History Main / UndeadBarefooter

* Most of the Special Infected from ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'' have discarded their shoes--in fact, only the Tank and the Smoker still have footwear. The Boomer has lost his shoes and goes around in socks. All of the other Specials are barefoot, though the Hunter in particular is unusual in that, as a former ''[[LaParkour traceur]]'', he's deliberately shed his shoes in order to improve his mobility (versus the others who seem to have lost them incidentally). He seems to have a habit of picking his clothes off in general, as his sleeves and pantlegs are also torn off, presumably to minimize wind resistance in his traversal.

* The Hunter from ''VideoGame/Left4Dead2'' has discarded his shoes. He seems to have a habit of picking his clothes off in general, as his sleeves and pantlegs are also torn off.

Within this trope, the term "undead" is interpreted extensively: from common zombies and vampires to angel-like souls from Paradise (in the latter case, the absence of shoes may also symbolize [[BarefootSage enlightenment]]). In works of East Asian origin this is a relatively common occurrence with the spirits of those who were DrivenToSuicide (that is, if they have feet) [[BarefootSuicide because it is somehow seen as normal to remove your shoes before killing yourself]].

Many undead characters look very similar to humans, and may only be distinguished from them by some subtle detail; one of the common choices is [[DoesNotLikeShoes a lack of footwear]]. This has to do with the fact that while some items of clothing have a more social role (i. e. reflecting a person's inner side), shoes are largely worn for convenience; therefore someone who no longer feels cold or pain may be more comfortable barefoot. It may also give an effect of surprise or act as a supernatural "tell": when you see that a seemingly human character is barefoot in very inappropriate circumstances, like cold weather, you may suspect that there's actually something strange about them.

* The illustrations to ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'' usually depict all the deceased characters (including Virgil) barefoot; Dante wearing shoes literally symbolizes that he's the only living person there.

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* Music/TheBeatles were the subject of a ConspiracyTheory that Music/PaulMcCartney died and was replaced with a lookalike is supposedly supported by the cover of ''Music/AbbeyRoad'' symbolically depicting a funeral procession, with Paul, the only one going barefoot and out-of-step with the rest, representing the corpse. (As for the rest: Music/JohnLennon [[GoldAndWhiteAreDivine in white]] is an angel, or perhaps Jesus; Music/RingoStarr in a black suit is an undertaker; and Music/GeorgeHarrison in denim is a gravedigger.)

* In ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'', the vampires James and Victoria traveled barefoot, since it gave them no discomfort and allowed to run faster. Bella may also be getting into this habit: after her transformation into a vampire, she kicked off her shoes before going on her first hunt.

* ''Literature/ReturnOfTheWolfMan'' set in the [[''Franchise/UniversalHorror'' Universal Monsters franchise]] have Sandra Mornay, risen as Dracula's vampire bride, is barefoot. As she's an undead monster, she does not care. Dracula ordered her to walk in water, preventing that the Wolf Man track her via scent.

* Grimm, an functionally undead being who can resurrect from death through the power of her patron deity in ''LightNovel/CombatantsWillBeDispatched'' is an accidental example: one of her curses backfired and robbed her of the ability to use footwear, and trying to cover her feet results in Grimm's black magic overloading and enveloping her in an explosion. Notably, her state of being does ''not'' protect her feet in any way; combined with her other backfired curses, she's now restricted to a wheelchair for most practical purposes.
* ''Manga/{{Happiness}}'' near all the vampires go barefoot.
* ''LightNovel/Overlord2012'', Ainz Ooal Gown's skeleton army do not wear shoes with their suits of armor (with the exception of Death Knight) and it was not shown if Ainz himself has any shoes under his robes.