Line #190 Main/RefusalOfTheCall


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6	[[quoteright:256:[[ComicBook/AmazingFantasyNumber15 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/spidermanburgular.jpg]]]]
7	[[caption-width-right:256:[[MentorOccupationalHazard And we all know how this ends.]]]]
8
9	->'''Lisa:''' I know it's hard, Gary. But you're still the only hope to stop these newer terrorists.\
10	'''Gary:''' Why me?! Why am I the only one?!\
11	'''Lisa:''' Because you're the one with the power to--\
12	'''Gary:''' ''WELL, I DON'T WANT THE FUCKING POWER!'' I don't want the guilt, I don't want the shame, and I don't want the responsibility!
13	-->-- ''Film/TeamAmericaWorldPolice''
14
15	The character, typically the hero, receives a CallToAdventure but at first refuses for some reason. [[YouCantFightFate Events then conspire]] to force them to accept the call, and in a good number of cases, the events in question [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive hit home in a very tragic fashion]].
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17	If this is the second (or further) iteration of a Hero's cycle, it isn't uncommon for the Hero to have [[ForgotTheCall ''forgotten'' his adventures]], given up his Hero powers, or some combination of the two, deliberately or otherwise: this variant of the refusal is CantStayNormal.
18
19	The term comes from anthropologist Joseph Campbell's analysis of heroic sagas; it is a standard feature of such stories. (See TheHerosJourney.)
20
21	Of course some heroes [[JumpedAtTheCall jump at the chance for adventure]]. (Others would have [[MissedTheCall if they'd only gotten it]]!)
22
23	Someone who took the latter of a RedPillBluePill wants to do this to the call in order to go back to their previous lives none the wiser.
24
25	When handled badly, can result in the audience either (a) agreeing with the hero that what they're being asked to do isn't worth it, or (b) getting frustrated at the hero and/or writer wasting their time.
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27	See also: AchillesInHisTent, LeaveYourQuestTest, RefreshinglyNormalLifeChoice and TheDragAlong. Contrast AdventureRebuff and RefusedByTheCall, where [[RussianReversal the call refuses you]], WeAreNotGoingThroughThatAgain which takes place at ''the end'' of a story where the heroes refuse to repeat their adventure when confronted with the possibility, and CantRefuseTheCallAnymore and SymbolicHeroRebirth, when circumstances force the hero to accept the call. Not to be confused with DidntWantAnAdventure.
28
29	For an entire fantasy genre built on this trope, see SlowLifeFantasy.
30
31	----
32	!!Examples:
33	[[index]]
34	* RefusalOfTheCall/AnimeAndManga
35	* RefusalOfTheCall/ComicBooks
36	* RefusalOfTheCall/FanWorks
37	* [[RefusalOfTheCall/LiveActionFilms Films - Live-Action]]
38	* RefusalOfTheCall/{{Literature}}
39	* RefusalOfTheCall/LiveActionTV
40	* RefusalOfTheCall/VideoGames
41	* RefusalOfTheCall/WesternAnimation
42	[[/index]]
43
44	[[foldercontrol]]
45
46	[[folder:Film — Animation]]
47	* Happens in ''Toys/{{Bionicle}}: Mask of Light''. Takua is apparently chosen by the Mask of Light, but he frames events so it appears that it's his friend Jaller instead to the village. Takua promptly gets volunteered to go on TheQuest to find the seventh Toa with Jaller anyway. [[spoiler: Takua finally stops refusing the call after Jaller makes a HeroicSacrifice to save him and puts on the Mask of Light, becoming the Toa of Light.]]
48	* In Disney's ''WesternAnimation/{{The Hunchback of Notre Dame\|Disney}}'', Quasimodo's prominent call to action for direct participation in the over-arching conflict and official picking a side, similarly to Simba's, comes further in to the story when Phoebus asks him to help reach the Court of Miracles in order to warn them of an impending attack that Frollo claimed to have prepared. However, afraid of incurring the wrath of his "master" Frollo as well as having thoughts like, "What am I supposed to do? Go out there and rescue the girl from the jaws of death and the whole town will cheer like I'm some kind of a hero? She already has her knight in shining armor and it's not me," he initially refuses. But because of the weight of his conscience and encouraging from the gargoyles he relents on this decision.
49	* ''WesternAnimation/KungFuPanda1'' plays with this trope: despite his eagerness to watch the tournament in which the new Dragon Warrior is to be chosen, when Po is 'mistakenly' selected by Master Oogway, the panda protests that he can't be the one. Amusingly, but also distressingly, the Furious Five and Master Shifu refuse to accept he's their [[DesignatedHero predestined hero]] either, and do all in their power to convince, persuade, or downright browbeat him into quitting. (And [[LampshadeHanging this is lampshaded]] by Tigress, who insists he doesn't belong and needs to get out so the ''real'' hero can show up.) Yet he continues to keep trying to learn, mostly because he's always dreamed of learning kung fu. Once he finds out what he's expected to do, however (defeat [[BigBad Tai Lung]] all by himself), he literally runs away from the temple. (Perhaps it should be Fleeing from the Call?) Luckily for the [[{{Aesop}} moral of the story]], Shifu stops him and convinces him he can be trained and finds a way to do it. Although Po's [[DoomedHometown hometown isn't doomed]], it is put in danger, and this as well as a pep talk from his Dad and a flash of insight into the Dragon Scroll convince him to accept after all.
50	* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'', Simba's call to action actually comes further into the film than usual when Nala finds him alive and tries to convince him to return to the Pride Lands in order to oust Scar from power and take his place as the rightful king. Because of his guilt over what he thinks he did to his father as well as him having embraced living a life with, "No worries, for the rest of your days" he initially refuses. However after meeting with Rafiki and the spirit of his father, Simba reconsiders it and finds the courage and will to put his past behind him and return to the Pride Lands to accept his responsibility.
51	* In ''WesternAnimation/TitanAE'' the lead Cale Tucker is approached early on by Capt. Joseph Korso to join him on a mission to find the ship called the Titan that is supposed to be the key to saving the human race. Korso putting it, "I want you to risk your life, I want you give up everything you have, to join me on a mission where you'll face terror, and torture, and possibly gruesome death...Because it's worth it. Because the human race needs you." Cale however refuses and only subsequently goes with him when the Drej find and try to capture him.
52	* Ultra Magnus in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersTheMovie'' initially believes he is "not worthy" to keep the Matrix of Leadership and become Autobot leader, but Optimus Prime convinces him to do it. [[spoiler:At the end of the movie, Hot Rod gets it.]]
53	[[/folder]]
54
55	[[folder:Gamebooks]]
56	* The ''Literature/FightingFantasy'' gamebook ''Literature/TheCrimsonTide'' actually allows you to refuse your quest for revenge and instead settle down as a sailor, monk, farmer, or any other career.
57	* There was a ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' {{Gamebook\|s}} where at the first choice, you ''could'' refuse the call. The adventure promptly ended, with the note that you occasionally wonder what might have happened.
58	** A ''Series/DoctorWho'' {{Gamebook\|s}} allowed you to walk straight past the TARDIS, with the same result.
59	[[/folder]]
60
61	[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
62	* ''Literature/TheBible''
63	** Moses initially refuses God's call to go back to Pharaoh's court and demand the Israelites' freedom. His excuse: he's a stutterer -- literally, his "lips are sealed" (also, the fact that he's wanted for murder might have something to do with it). More of a downplayed example because God sees right through the lame excuse and states in no uncertain terms that Moses still has to go, but he can bring his brother Aaron along to make the speeches.
64	** A straighter example would be when Jonah is called by God to deliver a message to a city. Jonah doesn't want to do it, so he tries to run away on a ship. Trying to run away from an omnipresent deity doesn't really work so well. God causes a storm to come up at sea that threatens to sink the ship. Jonah knows why the storm is happening and tells the crew to throw him overboard to save themselves. They reluctantly do so. And that's where the giant fish comes in. Making this OlderThanFeudalism.
65	** While the apostle Peter did indeed follow Jesus around everywhere to the point of claiming he would never abandon him, he broke his promise when Jesus was captured by the Pharisees. It was not until the rooster crowed the third time that he realized his mistake and repented of his sins simply because he remembered Jesus prophesying that he would do this.
66	* This also features in the founding of Islam; some historical traditions hold that Muhammad initially refused to receive Literature/TheQuran because he couldn't read it -- and later on, contemplated committing suicide, for fear of [[GoMadFromTheRevelation becoming a madman]].
67	[[/folder]]
68
69	[[folder:Podcasts]]
70	* ''Podcast/TheAdventureZoneAmnesty'' has TheChosenOne Duck Newton, who refused to fulfill his call... because of a really good french onion soup.
71	[[/folder]]
72
73	[[folder:Roleplay]]
74	* In ''Roleplay/DawnOfANewAgeOldportBlues'', Simon tries his absolute hardest to stay away from anything related to the superpowers he's been given. Whenever one of the other superpowered characters approach him, he deflects them and scarpers off. This only lasts him so long before his SuperpoweredEvilSide takes over, and even when he regains control his mother all but forces him to hang out with the superpowered kids.
75	[[/folder]]
76
77	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
78	* In ''TabletopGame/{{Anathema\|2011}}'', Kindly shrouds are the reanimated spirits of people who dedicated their lives to helping others and are now tasked with culling the human population on a massive scale. They often refuse the call out of horror or disgust. Any shroud can choose to refuse the call, but doing so too much will result in them being hunted down and killed by other shrouds.
79	* In ''TabletopGame/HunterTheReckoning'', hunters who refuse TheCall are known as [[http://whitewolf.wikia.com/wiki/Bystander bystanders]]; they lose all their briefly-granted powers, but retain a knowledge of the truth behind the setting's {{Masquerade}}.
80	* ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000''; the Emperor approached Primarch Angron when the latter was just about to commit to a LastStand with his fellow gladiators, telling him he had to leave and join the Great Crusade. Angron told him to shove it and that he was going to die fighting with his friends, but the Emperor wouldn't take no for an answer and essentially kidnapped Angron just as the battle was getting started, abandoning his army to their doom. [[StartOfDarkness Angron would never forgive the Emperor for this]] and would be one of the first Primarchs to join Horus' rebellion against him.
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Theatre]]
84	* ''Theatre/AngelsInAmerica'': Prior Walter's immediate reaction to a visitation from an angel and being summoned to be "the Prophet"? "''I. WANT.'' You to go away! I'm tired to death of being done to, walked out on, ''infected'', fucked over and ''now'' tortured by some mixed-up reactionary angel--"
85	* [[Theatre/ArtusExcalibur Artus - Excalibur]]: Artus' first reaction to the call is refusal. Guinevere talks him into accepting it.
86	* ''Theatre/CyranoDeBergerac'': In Act I scene V, best friend [[{{Herald}} Le Bret]] heralds the CallToAdventure to Cyrano: Confess his love to the beautiful Roxane. Cyrano refuses the offer then, and even later when [[ThresholdGuardians Christian]], another of Roxane's suitors, almost forces him to confess in Act IV. [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive Cyrano's tragedy is that he keeps refusing the call until he is sure that Roxane will not cruelly reject him, and when that happens]], [[YouAreTooLate it's too late]].
87	-->'''Le Bret''': Her lips parted, her hand\
88	Thus, at her breast I saw it! Speak to her\
89	[[CallToAdventure Speak, man!]]\
90	'''Cyrano''': [[TheGrotesque Through my nose?]] [[RefusalOfTheCall She might laugh at me;]]\
91	[[ParalyzingFearOfSexuality That is the one thing in this world I fear]]!
92	* Glinda refuses the call to adventure when Elphaba asks her to join her at the end of Act 1 of ''Theatre/{{Wicked}}''. Unusual in that she refused because accepting would cost her everything, and in the end she pretty much lost everything anyway, it just wasn't due to her refusal of the call.
93	[[/folder]]
94
95	[[folder:Visual Novels]]
96	* In the [=PS2=] version of ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'', it's very possible to refuse the call by carefully avoiding setting off any triggers. It leads to an arc in which [[spoiler:"Mion" appears to start going nuts]], but Keiichi refuses to get involved, leading to [[spoiler:the death of everyone with the actual Mion's death being delayed by ten years while she's catatonic]].
97	[[/folder]]
98
99	[[folder:Web Animation]]
100	* ''WebAnimation/TheMostEpicStoryEverToldInAllOfHumanHistory'': During “The Most Epic Superhero Origin Story Ever”, Epic-Man declares his intent to save the world with the help of Epic Fail and Epic Robot Guy. Epic Robot Guy’s response is to run away.
101	* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Oscar [[IJustWantToBeSpecial longs for more]] to life than being a farm-boy on an isolated farm. He initially doesn't know it, but he is born special; in a world where being unique is worth dying for, he mysteriously has an identical Aura and Soul to those of one other extremely enigmatic individual. [[spoiler:Ozpin has a responsibility to protect four dangerous, divine Relics from destroying humanity; his ArchNemesis, [[BigBad Salem]], destroys Beacon Academy in Volume 3, leaving the world thinking Ozpin is dead. However, [[BigGood Ozpin]] is secretly a [[BodySurf body-surfer]] who [[LegacyOfTheChosen merges with special hosts]] instead of dying. It's implied that Ozpin cannot choose to body-surf when Oscar becomes the new host after the fall of Beacon much to the dismay of both of them. Oscar spends Volume 4 trying to deny Ozpin's existence and [[ItSucksToBeTheChosenOne refuse the responsibility]] for protecting the world that has now been dumped on his shoulders.]]
102	[[/folder]]
103
104	[[folder:Webcomics]]
105	* ''Webcomic/BobAndGeorge'':
106	** [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/000517c The Author, playing Megaman, does not react to news that Dr. Wily is going to take over the world.]]
107	** [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/050102c A title character fight for a piddling secondary character?]] [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/050103c Only after some]] discreet FlawExploitation.
108	* In ''Webcomic/GirlGenius'', we get a character who's aware of this trope: Othar Tryggvassen, GentlemanAdventurer! He explains it to the heroine, Agatha (emphasis in original). He ''is'' wrong in that he thinks she'll become [[TheCape a traditional hero]] and/or his {{sidekick}}, rather than what she really is: a ReluctantMadScientist [[spoiler: and heir to the Heterodyne family]].
109	-->'''Othar''': ...something you should remember as you fight evil.\
110	'''Agatha''': I told you. I'm not '''''doing''''' that. You can't '''''make''''' me.\
111	'''Othar''': Make you? ''[laughs, loudly]'' You ran '''''straight at''''' that danger without even '''''thinking'''''. '''''That's''''' who and what you '''''are'''''. You say you want a normal life. We '''''all''''' say that at one time or another. You deserve your '''''chance''''' at it. I'll be back in about three months -- and we'll see how "normal" you are.\
112	''[he leaves]''\
113	'''Agatha''': He only sees what he '''''wants''''' to see. Which is why he's '''''completely wrong''''' about me.
114	* ''Webcomic/{{Godslave}}'': Edith doesn't want to go around searching for Anpu's ''ba'', but the Blacksmiths just won't leave her alone.
115	* ''Webcomic/TheGreatWizardTranscendent'' in the first timeline had Mikhail refusing the hero role much to his regret later on.
116	* Early on in ''Webcomic/TheLastHalloween'', Mona very emphatically (and sensibly, considering that she's an ordinary 10-year-old girl) refuses to embark on a mythical quest through a world overrun by monsters to save humanity. TheHerosJourney is specifically brought up by the GenreSavvy quest-giver, and it ultimately takes a [[BreakingTheFourthWall Fourth-Wall breaking]] to make her agree.
117	-->'''Shirley''': Mona, just say yes, this got old [[MediumAwareness six panels ago]].
118	* In ''Webcomic/MutantNinjaTurtlesGaiden'', the turtles have such extreme psychological damage that all but Leo take up this trope (and even Leo has some aspects of this). Raph is on a self-destructive path of drinking and [[spoiler:self-mutilation]], Mikey has [[spoiler:moved to the surface and is living the life of a reclusive writer]], and Donnie stays in his lab, rarely interacting with ''anyone''. While Raph is still up to a little rough action now and then, Mikey repeatedly breaks down at the thought of combat (even to save loved ones!), and Donnie, who's become [[spoiler:disconnected from reality]] and a cold-blooded TrueNeutral (perhaps even edging toward Evil), comes within an inch of [[spoiler:killing a young child]] to convince himself that he has nothing to do with the surface world anymore. A far cry from their days of teenage heroism!
119	* In ''Webcomic/NoRestForTheWicked'', Perrault laughs at the idea of helping November, until she points out that he's bored.
120	%%* Discussed in [[http://oglaf.com/yummymummies/ this]] strip from ''Webcomic/{{Oglaf}}''.
121	* ''Webcomic/PrincessChroma'': June would love to not be a MagicalGirl, but she just can't [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive catch a break]].
122	* In ''Webcomic/RustyAndCo'', [[http://rustyandco.com/comic/level2/level-2-5/ Mimic refuses Madeline's proposed quest.]] But then, when the plot hook is deliverd bu artillery...
123	* ''Webcomic/StandStillStaySilent'': Onni initially refuses to go on the expedition due to outright fearing the [[ForbiddenZone Silent World]], but intends to keep contact with Lalli via the mage-exclusive dream space. Just a little after the expedition leaves, a danger that is referred to simply as "it" makes magical communication dangerous for Onni and Lalli. A non-magical means of keeping in contact with Lalli however happens to exist: the communication radio that MissionControl is using. Onni ends up joining them and accepting to do grunt work to get access to the radio.
124	[[/folder]]
125
126	[[folder:Web Original]]
127	* ''LetsPlay/{{Chorocojo}}'s'' ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}} [=FireRed=]'' LetsPlay: Sammy has absolutely no interest in being a Pokémon trainer, and would rather just stay inside and play video games. [[spoiler: This stems from an incident when she was nearly carried away by a Skarmory as a child.]] She eventually relents when she finds out one of her stops is shopping mecca Celadon City, does enough of the journey to get there and buy video games and consoles, then immediately heads back home, only returning to the call for purely selfish reasons (such as Team Rocket interrupting her favorite show, or raising more money to buy even more video games).
128	* ''{{Literature/Deviant}}'': Cassandra Jansen, the main protagonist of the web serial, is told that she's the pivotal figure in a prophecy involving [[spoiler: the end of the world.]] She's having none of it, and essentially tells one of the most powerful superhumans in the world to go fuck themselves.
129	* Pretty much all five protagonists from the web fiction serial ''Literature/DimensionHeroes'' are uninterested in saving the world, one going so far as to throw his Guardian Band away. Unfortunately, none of them have any choice in the matter.
130	* This is how Jonas Wharton of ''WebVideo/LG15TheResistance'' reacts when the Hymn of None attempts to persuade him to lead the Resistance in the first chapter, "A Call To Arms". In the end, the FBI turn up investigating claims that Jonas has committed acts of terrorism and murder, which forces him into action.
131	* ''Blog/LimyaaelsFantasyRants'': Limyaael feels very strongly about [[http://limyaael.livejournal.com/466351.html making good reluctant heroes]].
132	* Starting in ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQ6jisr1Nlk&index=1&list=PLSQLREUw9vwlh8bzgvZCt_WS8615trN5H&t=0s A Link Between Videos]]'' and running through the whole series, Link categorically refuses every attempt to get him on track (unless promised the power of flight or bacon) instead wandering the land and goofing off. More or less like the average player...
133	* Pretty much what ''Blog/LivingInOblivion'' is all about: What happens in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' if the [[PlayerCharacter Champion of Cyrodiil]] prefers to live an ordinary life as an {{NPC}}? (Who would want [[http://notmydesk.com/npc/nondrick004.jpg this]] guy's face on any coins, anyway?)
134	* Spoofed in [[http://imgur.com/gallery/J5sbp this]] Tumblr comic (nicknamed "Nope: the Anime" by Imgur), about a girl who's obviously destined to be a main character but fights against it tooth and nail: she throws away {{Transformation Trinket}}s, ignores HumongousMecha battles, refuses to make ThePromise, and sits in the absolute middle of the classroom to avert ConvenientlySeated. The only aspect of it she actually likes is [[DramaticHighPerching standing on telephone poles]]. "Also, Dad told me to stop [[FirstPersonSmartass that narrating crap]]."
135	* Phase from the ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse''. He doesn't want to be a superhero, he just wants to be a normal guy, become the CEO of Goodkind International, and live a normal life. Unfortunately, nobody really cares what he wants. Pity he's got into more fights then most of Team Kimba combined... though, at least he has a company to run, which is nice. [[spoiler:Marvel.]]
136	[[/folder]]
137
138	[[folder:Real Life]]
139	* In 97 AD, [[UsefulNotes/HanDynasty ancient Chinese]] diplomat [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gan_Ying Ying Gan]] was tasked with making contact between Imperial China and UsefulNotes/TheRomanEmpire. He made it as far as [[UsefulNotes/TheSevenSeas the Persian Gulf]] and asked a group of [[UsefulNotes/{{Iran}} Parthian sailors]] how long it would take to cross. They told him anywhere between three months to two years depending on the winds, and many didn't survive the round trip. Upon hearing this, [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere he immediately turned around and went home]]. It wasn't until almost 70 years later that the two empires finally made contact when a group of Romans claiming to have been sent by Marcus Aurelius visited the Chinese emperor.
140	[[/folder]]

Context Main / RefusalOfTheCall