History Main / DeathEqualsRedemption

* ''WesternAnimation/HazbinHotel'': [[spoiler:In the finale of Season 1, Sir Pentious pulls off a HeroicSacrifice against [[ArcVillain Adam]], laying down his life for the very hotel that he tried ([[IneffectualSympatheticVillain and failed]]) to attack several times before. Because of his change of heart and his sacrifice, however, Sir Pentious [[AscendedDemon reincarnates in Heaven]], both giving the guy a second chance and proving to [[BrokenSystemDogmatist Sera]] beyond a shadow of a doubt that sinners truly ''can'' be redeemed.]]

* In the ''Series/{{Lewis}}'' episode "The Point Of Vanishing", a character who (believing he has driven his son to become a murderer) takes his own life invokes this as the reason.

* ''Literature/AnOutcastInAnotherWorld'': Kenzotul begs Rob to kill him so that he can end his suffering and atone for the crimes he committed during The Scouring. Rob refuses to follow through, telling Kenzotul that true redemption would come from living despite the pain and working to make the world a better place.

* For [[Literature/TheFatherLukeWolfeTrilogy Colonel Stone]], death equaled not only Redemption, but Confession and Implication as well.
* Craig Toomy's death in ''Literature/TheLangoliers'' is what allows the heroes to escape alive.

* Can happen in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novels, although the redemption generally happens after death, when the deceased has a chat with [[TheGrimReaper Death]]. Despite Death's catchphrase "There's no justice. There's just me.", this redemption does tend to avoid an IronicHell. Contrast the fate of Mr. Pin and Mr. Tulip in ''Literature/TheTruth''.
* ''Literature/TheBookOfTheDunCow'': When Ebenezer Rat is found in a MutualKill with a basilisk, Chauntecleer kisses and absolves him.
* In ''Literature/TheStand'', Harold Lauder eventually receives the YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness treatment from Flagg via a motorcycle crash. As Harold lies dying slowly and painfully, he finally lets go of the petty hate and resentment that he's carried throughout his entire life and drove him to villainy. He writes an apology to everyone he betrayed in Boulder before shooting himself. Made more poignant in the television mini-series, since Harold is only able to scrawl a brief apology. Though it's doubtful anyone in Boulder would accept it.
-->I'm sorry. I was misled.

* In ''Literature/CityOfHeavenlyFire'', the [[HolyHandGrenade Heavenly Fire]] burns the evil out of Sebastian[=/=]Jonathan. But what little good there was in him is not enough to keep him alive, unlike Jace who was similarly burned in it. He does use his command of the Endarkened to keep them from hurting his former captives, and tells Jace how to destroy the Infernal Cup before he dies.
* ''Literature/ThePowerOfFive'': Jamie, at least, feels this way about Scott's death.
* ''Literature/TheHobbit''. Just before he dies, Thorin forgives Bilbo for stealing the Arkenstone of Thráin.
* ''Literature/{{Mistborn}}'': [[spoiler: The Lord Ruler downplays the trope. He certainly was not a good person by a long shot and even before his death showed no regrets about his system of government. However he knew that there was a harsher enemy out there and his vast preparations to enable humanity's survival are at times awe-inspiring. While his forethought and preparations may not have defeated the enemy it certainly helped save many from being killed by the natural disasters created by Ruin. Vin, his killer, even mutters a 'thank you' to him for his excellent planning when she realizes the scope and effectiveness.]]
* ''Literature/AllTheLightWeCannotSee'': After rescuing Marie-Laure from the war-torn city, [[spoiler:[[NaziProtagonist Werner]]]] dies when he accidentally steps on a land mine, shortly before the war ends.
* ''Literature/{{Nevermoor}}'': Played with by Professor Onstald, who spends most of the second book being a horribly bigoted SadistTeacher towards Morrigan. However, when she risks her life to save him and some other kidnapping victims, he seems to realize he was wrong about her, and sacrifices his life so she and the others can escape. Morrigan has ''very'' complicated feelings about this, since every other interaction she ever had with him involved him treating her like garbage. Jupiter says that, while what Onstald did was undoubtedly brave and heroic, it doesn't erase everything else he did. [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome One selfless act does not undo the damage he did to Morrigan]].
-->'''Jupiter:''' Some people are brave bullies. Some people are [[BitchInSheepsClothing friendly cowards]].

Since the character dies shortly after the HeelFaceTurn, this change of heart is unlikely to affect the plot much. They may affect the main character's view of them if they expressed themselves as part of a DyingTruce. There are exceptions, of course; occasionally, the dying character's last words can inspire the hero or even give him a vital clue. Rarely (very rarely), they recover; in media where "recovery" is routine, the redemption might not stick much longer than the death. May overlap DyingReconcilliation.

Since the character dies shortly after the HeelFaceTurn, this change of heart is unlikely to affect the plot much. They may affect the main character's view of them if they expressed themselves as part of a DyingTruce. There are exceptions, of course; occasionally, the dying character's last words can inspire the hero or even give him a vital clue. Rarely (very rarely), they recover; in media where "recovery" is routine, the redemption might not stick much longer than the death.

* ''WesternAnimation/HazbinHotel'': [[spoiler:In the finale of Season 1, Sir Pentious pulls off a HeroicSacrifice against [[ArcVillain Adam]], laying down his life for the very hotel that he tried ([[IneffectualSympatheticVillain and failed]]) to attack several times before. Because of his change of heart and his sacrifice, however, Sir Pentious [AscendedDemon reincarnates in Heaven]], both giving the guy a second chance and proving to [[BrokenSystemDogmatist Sera]] beyond a shadow of a doubt that sinners truly ''can'' be redeemed.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/HazbinHotel'': [[spoiler:In the finale of Season 1, Sir Pentious pulls off a HeroicSacrifice against [[ArcVillain Adam]], laying down his life for the very hotel that he tried ([[IneffectualSympatheticVillain and failed]]) to attack several times before. Because of his change of heart and his sacrifice, however, Sir Pentious [AscendedDemon reincarnates in Heaven]], both giving the guy a second chance and proving to [[BrokenSystemDogmatist Sera]] beyond a shadow of a doubt that sinners truly ''can'' be redeemed.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/SheRaAndThePrincessesOfPower'', abusive ParentalSubstitute Shadow Weaver sacrifices herself to save Adora and Catra from a humongous creature in the series finale, while simultaneously finally giving Catra the [[WellDoneSonGuy "I'm Proud of you"]] she always wanted. It's notable that even in her final moments, Shadow Weaver manages to make her sacrifice a somewhat-selfish act, opting for a MutualKill rather than face the consequences of her years of cruelty, and clearly relishing the idea of being seen as noble for dying ("You're welcome").

* In the ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines'' episode "Fallout", Rhinox's spark expressed regret over his recent actions as the Vehicon Tankor.

* ''Series/TwentyFour'' George Mason in Season 2. He is initially an ObstructiveBureaucrat, and then attempts to leave LA when he realizes how big the nuclear explosion will be. He is exposed to lethal amounts of plutonium. After learning he will die ''very soon'' but he is not contagious, he returns to work and takes control of the situation. He the ultimately flies the bomb to where it can be safely detonated, saving Jack and convincing him to not give up.

* ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'': [[spoiler: Master Xehanort, while he is slowly dying from the blow givene to him in the final battle (plus all the darkness of his other selves getting obliterated elsewhere, revealed in Re:mind), finally gives up the X-Blade and abandons his wicked ways. When it becomes clear that he will not succeed, but rather he will pass on into the afterlife with Eraqus, Xehanort accepts his fate and gives Sora the X-Blade]].

* ''WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'': [[spoiler: Helga's]] last moments are spent stopping her treacherous boss from escaping, thwarting his evil plan for good.

Compare AlasPoorVillain and AlasPoorScrappy, in which the character is at least partially redeemed in the audience's eyes simply through the act of dying even though they stay a villain. May overlap with DeathMeansHumanity if the villain is a non-human being and part of his redemption is being treated like a full person. in which DyingAsYourself, HeelFaceDoorSlam, and VillainsDyingGrace are all sometimes (but not always) [[SubTrope sub-tropes]]. Compare TheLastDance, which is when a character has a longer period before death.