History Main / SatisfiedStreetrat

Frequently {{Anti Hero}}es, and often {{Byronic Hero}}es. The degree to which the character is well-adjusted versus is harboring a lot of pain inside depends on the writer. See also WrongSideOfTheTracks, NeighbourhoodFriendlyGangsters. As children they are more likely to have been TheArtfulDodger rather than the StreetUrchin, but the Dodger is more of a trickster where the Street Rat is more of a cutthroat. May have been raised by TheFagin. Those who knew the Street Rat as a more vulnerable child may see them as a case of FromNobodyToNightmare in adulthood.

* ''LightNovel/AiNoKusabi'': AntiHero BadassBiker Riki is a subversion. He maybe proud on the outside but was anything but satisfied from being [[WrongSideOfTheTracks raised in a slum and treated as a mongrel]].

* Hissune from ''Literature/LordValentinesCastle'' is this, played straight in the novel itself, while in the sequel [[spoiler: it's subverted as all hell, when Lord Valentine makes him a nobleman and eventually Valentine's successor as king of Majipoor.]]
* Demetrios Makropolous in "Literature/ACoffinForDimitrios" (filmed as "The Mask of Demetrios" with Peter Lorre, Sidney Greenstreet and Zachary Scott). Demetrios goes from poor fig packer to murderer, smuggler, assassin and spy.

* Pepe from Richard Powell's ''Don Quixote, U.S.A.'' cheerfully steals, cheats, lies and fights his way through life on the San Marcos streets and, later, as self-appointed sidekick to Arthur.

* Mickey Milkovich on ''Series/ShamelessUS''. Still not out of his teens, he comes across as much older, is a pimp and assaults people whenever it suits him. Much of this stems from his harsh upbringing under his violent and erratic father and his family's general involvement in criminal activity, which is nonetheless not very lucrative, as they are fairly poor. That Mickey's father Terry is [[HeteronormativeCrusader brutally homophobic]] (probably due to [[PrisonRape experiences]] during his many stints in prison) and Mickey is a {{Gayngster}} also contributes to his must-kick-ass-to-survive mentality.

* Quain'tana of ''Webcomic/{{Drowtales}}'' grew up on the streets with no apparent parents and eventually rose to be one of the greatest war leaders in the worldsetting. Her first "pack" was composed of other street rats that eventually grew into a mercenary empire, but unlike other examples her lack of parental figures [[MaternallyChallenged really takes its toll on her children]].

** Mimeo; his childhood consisted of being a numbers runner on the streets of New York City, right up until he was told to kill some people or be killed. He gained superpowers and managed to avoid the problem, by putting his father and two assassins in the hospital. He's a super villain who will do pretty much anything except kill people, and he has selfish reasons for holding back on that account.

* ''Film/GoodWillHunting'': Will was one up until his genius is discovered.

* Aladdin from the Disney 1992 film ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'' is a proud and resourceful street rat who has no qualms about stealing to survive. At the same time though, he has a kind heart and is actually quite selfless. His entire EstablishingCharacterMoment consists of a song sequence where he sings that he has no qualms doing what he has to do and how he has to steal food to survive... and then concludes with him finding a couple of starving street kids and [[PetTheDog giving them the food he stole with no hesitation]].

** [[SelfFulfillingProphecy Sahar]], who grew up as an orphan in Beirut in the 1990s, describes ''herself'' as having been a SatisfiedStreetRat even after being recruited by the CIA, and [[DepravedBisexual behaved as such]] while at Whateley Academy right up until she [[SchoolgirlLesbians fell in love with Zenith]].

* Aladdin from the Disney 1992 film ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'' is a proud and resourceful street rat who has no qualms about stealing to survive. At the same time though, he has a kind heart and is actually quite selfless.

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gotham_set_pics_catwoman_1_630x561.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:No juvie for this street rat (or should that be ''cat''?)]]

'''Hari:''' (''laughs'') I had a great childhood. Where do you think I learned how to fight? By the time I was eight, I knew: Every fight is a fight to the death.

* Adrestia from ''Webcomic/MorphE''.

* Mimeo of the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse''. His childhood consisted of being a numbers runner on the streets of New York City, right up until he was told to kill some people or be killed. He gained superpowers and managed to avoid the problem, by putting his father and two assassins in the hospital. He's a super villain who will do pretty much anything except kill people, and he has selfish reasons for holding back on that account.

** [[SelfFulfillingProphecy Sahar]], who grew up as an orphan in Beirut in the 1990s, describes ''herself'' as having been a SatisfiedStreetRat even after being recruited by the CIA, and behaved as such while at Whateley Academy right up until she [[SchoolgirlLesbians fell in love with Zenith]].

** [[SelfFulfillingProphecyOfDoom Sahar]], who grew up as an orphan in Beirut in the 1990s, describes ''herself'' as having been a SatisfiedStreetRat even after being recruited by the CIA, and behaved as such while at Whateley Academy right up until she [[SchoolgirlLesbians fell in love with Zenith]].

# Is currently a badass of significant caliber, often in a less-than-legal profession, with a [[TheCynic cynical view towards life]] and a [[CombatPragmatist practical view]] [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty towards combat]]. (''Many'' are very fond of making their foe TalkToTheFist, oddly enough.)

* Doc Worth from ''Webcomic/HannaIsNotABoysName'' partly fits: he has the less-than-legal job and is proud of it and his dingy place. It is unknown what his childhood or relationship with his family were like, but they were well-off enough to pay off hi med school expenses.

* Selina "Cat" Kyle in ''Series/{{Gotham}}''. She uses Jim Gordon to stay out of juvie, but has no interest in him finding her kind of better life, and seems quite happy in her career as a pickpocket.

* It's very common for up-and-coming MixedMartialArts fighters to point to their rough childhood as evidence of their toughness and commitment. More experienced fighters tend to shift their focus towards their professional accomplishments.

%%* Mission Vao from ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic''.

* Aladdin from the Disney 1992 film ''Disney/{{Aladdin}}'' is a proud and resourceful street rat who has no qualms about stealing to survive.

Frequently {{Anti-Hero}}es, and often {{Byronic Hero}}es. The degree to which the character is well-adjusted versus is harboring a lot of pain inside depends on the writer. See also WrongSideOfTheTracks, NeighbourhoodFriendlyGangsters. As children they are more likely to have been TheArtfulDodger rather than the StreetUrchin, but the Dodger is more of a trickster where the Street Rat is more of a cutthroat. May have been raised by TheFagin. Those who knew the Street Rat as a more vulnerable child may see them as a case of FromNobodyToNightmare in adulthood.

# Is currently a badass of significant caliber, often in a less-than-legal profession, with a [[WorldHalfEmpty cynical view towards life]] and a [[CombatPragmatist practical view]] [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty towards combat]]. (''Many'' are very fond of making their foe TalkToTheFist, oddly enough.)

Frequently [[AntiHero Anti-Heroes]]. The degree to which the character is well-adjusted versus is harboring a lot of pain inside depends on the writer. See also WrongSideOfTheTracks, NeighbourhoodFriendlyGangsters. As children they are more likely to have been TheArtfulDodger rather than the StreetUrchin, but the Dodger is more of a trickster where the Street Rat is more of a cutthroat. May have been raised by TheFagin. Those who knew the Street Rat as a more vulnerable child may see them as a case of FromNobodyToNightmare in adulthood.

* ''{{Kim}}'' in the Creator/RudyardKipling book by that title.

* Mickey Milkovich on ''Series/{{Shameless}} (US)''. Still not out of his teens, he comes across as much older, is a pimp and assaults people whenever it suits him. Much of this stems from his harsh upbringing under his violent and erratic father and his family's general involvement in criminal activity, which is nonetheless not very lucrative, as they are fairly poor. That Mickey's father Terry is [[HeteronormativeCrusader brutally homophobic]] (probably due to [[PrisonRape experiences]] during his many stints in prison) and Mickey is a {{Gayngster}} also contributes to his must-kick-ass-to-survive mentality.

# Is currently a {{Badass}} of significant caliber, often in a less-than-legal profession, with a [[WorldHalfEmpty cynical view towards life]] and a [[CombatPragmatist practical view]] [[TryingToCatchMeFightingDirty towards combat]]. (''Many'' are very fond of making their foe TalkToTheFist, oddly enough.)

* ''Literature/Literature/EndersShadow'': Both Bean and his arch-enemy, Achilles, show elements of this, having spent their early years fighting to survive on the streets. Bean is more well-adjusted and doesn't seem to dwell on it much. Achilles turned out to be a complete sociopath who just ''can not'' let anyone who has ever seen him in a position of weakness live very long. Part of his obsession with Bean seems to stem from just how frequently Bean has ''put'' him in positions of weakness.

* Both [[EndersGame Bean]] and his arch-enemy, Achilles, show elements of this, having spent their early years fighting to survive on the streets. Bean is more well-adjusted and doesn't seem to dwell on it much. Achilles turned out to be a complete sociopath who just CAN'T let anyone who has ever seen him in a position of weakness live very long. Part of his obsession with Bean seems to stem from just how frequently Bean has PUT HIM in positions of weakness.

* In ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'', Kyoko Sakura is the MagicalGirl version of this. [[spoiler: She wasn't always that way.]]
* Mugen from ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo''.

* Revy from ''Manga/BlackLagoon''. Fabiola is a subversion. Fabiola grew up under similar circumstances to Revy but still clings to ''some'' degree of morality. Granted in ''Black Lagoon'', that's not saying much...
* ''Manga/{{Hellsing}}'s'' Jan Valentine, ''[[PsychoForHire big time]]'' but he does have a hatred for aristocrats, which [[ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill isn't good for them]].
* Mugen from ''Anime/SamuraiChamploo''.
* Kazuma from ''Anime/{{Scryed}}''

* Minene Uryuu from ''Manga/MiraiNikki''.
* ''LightNovel/AiNoKusabi'': AntiHero BadassBiker Riki is a subversion. He maybe proud on the outside but was anything but satisfied from being [[WrongSideOfTheTracks raised in a slum and treated as a mongrel]].

# Is happy and even proud of their DarkAndTroubledPast, believing that their trial by fire [[SocialDarwinist makes them superior]]. This may make them cocky, but they usually have the savvy and muscle to back up their arrogance.

* Doc Worth from ''Webcomic/HannaIsNotABoysName'' partly fits: he has the less-than-legal job and is proud of it and his dingy place. It is unknown what his chidhood or relationship with his family were like, but they were well-off enough to pay off hi med school expenses.

* Evangeline, from ''Webcomic/AutumnBay''.

* [[FragileSpeedster The Scout]] from ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2''
* Jules from ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXII''.
* Mission Vao from ''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic''.