Basic Trope: A character calls themselves a monster in self-hatred, usually because of "What Have I Become?"
- Straight: Chris turns into a were-hyena. Afterwards, he reaches a Despair Event Horizon and starts lamenting about how he's now a monster.
- Exaggerated: Chris is so distraught after becoming a were-hyena that he is Driven to Suicide.
- Downplayed: Chris is upset and confused about being a were-hyena, but doesn't necessarily suffer self-hatred.
- Justified:
- Chris had a hatred of werebeasts before being turned into one, so it's understandable that he might hate himself for becoming one as well.
- Chris was disturbed by transforming into something he isn't.
- Chris has Alternate Identity Amnesia as a were-hyena, and has no idea if he could've potentially killed someone then due to his lack of control.
- Or, alternatively, Chris remembers all of his actions when transformed and knows for a fact that he killed someone. And that he liked it. It's understandable that he's horrified by this.
- Inverted:
- Chris calls himself a monster in appreciation, possibly due to Transhuman Treachery.
- Someone else calls Chris a monster.
- Subverted:
- "I am a monster… capable of destroying anyone who stands in my way!"
- "I am a monster.. at playing Chess!
- Double Subverted:
- "I am a monster... capable of destroying anyone who stands in my way! .. That means you, Hiro."
- "...IF IT WEREN'T FOR THESE STUPID PAWS FOR HANDS!!"
- Parodied: Chris begins sadly proclaiming he's a monster... because he accidentally forgot to push in his chair.
- Zig-Zagged: Sometimes Chris suffers self-hatred and believes he's a monster, but other times he doesn't.
- Averted:
- Chris never turns into any sort of monster.
- Chris is turned into a were-hyena, and seems mostly okay with it.
- Enforced: To set up a conflict for Chris after he becomes a were-hyena.
- Lampshaded: "I am a monster."
- Invoked: Chris gets bitten by a hyena.
- Exploited: Evulz takes advantage of Chris's vulnerable state and goads him to commit heinous deeds.
- Defied:
- Instead of hitting a Despair Event Horizon, Chris seeks help.
- Chris decides that angsting is a waste of his time and tries to do something productive in life. "I may no longer be human, but I don't have to be a monster."
- Discussed: "I didn't want to be like this, you know."
- Conversed: "Why would Chris angst about how he is a monster even though the show seems to push the message that were-hyenas are cool?" "Because Rule of Drama, dude. The show needs to make up something he has to angst about."
- Deconstructed: Chris considers himself a monster and stops trying to keep himself alive — if he's not Driven to Suicide he at least becomes a Death Seeker very reckless and callous about his own well-being. If he decides to stay alive for the sake of Diane, it's very likely for Diane to become a Living Emotional Crutch for him.
Back to I Am a Monster.
