History Main / ILetGwenStacyDie

** This is also why Cyborg agrees to join him in his endeavour to put a stop to crime and war. Several of his friends in the ComicBook/TeenTitans were killed in the nuking of Metropolis, so he wants to make sure nothing like that ever happens again.

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' after Haurchefant's death at the Vault, numerous scenes and dialgoue options show that the Warrior of Light is haunted by his death, especially as he died from an attack meant for them.

* ''Film/SpiderManTrilogy'': Averted. Mary Jane is put in a situation similar to Gwen Stacy's in the ''The Night Gwen Stacy Died'', but Spider-Man saves her in time. In ''Film/SpiderMan3'', Gwen Stacy almost falls to her death from off of a building and stops herself from falling.

** A interesting version of this occurs in ''ComicBook/TheDeathOfJeanDeWolff''. However, the reason it's interesting is despite being a Spider-Man story, it isn't Peter himself blaming himself for Jean's death, but ComicBook/{{Daredevil}} when Judge Rosenthal is killed by the Sin-Eater after a brief tussle Matt had the the killer.

The sacrificed character is frequently a DisposableWoman, but it could be a whole DoomedHometown. Compare StuffedIntoTheFridge (when the corpse is left for the hero to stumble upon), CartwrightCurse (when it happens over and over again to the same hero), DeathByOriginStory (when they die during a hero's backstory or initial appearance) and FailureToSaveMurder (if some third character blames the hero for the death). See also CynicismCatalyst, FailureKnight, MyGreatestFailure, and SurvivorGuilt.

* In ''VisualNovel/DokiDokiLiteratureClub'', the protagonist feels responsible for Sayori's suicide, either because he feels obligated to start a romance with Sayori when she confessed to being suicidal, or because his rejection of her feelings made her more depressed as a result. It's more complicated than that, as Monika is making Sayori undergo a MindRape in order to make her less appealing, but the protagonist doesn't know that.

** Four Murasame is the most prominent in ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'' for Kamille, although [[KillEmAll she wasn't the first or last death]] that would drive him forward in this series.

Often, a hero needs more of a reason to keep on fighting than just to save the day. He needs to know that it's fairly SeriousBusiness. That's why, on occasion, someone close to him will die for generally no other reason than for the hero to {{angst}} over his inability to save them, driving him to protect everyone else he can. If something is almost certainly going to result in a "YouDidEverythingYouCould", "IShouldHaveBeenBetter" exchange, it is defintely this trope.

* Morph in the 1990s ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' series, a character created just so he could die in the first episode and give the characters (mostly ComicBook/{{Wolverine}}) a personal reason to fight. He came back later though, but as a bad guy, and it takes Wolvie a LOT to bring him back to the side of good...
** This is especially evident at the beginning of Season 2. Morph had 'died' in part because Wolverine was forcefully prevented from going back to help him after he was severely injured on a mission. When Wolverine discovers he's still alive, but in bad shape and on the run, he initially ignores the others (that think Morph should be left alone to sort things out for himself), and chases Morph all the way to the Amazon, rather than "abandon" him again. He eventually does let him go...but he and Cyclops, who gave the order to leave him behind (and Jean), immediately fly off to what appears to be Australia as soon as Morph calls them for help in the season finale.

* In ''Literature/MyBortherIsASuperhero,'' we get an ([[AntiVillain anti]]-)villainous example. [[spoiler:Stellar is a version of Luke from a universe where [[ForWantOfANail he got superpowers instead of Zack]]. He did a poor job stopping Nemesis, and one of the many fragments killed his Zack]]. Now he's looking for a ReplacementGoldfish.

* ''Literature/InCryptid'': James Smith's best friend Sally lost her life making a [[DealWithTheDevil deal with]] [[AtTheCrossroads the Crossroads]] on his behalf. He feels responsible, and makes it his mission to destroy the Crossroads.

* In ''VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou'', Beat's life is one long string of failing to save his loved ones. First, [[spoiler:he tried to shove his sister Rhyme out of the way of a speeding car, [[SenselessSacrifice only to get plastered himself and accomplish nothing]]]]. Second, [[spoiler:Rhyme shoves him out of the way of a shark Noise and is promptly turned into mulch, rendering her (seemingly) DeaderThanDead]]. Third, [[spoiler:Konishi crushes the pin holding Rhyme's soul, rendering her (seemingly) [[UpToEleven Deader Than]] DeaderThanDead]]. Fourth, in "A New Day" in ''[[UpdatedRerelease Final Remix]]'', [[spoiler:[[HisStoryRepeatsItself Rhyme shoves him out of the way of a shark Noise and is promptly turned into mulch]]]]. Fifth, [[spoiler:he is helpless to prevent Coco from shooting [[RunningGagged Neku]] dead]].

* [[spoiler: The '''truly unforgettable''' Alternate version of Milla ]] is this in ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia2''. So much so that she forever stays in their hearts. Even though [[spoiler: she was an Alternate variation of the Prime Milla,]] she had the [[UndyingLoyalty full trust and companionship]] of the '''entire ToX2 crew''', becoming a [[TrueCompanions true friend]] they still miss very dearly. [[spoiler: Even Elle outright '''refuses''' to '''never''' call Prime Milla "Milla", in honor of their former true companion that Rideaux kills.]]

** [[spoiler: This is [[DiscussedTrope discussed]] in ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome'' when the [[IntraFranchiseCrossover other Spider-Men]] console Peter after [[MentorOccupationalHazard Aunt May's murder by the Goblin]]. [[Film/TheAmazingSpiderManSeries Webb Spider-Man]] states that he was in a dark place after Gwen's death and never forgave himself, and eventually stopped pulling his punches for a while. [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy Raimi Spider-Man]] recounts the time he killed the thug responsible for Uncle Ben's death, and both of them assert that RevengeIsNotJustice and the best thing to do is keep moving forward. Webb Spider-Man later manages to [[MyGreatestSecondChance save the MCU Peter's M.J. from a similar fate]] and is brought to tears, finally learning to forgive himself.]]

* In ''Theatre/JasperInDeadland'', Jasper blames himself for Agnes's death, because she drowned while trying to face her fear of diving in the hopes it would convince him to face his fear of [[CommitmentIssues commitment]].

Often, a hero needs more of a reason to keep on fighting than just to save the day. He needs to know that it's fairly SeriousBusiness. That's why, on occasion, someone close to him will die for generally no other reason than for the hero to {{angst}} over his inability to save them, driving him to protect everyone else he can.

->''"Miles, the hardest thing about this job is...you can't always save everybody."''

** Early in his career as a Toa, Lesovikk accidentally led his team into a group of [[EnemyToAllLivingThings Zyglak]] and, because of his hesitation, all of his teammates, including his [[strike: girlfriend]] [[NoHuggingNoKissing best friend]] Nikila, were killed. He spent the next several thousand years trying to redeem himself.

* In ''Manga/TheRedRangerBecomesAnAdventurerInAnotherWorld'', Abu Dhabi's EvilGloating about how everyone is going to die for the sake of the Demon Lord's revival triggers a horrible memory for Red when he failed to save someone. The sheer anguish Red experiences is enough to send him into an UnstoppableRage while swearing to never let anyone die in front of him again.

** [[ComicBook/GwenStacy Gwendolyn "Gwen" Stacy]] is the TropeNamer. In the story "Comicbook/TheNightGwenStacyDied", after Gwen (Spidey's LoveInterest at the time) is thrown off a bridge by the [[ComicBook/NormanOsborn Green Goblin]], Spidey tries to use his webbing to save her... [[NotTheFallThatKillsYou but pulls too quickly and snaps her neck]]. Her death had a particular impact on comic book fans because it was a ''rare'' and early example of an important character dying (and a subversion of NotTheFallThatKillsYou to boot). As if the preventable [[DeathByOriginStory death of Uncle Ben]] wasn't enough, Gwen's possibly preventable death sent Spider-Man spiraling into a whole new level of {{angst}}. He learned from Gwen's death to play out his web-lines so people he rescued would decelerate gradually, including Green Goblin trying it again with Mary Jane.

** In the alternate-future mini-series ''Comicbook/SpiderManReign'', Peter falls into a deep, long depression after accidentally causing the death of his wife Mary Jane. The depth and duration of his despair keeps him from putting on his costume again until her ghost (or something like a ghost) tells him that her final words to him ("go...") were actually cut short. She really meant to say, "Go get 'em tiger" one more time so he would know she was proud of him and didn't blame him for her death.

* [[OriginalCharacter Tsukey]] is this for [[{{Webcomic/Homestuck}} Tavros]] in {{Fanfic/Hivefled}}. She was one of the members of the sufferist cult and his former palecrush; he couldn't convince her to come with the main cast, and she was later captured, tortured for information and eventually killed, [[spoiler: becoming one of the [[OurGhostsAreDifferent Kin]] along the way.]]
* Subverted in ''[[FanFic/UltimateSleepwalker Ultimate Sleepwalker: The New Dreams]]'' when the Green Goblin throws Gwen Stacy off the bridge and Spider-Man jumps after her to save her. He successfully manages to do so by spinning a full-fledged web net that cushions Gwen's entire body and prevents her from being hurt. Unfortunately, the Goblin had anticipated Spider-Man being able to save her, and plans to attack them while Spider-Man is getting Gwen to safety so they ''both'' fall to their deaths. [[spoiler:Luckily, he didn't anticipate Sleepwalker catching up to the scene and distracting him, giving Spider-Man the time he needs to get Gwen to safety...]]

* ''Film/{{Godzilla 2014}}'' has this for Joe Brody. Back in 1999, he had his wife Sandra go down to investigate the Janjira NPP's reactor in the wake of mysterious tremors. Not only did this put her in harm's way when there was a breach, but he also ends up having to close the blast doors on her and her team in order to keep radioactive gas from leaking into the rest of the city. His obsession with figuring out the cause of the breach that killed his wife leads to him discovering that [[{{Kaiju}} some large, strange entity]] is now active in the ruins of the facility.

* ''Film/{{Superman}}'' (1978). There is a giant earthquake that threatens the very existence of California. Superman races against time to seal the fault before catastrophic damage is unleashed. While successful, several aftershocks occur, forcing Superman to complete several daring rescues (e.g., saving a school bus from falling over the railings of a crumbling Golden Gate Bridge and a train from falling into a hole in the tracks). While Superman is kept busy with rescue after rescue, Lois Lane is caught in one of the aftershocks while driving on a little-used road. The car -- which stalls after running out of gas -- begins to fall into a large crack, and the car is caught in an avalanche of debris and dirt before Lois can escape; she is eventually suffocated. Superman finally locates Lois' car, finds her dead and screams in {{angst}}.

* ''VideoGame/{{Halo 4}}'' ends with Master Chief sadly saying that he was supposed to protect [[spoiler: Cortana as she dies]]. This affected him so much that he goes AWOL to follow a dream he had of [[spoiler:Cortana]] in ''VideoGame/Halo5Guardians''. As if to kick John when he's down, [[spoiler: Cortana CameBackWrong and tries to kidnap him.]]
* ''Videogame/HonkaiImpact3rd:'' TheHero Kiana feels guilty whenever her closest ones hurt themselves trying to help her, but most notably [[spoiler:her teacher Himeko, who actually died while trying (and suceeding) to bring Kiana back from her SuperpoweredEvilSide. Kiana would later vow to follow Himeko's "final lesson" as a way to honor her]].

* ''VideoGame/{{Mother 3}}'', heavily implied with Hinawa and Claus for Flint and Lucas respectively, as Flint failed to protect his wife and Lucas let Claus go off alone on the journey that killed him. Subverted, as [[spoiler: Claus isn't actually dead.]]

* [[spoiler: The '''truly unforgettable''' Alternate version of Milla ]] is this in ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia2''. So much so that she forever stays in their hearts. Even though [[spoiler: she was a Alternate variation of the Prime Milla,]] she had the [[UndyingLoyalty full trust and companionship]] of the '''entire ToX2 crew''', becoming a [[TrueCompanions true friend]] they still miss very dearly. [[spoiler: Even Elle outright '''refuses''' to '''never''' call Prime Milla "Milla", in honor of their former true companion that Rideaux kills.]]

* Morph in the 1990s ''WesternAnimation/XMen'' series, a character created just so he could die in the first episode and give the characters (mostly {{Wolverine}}) a personal reason to fight. He came back later though, but as a bad guy, and it takes Wolvie a LOT to bring him back to the side of good...

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVI'' has Rachel, who serves as TheGwenStacy for Locke. One day, while exploring a cave with Rachel, he was too slow to keep her from falling down a cliff, which led to her contracting amnesia. [[WhatTheHellHero Her father called out Locke on this]] and [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere Locke left his hometown]], and while he was away, Rachel was killed in an Imperial attack. Locke fully [[ItsAllMyFault blames himself]] for once again not being there to protect her, like he promised he would. This is why he makes it his mission to protect Terra and Celes.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'': Aeris Gainsborough for Cloud. Actually, her example is to video game fans what Gwen's was for comic fans for the very same reasons. Her death provides the motive for Cloud to take down Sephiroth, but he is still angsting about it by the time [[Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren the movie]] comes around, though ''[[Anime/FinalFantasyVIIAdventChildren Advent Children Complete]]'' and other materials make it clear that his angst in the film also relates to his failure to find a cure for the Geostigma, afflicting himself and Denzel, a hefty dose of survivor's guilt towards Zack, and depression and anxiety are symptoms of Geostigma.
* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII'': No less than ''three'' people feel this way towards Serah. First and foremost, her sister Lightning and fiancé Snow, the former for not believing her at a key moment, the latter for accidentally getting her captured by a fal'Cie, both of them blaming themselves for her subsequent transformation into a human paperweight. In this iteration, she gets better, but after [[TheHeroDies dropping dead]] at the [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIII2 end of the second game]], Lightning, Snow ''and'' Noel get this trope in spades. [[spoiler:Again, she gets better, due to the universe being rebooted]].
* Noctis suffers from immense guilt at [[spoiler: Luna's death]] in ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'', even though the way it was set up made it seem like it was inevitable.
--> '''Noctis''': All I wanted was to save you...
** Watching Noctis break down and consequently mourn for weeks after it occurred is a punch to the gut, especially when he finally realises [[spoiler: just how much she must have struggled to help him, and how he had been oblivious to all the hardships she had been through until it was too late]] and ends up crying alone.
--> '''Noctis''': It's... so hard... Guess it was hard for you too. I'm sorry... I couldn't be there for you.

* In ''VideoGame/StarCraft'', this is what feels James Raynor right after Sarah Kerrigan is betrayed by Arcturus Mengsk and abandoned during a massive swarm of [[ZergRush Zerg]] overrunning her position. He complains that he shouldn't have let her go alone and that he had to rescue her. However, it is later revealed that she didn't actually die, rather become infested by the Zerg and self-taking the title of Queen of Blades, an evil force who will reduce to ashes anybody who opposes her. It doesn't change much as Raynor thinks that this is a FateWorseThanDeath.
** Defied in ''Brood War'': Kerrigan deceives everybody into thinking that with the death of the Zerg Overmind she became free of its control and murderous attitude, but the truth is that she is manipulating everybody in order to get control of what remains of the Zerg swarm and destroy anything that could threaten her power. Raynor vows to kill her after she murders two main character, including a close friend of the former.
** However, by the time of ''VideoGame/StarCraft2'', the trope returns downplayed (since technically she didn't die, although her former self "died", similarly to how Darth Vader "killed" Anakin Skywalker), as Raynor feels guilty for what happened to Kerrigan and personally responsible for not going to rescue her the day she was taken by the Zerg and turned into a monster.