History RedemptionEqualsDeath / Literature

* Nevva Winter (Gee, sound familiar?) from the ''Literature/{{Pendragon}}'' series was a Traveler gone wrong; she turns into an emotionless ManipulativeBitch. However, thanks to her mother, Bobby, and his friend, she turns into a good guy-- just to be killed by the person she'd turned "evil" (depends on your view of her) for, Saint Dane.

* In ''[[Literature/KushielsLegacy Kushiel's Dart]]'', [[spoiler: Isidore d'Aiglemort]] goes on a suicide mission to avoid being remembered as a traitor (and foil the plans of TheChessmaster, [[spoiler: Melisande]]).

* Averted and subverted in ''The Aftermath'' by Creator/BenBova. The book starts off with a mercenary leader destroying a colony full of defenseless civilians. He afterwards tries to commit suicide, is brought back as a cyborg, and spends most of the rest of the novel trying to atone by giving final rites to the victims of old space battles lost in space. [[spoiler:He tries to get himself killed repeatedly but fails, and survives through the end of the book finally achieving redemption and a will to go on living.]]

* The character of A.J. Raffles, upper-middle-class gentleman-thief created by E.W. Hornung, volunteered with his sidekick Bunny for service in the Boer War after his exposure; Raffles is killed, Bunny is wounded. In the words of George Orwell, it was Raffles' only acceptable way out. "A duke who has served a prison sentence is still a duke, whereas a mere man about town, if once disgraced, ceases to be "about town" for evermore.... According to the public-school code there is only one means of rehabilitation: death in battle. Raffles dies fighting against the Boers (a practiced reader would foresee this from the start), and in the eyes of both Bunny and his creator this cancels his crimes."

* The character of A.J. Raffles, upper-middle-class gentleman-thief created by E.W. Hornung, volunteered with his sidekick Bunny for service in the Boer War after his exposure; Raffles is killed, Bunny is wounded. In the words of George Orwell, it was Raffles' only acceptable way out. "A duke who has served a prison sentence is still a duke, whereas a mere man about town, if once disgraced, ceases to be "about town" for evermore.... According to the public-school code there is only one means of rehabilitation: death in battle. Raffles dies fighting against the Boers (a practised reader would foresee this from the start), and in the eyes of both Bunny and his creator this cancels his crimes."
* In ''Literature/{{Farworld}}'', Land keep, [[spoiler:Rhaidnan]] betrays his friends Kyja and Marcus to the Zentan. One chapter later, after being berated by his family, [[spoiler:he takes a flaming dagger to the chest]] to save [[spoiler:Kyja]]- saying as he[[spoiler:bursts into flames]] "tell[[spoiler:Char]] I didn't disappoint. Made...children...proud."
* In ''Literature/FoucaultsPendulum'', [[spoiler:Diotallevi]] rejects the Plan and dies of cancer shortly thereafter. [[spoiler:Jacopo Belbo]] refuses to tell the horde of Diabolicals where the Map is, or even reveal that the [[spoiler:whole story of the Map is a lie]]... and is then hanged. On a pendulum.

** Wormtail, though his death was case of Doubt Equals Death along with HoistByHisOwnPetard. When he refrains from killing Harry, his silver hand promptly chokes him to death.
** Also subverted with Voldemort. It's stated that if he took back all his horcruxes, by feeling real remorse, then its fairly certain he would have died in the process. And it probably wouldn't have been very lovely. Of course, he is too far gone for that and has to be killed without redemption.
** Regulus Black chose to defect from the Death Eaters and died while trying to destroy one of Voldemort's horcruxes. The attempt failed and actually [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom made things worse in the long run]], but at least he died proving that even pureblood supremacists are capable of realizing when Voldemort had crossed a line.
** Gellert Grindelwald, who lies to Voldemort about the Elder Wand. Although his exact reasons for doing it are debatable, [[note]] Did he love Dumbledore and to make it up to him? Did he just feel respect for him? Did he think Voldemort had gone too far? Was he miserable after being locked in prison for over fifty years, especially after the only person he arguably cared about was dead? All open to personal interpretation. [[/note]] it’s done to show at the very least he’s come to regret some of the things he did unlike Voldemort. Like Regulus, it amounts to nothing, considering that Voldemort figures out the wand's location on his own.

* ''Literature/HouseOfTheScorpion:'' [[spoiler:Tam Lin]] invokes this trope on himself as a form of penance for accidentally killing twenty school children in a bomb plot gone awry.

* In Dmitry Drimov's ''Journey to the Country of Dreams'', the SmugSnake Glung who had never once lifted a finger to help someone else realizes [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness the villain doesn't need him at all and all his plots and treacheries were for nothing]], and pierces his own heart so that his blood would save his dying brother.
* In ''[[Literature/KushielsLegacy Kushiel's Dart]]'', [[spoiler:Isidore d'Aiglemort]] goes on a suicide mission to avoid being remembered as a traitor (and foil the plans of TheChessmaster, [[spoiler:Melisande]]).

** Théoden nearly allowed Rohan to fall by trusting Gríma, but rose and proved critical in victories at Helm's Deep and the Pelennor Fields, where he died a hero's death. "I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed."
* The fate of Commander Gaes in ''Literature/TheLostFleet'' who had been opposed to Geary's methods of running the fleet and latter mutinied with Captain Falco. The carnage Falco led her through followed by Geary's rescue led her to have a change of heart and she latter warned him of an attempt on his life by [[spoiler:Captain Kila]]. When it became clear Gaes was no longer cooperating, the next attempt on Geary's life included a successful one on hers.
* The ancient Irish story of ''[[Literature/TheChildrenOfTuireann Lugh and the Sons of Tuireann]]''. In it, the sons kill Lugh's father and in response, Lugh sends them on a massive and nigh impossible fetch quest. Naturally they succeed, but all three are mortally wounded during the last task. They have just enough time to return to Lugh and show them that they have atoned before they all die.
* In ''VideoGame/{{Myst}}: The Book of Ti'ana,'' [[spoiler:Veovis]], who has been manipulated by A'gaeris into helping him destroy D'ni, refuses to let A'gaeris set himself up as a god. A'gaeris then backstabs him. As he is dying, [[spoiler:Aitrus]] finds him. He repents of his evils and gives [[spoiler:Aitrus]] the way to save his family, then dies.

RedemptionEqualsDeath in {{Literature}}.

* {{Subverted|Trope}} in ''Literature/AnnaKarenina''--the title character has gotten pregnant from her adulterous lover, Vronsky, and seems fated for DeathByChildbirth, so she calls back her husband in order to obtain his forgiveness before she dies. He grants it, Vronsky leaves...and Anna survives. Given the choice of staying with her husband and resuming her old life, she instead runs off with Vronsky, [[IgnoredEpiphany apparently having learned nothing]], and more tragedy comes to follow from this decision.
* In ''Literature/TheCourtsOfTheMorning'', the heroes go to a lot of effort to help the DiabolicalMastermind to a HeelFaceTurn, figuring that he's not positively evil, just twisted by a cynical and friendless privileged upbringing, and is capable of being as great a force for good as he is for evil. It works, and as the book reaches its close, he's looking forward to a new future and the good he can do for the world and his new friends -- and then in the last chapter he's murdered by a vengeful former henchman who escaped the round-up of his old criminal organization.
* ''Literature/HouseOfTheScorpion:'' [[spoiler: Tam Lin]] invokes this trope on himself as a form of penance for accidentally killing twenty school children in a bomb plot gone awry.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** Severus Snape. He spent his entire life trying to make up for unknowingly betraying Lily Potter, the love of his life, to Voldemort. He ends up giving Literature/HarryPotter just the information the boy needs to finally take down Voldemort. And then dies.
** Wormtail, though his death was case of Doubt Equals Death along with HoistByHisOwnPetard. When he refrains from killing Harry, his silver hand promptly chokes him to death.
** Also subverted with Voldemort. It's stated that if he took back all his horcruxes, by feeling real remorse, then its fairly certain he would have died in the process. And it probably wouldn't have been very lovely. Of course, he is too far gone for that and has to be killed without redemption.
** Regulus Black chose to defect from the Death Eaters and died while trying to destroy one of Voldemort's horcruxes. The attempt failed and actually [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom made things worse in the long run]], but at least he died proving that even pureblood supremacists are capable of realizing when Voldemort had crossed a line.
** Gellert Grindelwald, who lies to Voldemort about the Elder Wand. Although his exact reasons for doing it are debatable, [[note]] Did he love Dumbledore and to make it up to him? Did he just feel respect for him? Did he think Voldemort had gone too far? Was he miserable after being locked in prison for over fifty years, especially after the only person he arguably cared about was dead? All open to personal interpretation. [[/note]] it’s done to show at the very least he’s come to regret some of the things he did unlike Voldemort. Like Regulus, it amounts to nothing, considering that Voldemort figures out the wand's location on his own.
** To some degree, this happens with Rufus Scrimgeour, even if he wasn't one of the bad guys. All throughout Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows, he's trying to get Harry to be a Ministry poster boy, even though Harry disagrees adamantly. When Scrimgeour goes down in a fight against the Death Eaters, defending the Ministry, and refuses to betray Harry to Voldemort, right to his face, the trio grows to respect his bravery more.
** Subverted with Percy Weasley. For three books, he sides with the Ministry against his family and the Order and only changes sides during the final battle. He helps Fred fight Death Eaters as the narrative suggests that he will die protecting his younger brother. A few pages later, [[BaitAndSwitch Fred dies]].
* Nevva Winter (Gee, sound familiar?) from the ''Literature/{{Pendragon}}'' series was a Traveler gone wrong; she turns into an emotionless ManipulativeBitch. However, thanks to her mother, Bobby, and his friend, she turns into a good guy-- just to be killed by the person she'd turned "evil" (depends on your view of her) for, Saint Dane.
* In ''Literature/BeingAGreenMother'' in Piers Anthony's Literature/IncarnationsOfImmortality series, [[spoiler:Satan]] has this happen when [[spoiler:he falls in love with Gaea and sings her a hymn to God at their wedding]]. He literally goes up in flames as a result.
* ''Literature/{{Everworld}}'''s Christopher Hitchcock has no GenreBlindness, so he had an internal monologue to this effect in book 11. "I was so dead. By all the Unwritten Rules of Movies and Television, I was dead: The reformed bad boy who does the heroic thing at last? I could not be more dead."

* Sydney Carton of ''Literature/ATaleOfTwoCities'', though not a sinful man, spends much of the story as a useless, inactive character with low self-esteem. Then, he takes steps to rescue Lucie and Charles, eventually dying in the latter's place.
%%* Renfield from {{Literature/Dracula}}.
* ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'': Lasciel is a FallenAngel trapped within a silver Denarius. When a mortal touches her coin with bare flesh, she imprints into their minds a Shadow, a weaker in power but duplicate of her personality in every way. The Shadow's duty is simple: get the mortal host to take up the Coin and let Lasciel enter the mortal flesh fully. When to protect a toddler from grabbing the coin, Harry Dresden ends up with the Shadow in his head. Unlike others this Shadow and her twenty-nine brethren have possessed in the past, Harry is a tough, determined man who won't succumb to the temptation. He lasts years where all others typically fall in days or weeks. This also has a transformative power on the Shadow. For while the human mind is malleable and corruptible, as she exists in that same mind, she is victim to that same weakness. After several years, Harry notes that the Shadow has become her own distinct person, separate from Lasciel itself. So, he dubs her "Lash." What Harry is ignorant to is in giving her this new Name, he gives her part of his very soul, and it slowly and irrevocably changes Lash. When Harry is certain to die from a powerful mental attack, Lash offers him one last plea to take up the Coin, but Harry refuses. When Harry asks just for Lash to shield his mind further from the attack so he can counter, Lash knows it could be the death of her, but she accepts. She takes on such a powerful mental attack. It is enough to fry the part of the brain she lives in, thus saving Harry's life. She turns her back on her one Duty to save Harry out of Love, plain and simple. [[spoiler:And from this Love, a child spirit of intellect is born and grows inside Harry's mind]].
* Creator/JRRTolkien's ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'':
** [[BrokenAce Boromir]]: Though never a villain, he ''did'' screw up enormously, briefly became TheAtoner, and then got mercilessly slaughtered.
** Théoden nearly allowed Rohan to fall by trusting Gríma, but rose and proved critical in victories at Helm's Deep and the Pelennor Fields, where he died a hero's death. "I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed."
* In ''Literature/FoucaultsPendulum'', [[spoiler:Diotallevi]] rejects the Plan and dies of cancer shortly thereafter. [[spoiler:Jacopo Belbo]] refuses to tell the horde of Diabolicals where the Map is, or even reveal that the [[spoiler:whole story of the Map is a lie]]... and is then hanged. On a pendulum.
* The ''Literature/ThursdayNext'' series does this twice: first, [[spoiler:Cindy Stoker]] in ''Something Rotten'' ''literally'' takes Thursday's place crossing the Styx, saying that Thursday is a better person than she will ever be, and more deserving of a second chance. In ''First Among Sequels'' Evil Thursday uses her final moments to help Thursday to safety, knowing that she herself cannot escape.
* Subverted in Creator/FredSaberhagen's ''Third Book of Swords''. Yambu, the Silver Queen, who was the antagonist of the first book, joins forces with the heroes to [[EvilVersusEvil stop the even worse villain]] Vilkata, the Dark King, who possesses the Mindsword. In the final battle, she draws Soulcutter, which neutralizes the power of the Mindsword, but which also appears to kill her. But it turns out she survives after all, although she is prematurely aged as a result; she then gives up her throne and spends the rest of the follow-up series on a pilgrimage with Prince Zoltan to find redemption the old-fashioned way.
* In Gav Thorpe's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} [[Literature/TheLastChancers Last Chancer]] novel ''Annihilation Squad'', at the very end, Kage [[spoiler:is freed from a daemon's control, manages, with great effort, to remember what had happened while he was controlled, and realizes the value of sacrifice. He immediately drags the man they had come to assassinate over the cliff]].
* [[RoyalBlood Prince]] Ellidyr, the resident {{Jerkass}} in Creator/LloydAlexander's ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain'' spends most of ''The Black Cauldron'' putting down the main character for being lowly born and eventually betrays the party to satisfy his own lust for glory. At the end, he realizes the error of his ways and makes a HeroicSacrifice to destroy the titular ArtifactOfDoom before it can be used on the heroes.
* In ''[[Literature/KushielsLegacy Kushiel's Dart]]'', [[spoiler:Isidore d'Aiglemort]] goes on a suicide mission to avoid being remembered as a traitor (and foil the plans of TheChessmaster, [[spoiler:Melisande]]).
* In Creator/JamesSwallow's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} ''[[Literature/BloodAngels Deus Encarmine]]'', when taxed with the Word Bearers still in their midst, and they can't tell the Blood Angels where they are, the people of the planet voluntarily, even ecstatically, submit to death as punishment.
* In Peter David's ''Literature/StarTrekNewFrontier'' novel ''Treason'', [[spoiler: Dr. Selar]] dies in an explosion that saves other characters' lives--making up for the rest of the novel, in which she goes temporarily insane, contemplates murdering one of her patients, continues destroying her relationship with Burgoyne 172, kidnaps a former crewmate's newborn son, and various other things of like ilk.
* In the works of Creator/AgathaChristie

* In ''VideoGame/{{Myst}}: The Book of Ti'ana,'' [[spoiler:Veovis]], who has been manipulated by A'gaeris into helping him destroy D'ni, refuses to let A'gaeris set himself up as a god. A'gaeris then backstabs him. As he is dying, [[spoiler:Aitrus]] finds him. He repents of his evils and gives [[spoiler:Aitrus]] the way to save his family, then dies.
* In Creator/EdgarRiceBurroughs's ''[[Literature/JohnCarterOfMars The Gods of Mars]]'', Phaidor, the WomanScorned, attacks and kills Thurid, before explaining to John Carter that she has seen the error of her ways and there is only way she can atone. Then she jumps from the airship.
* The fate of Commander Gaes in ''Literature/TheLostFleet'' who had been opposed to Geary's methods of running the fleet and latter mutinied with Captain Falco. The carnage Falco led her through followed by Geary's rescue led her to have a change of heart and she latter warned him of an attempt on his life by [[spoiler: Captain Kila]]. When it became clear Gaes was no longer cooperating, the next attempt on Geary's life included a successful one on hers.

* In the Creator/DaleBrown novel ''Plan of Attack'', [[spoiler:Russian chief of staff General Nikolai Stepashin]] had planned the nuclear sneak bombings on the US. He later gives away the position of General Gryzlov's alternate command centre, where they are both hiding in, to the Air Battle Force. He dies when the man finds out and kills him.
* This is how [[spoiler:Kronos]] is killed in the ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' series. Luke remembers his promise to keep Annabeth safe, and realizes that he's come very, very close to killing her, so he fights against [[spoiler:Kronos]], takes Annabeth's knife from Percy, and kills himself with it, [[spoiler:killing Kronos in the process]].
** [[spoiler:Silena Beauregard]] was killed after taking her best friend's armor and leading the Ares cabin into battle, trying to make up for the fact that she was TheMole the entire time.
** [[spoiler:Ethan Nakamura]] is [[HoistByHisOwnPetard killed]] after realizing that Kronos only wants to destroy everything, not make things more equal for minor gods/goddesses like Ethan's mother.
* In ''Literature/{{Farworld}}'', Land keep, [[spoiler: Rhaidnan]] betrays his friends Kyja and Marcus to the Zentan. One chapter later, after being berated by his family, [[spoiler:he takes a flaming dagger to the chest]] to save [[spoiler:Kyja]]- saying as he[[spoiler: bursts into flames]]
-->" tell[[spoiler: Char]] I didn't disappoint. Made...children...proud"
* In ''Literature/{{The Guardians|MeljeanBrook}}'', death is the only way to release [[spoiler: Lilith]] from their DealWithTheDevil. Unfortunately, it doesn't take.
* ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'': In near the end of ''The Great Hunt'', one of the characters revealed to be a darkfriend decides to stay back to [[YouShallNotPass hold off the approaching horde of mooks]] to allow Rand and his friends to escape. This HeroicSacrifice allows him to die with honor and return to the Light.

* Franchise/StarWarsLegends:
** In the novel ''Literature/DeathStar'', the Imperial chief gunner for the station, Tenn Graneet, feels [[WhatHaveIDone utterly sickened with himself for destroying Alderaan]] since he was the one in charge of the superlaser. He can't get over the guilt of being the man that pulled the trigger and killed two billion people. So when Luke is racing for the exhaust port and he is ordered to destroy Yavin IV, Tenn has his hand on the lever and is ready to pull it--but, praying for a miracle, he holds off executing the order for as long as he can get away with it. (In the film, he's the one who keeps repeating, "Stand by... stand by...") And his prayer is answered as Luke fires the torpedo that destroys the Death Star, not only saving Yavin IV but unknowingly granting Tenn death and redemption.
** In ''[[Literature/StarWarsRazorsEdge Razor's Edge]]'', [[spoiler:Captain Metara]], an Alderaanian who has turned to piracy, is starting to come around to Leia's way of thinking, and is certainly feeling personal loyalty to Alderaan's princess. She probably could have been convinced to join the Rebellion, except that she [[TakingTheBullet dies saving Leia]]. The other Alderaanians, [[spoiler:inspired by her sacrifice, do come around in the end]].
* The ancient Irish story of ''[[Literature/TheChildrenOfTuireann Lugh and the Sons of Tuireann]]''. In it, the sons kill Lugh's father and in response, Lugh sends them on a massive and nigh impossible fetch quest. Naturally they succeed, but all three are mortally wounded during the last task. They have just enough time to return to Lugh and show them that they have atoned before they all die.
* Sextus, son of the last Roman king Tarquinius Superbus had raped one Roman woman, Lucretia, who was well known for her beauty and goodness. Now at this time raped women were seen as damaged goods. And additionally, there was mistrust around: Would they believe her, or claim she was lying? The solution for her dilemma: She confessed being raped to her relatives and killed herself afterwards. So, nobody could claim that her example would set a bad precedent for women randomly accusing men of being rapists. Her male relatives went on and kicked the king out, starting UsefulNotes/TheRomanRepublic.
* In one instance in a ''hadith''[[note]] A saying or event ascribed to Muhammad, and used to better interpret the Quran[[/note]], there was a woman who came to him, saying she had become pregnant from adultery, and that she wished to be purified. He told her to come back after she had the baby, which she did, again requesting purification. He told her to come back after she had weaned her baby. She did, even feeding her toddler a piece of bread to prove that the child had, in fact, been weaned. He then condemned her to be stoned to death, the ordinary punishment for adultery.
* Literature/InDeath series: Poor Mick Connolley from ''Betrayal in Death''. He helped to distract Roarke long enough for a group of criminals to pull off a heist at a big auction. Roarke did figure it out beforehand, and got his old friend Connolley to explain everything. Mick didn't feel bad about what he did...until he found out from Roarke that the criminals tried to distract Roarke by having a hitman kill off two employees, and try to kill off Summerset. Mick doesn't have a problem with stealing, but he does have a problem with being a party to murder. He did attempt to make amends, and it cost him his life.

* Averted and subverted in ''The Aftermath'' by Creator/BenBova. The book starts off with a mercenary leader destroying a colony full of defenseless civilians. He afterwards tries to commit suicide, is brought back as a cyborg, and spends most of the rest of the novel trying to atone by giving final rites to the victims of old space battles lost in space. [[spoiler: He tries to get himself killed repeatedly but fails, and survives through the end of the book finally achieving redemption and a will to go on living]]
* Denna of the ''Literature/SwordOfTruth''. In a surprisingly heartbreaking way to end a gratuitous S&M sequence.
* In the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' novel ''[[Literature/StarTrekATimeTo A Time to Heal]]'', Erokene Yaelon is a military leader on planet Tezwa, and a supporter of power-mad prime minister Kinchawn - at least at first. After Kinchawn's DrunkWithPower outrages lead to a brutal Klingon counterstrike that kills Yaelon's family (among many others), he loses faith in his leader. Eventually, he earns a degree of redemption for his earlier support by helping Commander Riker escape captivity, at the cost of his own life.
* Zigzagged in ''[[Literature/TalesOfTheBranionRealm The Painter Knight]]'' when a child sovereign declines to condemn the repentant traitor and orders him to return for sentencing after she's of age, knowing [[spoiler:he's mortally ill and won't live that long]].

* In the ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'' book, ''Deathwatch'', [[spoiler:Captain Higgan Dozois]] was "in the eyes of many, a worthless, lecherous, drug-dealing rogue" and near the end of his life, his ship was commandeered by two Genestealers and a hybrid human that demanded passage to the planet Melnos. The hybrid demanded that they warp away from the current planet immediately to escape Imperial starships. Knowing that he would be branded a traitor by history if he did so, he instead set his warp engines to overload, killing his men and the alien threat to Melnos. This action saved the 64 million inhabitants of that planet. This was all despite the fact that he had no idea what the Genestealers even were and despite the fact that they promised to spare his life (implying that they would implant him).
* ''Literature/WarriorCats'' has a few:
** Juniperclaw purposely poisoned [=SkyClan’s=] food supply out of a misguided desire to protect [=ShadowClan=]. He redeems himself when he saves Violetshine, a pregnant [=SkyClan=] queen and main protagonist, from a flooded river, drowning in the process.
** Needletail, who joined up with villainous Darktail’s group early on, becomes increasingly disillusioned with the Kin after her love interest is killed. She fully redeems herself by refusing to kill Violetpaw and is summarily executed by Darktail’s most loyal followers.
* ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'': The Phantom/Erik lets Christine and Raoul go, and kills himself shortly after.
* Played with in ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'': Death is required for Edmund's redemption, but not ''his'' death.
** Which, given the allegorical nature of the series, is a direct reference to a certain famous HeroicSacrifice in ''Literature/TheBible''.
* ''Literature/AlexisCarew: Into the Dark'': Alan sexually assaults Alexis while drunk, but she fights him off, then, not wanting to see him hanged, lies to the bosun and the captain that his injuries were [[CutHimselfShaving sustained in a fall]]. Alan stops drinking altogether, then way later, he fakes going over to SpacePirates to keep them from killing her and the other members of the prize crew on a captured pinnace, and is fatally shot helping them retake the ship.
* Discussed in ''Literature/TheDaggerAndTheCoin''. [[VillainProtagonist Geder]] ends up sacrificing himself to destroy the PathOfInspiration he helped bring to power after realizing how the cult had been using him. The heroes explicitly discuss whether or not he achieved any measure of redemption for his crimes as Lord Regent by doing so; [[KnightInSourArmor Marcus]] doesn't buy it, while [[GuileHero Cithrin]] is more ambivalent.

--> Conrad von Hohenfels. Participated in the plot against Hitler. Executed.
* In Dmitry Drimov's ''Journey to the Country of Dreams'', the SmugSnake Glung who had never once lifted a finger to help someone else realizes [[YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness the villain doesn't need him at all and all his plots and treacheries were for nothing]], and pierces his own heart so that his blood would save his dying brother.
* In ''Literature/OlliesOdyssey'' [[spoiler:Zozo]] dies after his HeelFaceTurn by [[spoiler:holding up the ceiling of the collapsing tunnel of love with his SpiderTank long enough for everyone else to escape]].
* ''Literature/{{City of Bones|1995}}'' by Creator/MarthaWells: [[spoiler:Riathen]] ignores the main characters' warning and activates the [[{{Magitek}} Ancient artifact]], but once he realizes how nasty the entities it's summoning are, he throws all his power into creating a barrier that prevents them from fully entering the human world, killing himself in the effort.

* This is how [[spoiler:Kronos]] is killed in the ''Literature/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians'' series. Luke remembers his promise to keep Annabeth safe, and realizes that he's come very, very close to killing her, so he fights against Kronos, takes Annabeth's knife from Percy, and kills himself with it, killing Kronos in the process.

** And Gellert Grindelwald, who lies to Voldemort about the Elder Wand. Like Regulus, it amounts to nothing, considering that Voldemort figures out the wand's location on his own, but at least it's shown that Grindelwald feels some remorse for his deeds.

* In one instance in a ''hadith''[[note]] A saying or event ascribed to Muhammad, and used to better interpret the Quran[[/note]], there was a woman who came to him, saying she had become pregnant from [[YourCheatingHeart adultery]], and that she wished to be purified. He told her to come back after she had the baby, which she did, again requesting purification. He told her to come back after she had weaned her baby. She did, even feeding her toddler a piece of bread to prove that the child had, in fact, been weaned. He then condemned her to be stoned to death, the ordinary punishment for adultery.

** Regulus Black chose to defect from the Death Eaters and died while trying to destroy one of Voldemort's horcruxes. The attempt failed and actually [[UnwittingInstigatorOfDoom made things worse in the long run]], but at least he died proving that his heart was the same as his brother's.

*** To an extent, Sidney Carton's death in ''Literature/ATaleOfTwoCities'' counts. Although not a sinful man, Sidney spent much of the story as a useless, inactive character with low self-esteem. Then, he takes steps to rescue Lucy and Charles, eventually dying.

** [[spoiler: Severus Snape]]. He spent his entire life [[spoiler:trying to make up for unknowingly betraying Lily Potter, the love of his life, to Voldemort. He ends up giving Literature/HarryPotter just the information the boy needs to finally take down Voldemort]]. And then dies.
** Wormtail, though his death was case of Doubt Equals Death along with HoistByHisOwnPetard. [[spoiler:When he refrains from killing Harry, his silver hand promptly chokes him to death.]]

** This also happens to Regulus Black.
** And Grindelwald, who lies to Voldemort about the Elder Wand.

** Another subversion is the Malfoy family. They were among Voldemort's earliest and most enthusiastic supporters, but grew disillusioned primarily because of the poor treatment they received at Voldemort's hands. By the end Lucius and Narcissa remained in the final battle only to search for their son, and Narcissa in fact betrayed Voldemort by protecting Harry in order to find Draco. In the end, there is no mention of any of them being punished for their actions. In fact, it's said they "weaseled their way out trouble."

** There's also a subversion later on in the same book. Near the climax, [[spoiler:Percy]] finally comes back to the good side, only for [[spoiler:his brother]] to promptly die.

* ''Literature/{{City of Bones|1995}}'' by Creator/MarthaWells: Riathen ignores the main characters' warning and activates the [[{{Magitek}} Ancient artifact]], but once he realizes how nasty the entities it's summoning are, he throws all his power into creating a barrier that prevents them from fully entering the human world, killing himself in the effort.

* In ''Literature/OlliesOdyssey'' [[spoiler:Zozo]] dies after his HeelFaceTurn by [[spoiler:holding up the ceiling of the collapsing tunnel of love with his SpiderTank long enough for everyone else to escape]].

* [[BrokenAce Boromir]] of Creator/JRRTolkien's ''TheLordOfTheRings'': Though never a villain, he ''did'' screw up enormously, briefly became TheAtoner, and then got mercilessly slaughtered.
** Also, Théoden nearly allowed Rohan to fall by trusting Gríma, but rose and proved critical in victories at Helm's Deep and the Pelennor Fields, where he died a hero's death. "I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed."