/MercyThompson'' series has a villainous take on this with Cory Littleton, a vampire who ultimately wants to be free to live life however he sees fit and kills anyone he desires. His will is such that he was able to dominate his own creator Andre, who would normally have control over any human he turned into a vampire.

* During the middle seasons of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'', a conflict of conscience occurred between Sam and Dean's desire to be free, and their destiny as [[spoiler: the hosts of ArchangelMichael and [[ArchangelLucifer Lucifer]]]].
* In ''Series/BabylonFive'' G'Kar, after [[spoiler:the Centauri defeated his people in a bloody war and became their oppressors once more]], has this to say on the subject.

* Nessiah from ''VideoGame/YggdraUnion'' and its [[VideoGame/BlazeUnion related]] [[VideoGame/YggdraUnion games]] wants to break the literal shackles that [[spoiler:bind his full powers and keep him immortal]]. Doing so requires a lot more power than he actually has naturally, and so he's been accumulating it [[spoiler:by converting negative emotions generated from human conflict into magical power]]. He also won't consider himself truly free until he's punished the ones who did this to him in the first place--who have actually been dead for a very long time, which Nessiah himself doesn't know.
* Likewise, Meria from ''VideoGame/KnightsInTheNightmare'' wants to be recognized as her own person separate from Marietta, [[spoiler:the other half of her soul]].

*** Even the ''villains'' ultimately desire freedom above all else (though they also want other things like power). [[spoiler:Specifically freedom for mortals from the yoke of the Occuria.]]

* ''VideoGame/{{Furi}}'' has this as its main plot; The Stranger is locked up in the middle of nowhere, and the only way to escape is to kill all of the bosses keeping him there. If you don't count [[spoiler:the TrueFinalBoss]], these jailers are the only enemies in the game.

* The Monsters in the Underground in ''VideoGame/{{Undertale}}'' ultimately just want to be free of their sealed existence under Mt. Ebott, and many of them are willing to capture and kill a human child to make that possible.

* In ''VideoGame/DivinityOriginalSinII'', Sebille, a mostly-former slave, seeks to kill her master in a combination of revenge and this. As long as he can sing the [[MindControlMusic controlling song]], she can never be truly free, meaning that he must die.

* Lemonhope in ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' wants to be free after spending his life locked up in a bathroom by his abusive creator Lemongrab I. He even initially abandons the rest of his people who are hoping that he will be the one to free them. Fortunately, Lemonhope's lingering guilt drives him to go back and save them. Even then, he's only doing so because he feels he can't truly be free as long as that guilt is hovering over him. After Lemongrab I is overthrown, he refuses to stay and rule in his place. Lemonhope outright says to Princess Bubblegum that the only reason he came back was so he would never have to think about the other Lemonpeople ever again.
* One episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'' reveals that [[spoiler: this is what the Owl Beast cursing Eda wants. As it turns out, it's as much a victim of their circumstance as Eda is. Originally a creature born from another Titan, it was turned into a scroll for as-of-yet unknown reasons that became the curse Lilith would afflict upon Eda. After Eda witnesses these events firsthand in a dream and sees it try to fly away in the mindscape, they come to a truce and even gives her a harpy-esque SuperMode.]]
* ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'': This turns out to be the ultimate goal of [[spoiler:Evil Morty, who schemes to find a way past an artificial metaphysical structure known as the "Central Finite Curve", an invisible bubble built around the corner of the multiverse where Rick is the smartest man in the universe (which he likens to "an infinite crib built around an infinite fucking baby"), because he is sick to death of being surrounded by the influence of a narcissistic MadScientist sociopath who literally treat Mortys like disposable livestock. Of course, his plan also includes killing as many Ricks and Mortys as he can in the process, seemingly out of spite, because he hates Rick (and by extension, Mortys who remain subservient to their Ricks) ''that'' much.]]