Line #97 Main/IndividualityIndex


1	An index for tropes that deal with themes of individuality[[note]]The state of being an individual[[/note]] and individualistic[[note]]To behave in your own individual interests or to engage in actions consistent with individualism.[[/note]] traits and behaviors.
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3	!!Tropes:
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5	[[index]]
6	* AbileneParadox: A character doesn't want to do something but does it because they erroneously believe that doing so is what the group wants.
7	* AgainstTheGrain: A character has no intention of following social expectations, wishing to forge their own path.
8	* AGodAmI: A character decides that they are a God or have god-like power and nothing can stop them.
9	* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: A character is ostracized by the group for being different.
10	* AmbitionIsEvil: A villainous character has ambitions and are willing to do whatever it takes to see them come to fruition.
11	* AnarchyIsChaos: The belief that anarchy will lead to chaos can be used for individualistic characters who revel in death and destruction.
12	* AntiSchoolUniformsPlot: Students rebel against having to wear school uniforms, seeing them as a symbol against individual expression.
13	* AwesomeEgo: A character is egotistical but they're so cool and awesome about it that people love them for it instead of finding them infuriating to deal with.
14	* BeYourself: One of the most common aesops, in which a character must learn to be themselves instead of trying to be like someone else.
15	* BigEgoHiddenDepths: A character has a large ego but that is one facet of their entire personality.
16	* BlitheSpirit: A character whose eternal optimism challenges the dreary, cynical world around them.
17	* ChafingAgainstTheDressCode: Characters rebel against the idea of being bound to a certain dress code.
18	* CollectiveIdentity: Several individuals take up a single identity, but are otherwise different people who have their own take on the identity.
19	* ConMan: A person who tricks people into giving them money and other valuables, and may use all sorts of tricks and manipulations to get what they want.
20	* CowboyCop: A loose cannon who does police work their own way instead of doing it by the book.
21	* DeckOfWildCards: Every member of the villainous faction is trying to usurp the BigBad and take his place in the evil hierachy for themselves.
22	* DisobeyThisMessage: An attempt at teaching people not to blindly obey authority falls flat due to it implying "don't blindly obey authority except me".
23	* DoNotCallMePaul: Character A's name is disregarded by Character B, showing a lack of respect for Character A's individual identity.
24	* TheDissenterIsAlwaysRight: A character who goes against popular consensus ends up being correct instead of wrong.
25	* TheDrifter: A character who travels from place to place, helping out the local townsfolk before leaving again.
26	* DyingAsYourself: A character overcomes their corruption or brainwashing, allowing them to die as themselves.
27	* EnlightenedSelfInterest: A character decides to help the agendas of others because it fathers their own interests in turn.
28	* TheEvilsOfFreeWill: A villainous character believes that free will should be eliminated due to some people choosing to do awful things.
29	* UsefulNotes/{{Existentialism}}: There is no objective right or wrong, and the only thing that shapes your beliefs and ethics are your own decisions.
30	* FightingYourGod: A character decides that they must go one step further - punching God in the face!
31	* FlashyProtagonistsBlandExtras: Main characters tend to have designs that allow them to stand out while background characters have more ordinary designs that blend with the background.
32	* FriendshipHatingAntagonist: An antagonist who hates friendship and bonds, and in some cases has a very individualist bent to their hatred.
33	* GangOfHats: A criminal gang uses a specific or downright esoteric gimmick to differentiate themselves from the competition.
34	* GenocideFromTheInside: A character commits genocide upon their own race.
35	* GloryHound: A person who seeks glory and will use all sorts of underhanded if not outright illegal means to achieve it.
36	* TheHedonist: A person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure and the maintenance of their pleasurable lifestyle is the purpose of life.
37	* TheHermit: A person who chooses to live alone away from society for varying reasons.
38	* HeroWithBadPublicity: The hero has a bad reputation amongst the public despite trying their best to save lives and stop villains.
39	* HunterOfHisOwnKind: A character from a non-human species may hunt down members of their own kind who are often portrayed as AlwaysChaoticEvil.
40	* {{Hypocrite}}: A character who doesn't practice what they preach and is often inconsistent in their beliefs.
41	* IAmNotHim: A character makes it clear that they are not that other person and that they do things their way.
42	* IAmNotMyFather: A character decides to go their own way and actively decides not to repeat their parent:
43	* IAmWhatIAm: A character comes to terms with who they are and accepts their flaws.
44	* IdentityBreakdown: A character undergoes a breakdown due to revelations or issues that make them question their identity.
45	* IndividualismVsCollectivism: Works that deal with this either portray individualism as liberating or toxic depending on the work.
46	* IndividualityIsIllegal: Individuality is ruthlessly stamped out by society to ensure conformity.
47	* IneffectualLoner: A loner who despite their individualistic drive is utterly inept and gets their asses handed to them every time.
48	* ItsAllAboutMe: A character is egotistical enough that they think everything revolves around them.
49	* ItAmusedMe: A character does something solely because it amused them.
50	* IWorkAlone: A character declines help, stating that they work alone.
51	* JourneyToFindOneself: A character travels on a quest for self discovery.
52	* LeavingYouToFindMyself: A character ends a relationship or marriage in order to find themselves.
53	* LibertariansInSpace: Characters with an individualistic drive for life leave the Earth and venture off into space to find a more individualistic society.
54	* LibertyOverProsperity: A character believes it that it is better to be poor and free than to be better off under the control of others.
55	* LonersAreFreaks: When being a loner is seen as weird or socially unacceptable.
56	* LossOfIdentity: A character starts to lose their sense of identity due to life changes, revelations or trauma.
57	* TheManIsStickingItToTheMan: A character decides to express their individuality by buying a mass-produced product
58	* MergerOfSouls: A singular being is created from many souls, either through natural means or artificial.
59	* MightyLumberjack: A character is portrayed as a rugged, masculine individual due to their life as a lumberjack.
60	* MilesGloriosus: A character whose proud bravado is sharply contrasted by their cowardice in the face of a real fight.
61	* MilitaryMaverick: A member of the military who doesn't follow military protocol and does things their own way, even if such things would get them court martialled in reality.
62	* MisanthropeSupreme: A human character despises other of their kind, and may in extreme cases actually want them all to die.
63	* MisunderstoodLonerWithAHeartOfGold: A loner has a bad reputation but despite that is actually a good person.
64	* MoralMyopia: A character believes their actions are justified but tends to be far less forgiving when anyone does the same thing as them.
65	* {{Narcissist}}: A self centred individual whose ego is so high that they see nothing wrong with making other people's lives revolve around them and ruining anyone who slights them.
66	* NominalImportance: A character's importance to the overall story is defined by them having an actual name.
67	* NonconformistDyedHair: A character is depicted as rebellious or non-conforming due to having dyed hair.
68	* NonUniformUniform: A character wears an alternate or specialized version of a school/work/military uniform which makes them stand out.
69	* NoPlaceForMeThere: A person fighting for a utopian vision of the world accepts that such a world cannot include them due to them being a part of the problem.
70	* UsefulNotes/{{Objectivism}}: An individualist right-wing ideology popularized by the novel Literature/AtlasShrugged which involves laissez-faire capitalism, non-theistic pragmatic realism and EnlightenedSelfInterest.
71	* OffendedByAnInferiorsSuccess: A character feels offended that someone they deem "inferior" is more successful than they are or that they don't deserve the success they currently have.
72	* OffTheGrid: A character either through choice or necessity can no longer rely on modern conveniences, forcing them to move around constantly and pay for everything in cash.
73	* OmnicidalManiac: A character who wants to either render their kind extinct, destroy everything in their world and in extreme cases the universe and all of creation.
74	* OpinionMyopia: A character believes that their opinion is right and justified while thinking that other people are wrong, even if they share a similar opinion.
75	* OrderVersusChaos: Most uses of this trope tend to have Chaos fall under the side of individualism in contrast to Order being seen as collectivist.
76	* PassionIsEvil: A villainous character is portrayed as someone who is chaotic, impulsive and ruled by their passions.
77	* PatrioticFervor: When portrayed as good, it is used as a celebration of the people and their individuality.
78	* PeerPressureMakesYouEvil: Going along with group think is depicted as bad or evil.
79	* PennyAmongDiamonds: A poor or common person finds themselves surrounded by wealthy or privileged people, making them stand out in their new environment.
80	* ProtagonistCentredMorality: A main character's actions are forgiven by the narrative yet if another character does the same thing, they get criticized for it.
81	* QuestForIdentity: An amnesiac character goes on a quest to discover who they are (or were).
82	* RagsToRiches: A character who was once poor managed to climb out of poverty in order to become far better off than they started.
83	* RogueDrone: A character breaks away from the HiveMind and becomes their own person in the process.
84	* RomanticismVersusEnlightenment: Most uses of this trope tend to have Romanticism fall on the individualist side with Enlightment being the more collectivist of the two.
85	* SelfImposedExile: A character wilfully exiles themselves from their previous society after a great mistake or crime on their part.
86	* SelfMadeMan: A person who through hard work, connections and luck manages to rise above their former station and become well off.
87	* SmallNameBigEgo: A character considers themselves top banana despite their ego vastly outweighing their actual talents, intelligence and power.
88	* SocialClimber: A character who does everything in their power to increase their social status, even if they have crush others underfoot to achieve their ideal lifestyle.
89	* TheSociopath: Sociopaths are often in it for themselves and will gladly use and abuse others to get what they want.
90	* UsefulNotes/{{Solipsism}}: An individualist philosophy that believes that only the self is the only thing that can be known and verified.
91	* TheStarscream: A character who is often trying to usurp the leader of their group so ''they'' can rule it as leader instead.
92	* StrawNihilist: A character whose believes that everything is pointless and that there is no point in living at all.
93	* SuperSupremacist: A character with super powers believes themselves to be superior to those devoid of superpowers, often to the point of believing that ''they'' should rule over mortals instead of them running their own societies.
94	* ThenLetMeBeEvil: A character decides that because everyone keeps treating them like a jerk and/or villain, they might as well become one.
95	* TheseusShipParadox: If you replace all the parts of an object or replace all the cells of a person overtime, are they still the original object/same person?
96	* {{Ubermensch}}: The ideal man as envisioned in Nietzsche's philosophy. The Ubermensch is often an individualist ideal of independence, willpower and creating one's one personal values.
97	* UniformityException: A character who is a part of an otherwise identical group has a feature or something else that makes them stand out.
98	* UniqueProtagonistAsset: A protagonist has something special about them that makes them the main hero over the other potential main character candidates.
99	* VillainWithGoodPublicity: The villain has a good reputation amongst the public despite their actual misdeeds behind closed doors.
100	* WildCard: A character whose allegiance is unpredictable and serves only one side: theirs.
101	* WorkingClassHero: A character who is from the working class and who struggles against the day to day grind of society and its expectations.
102	[[/index]]
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