Line #150 Main/SadnessTropes


1	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/AllSoulsDayBouguereau.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:250:''Art/DayOfTheDead'' by Creator/WilliamAdolpheBouguereau.]]
3	->''"Laugh, and the world laughs with you;\
4	Weep, and you weep alone.\
5	For this sad old earth must borrow its mirth,\
6	But has grief enough of its own."''
7
8	Tropes used to evoke or convey sadness and melancholy. HappinessTropes are their natural opposite.
9
10	Compare DespairTropes. See also DeathTropes, GriefTropes, TearJerker, and TearTropes.
11
12	----
13
14	!!Tropes:
15	[[index]]
16
17	* ACupAngst: A girl feels sad and insecure over her lack of chest size.
18	* AdaptationalAngstUpgrade: An adaptation of a story gives a character some added sadness to enhance the drama.
19	* AfterlifeAngst: After a character dies, they are shown to experience angst over it for one reason or another.
20	* AgeAppropriateAngst: Age determines whether it's appropriate for you to be sad over a problem.
21	* AllOfTheOtherReindeer: Being avoided by others makes one feel lonely and sad.
22	* AloneInACrowd: Feeling sad and lonely despite being surrounded by people.
23	* {{Angst}}: Feelings of overwhelming anxiety that cause sadness.
24	* AngstComa: A character is so overwhelmed by sadness they fall unconscious.
25	* AngstDissonance: A character feels sad, but the audience is not sympathetic.
26	* AngstNuke: Negative emotions like sadness or rage cause a literal explosion.
27	* AngstWhatAngst: A character does not feel sad despite having every reason to be.
28	* AngstySurvivingTwin: Character grieves over the death of their twin sibling.
29	* AnguishedOutburst: Character reacts with a mix of anger and sadness over unfortunate circumstances or actions.
30	* AntagonistInMourning: A character is sad about their enemy's death rather than ecstatic.
31	* AppearanceAngst: A character is depressed due to some aspect of their personal appearance.
32	* AtonementDetective: Saddened by their past crimes, a character takes up a job in law enforcement to make amends.
33	* BaldnessAngst: A character feels sad and insecure about lacking a full head of hair.
34	* BastardAngst: Being the child of unwed parents causes a character grief.
35	* BathroomStallOfAngst: Crying alone in a bathroom stall.
36	* BeardOfSorrow: A male character grows a beard as a result of being too sad to shave.
37	* BearerOfBadNews: A character must break some sad news to someone who doesn't know.
38	* BerserkerTears: Crying tears of both sadness and anger.
39	* BigNo: Sad and angsty character yells "NO" in response to a tragedy.
40	* BigWhy: Sad and angsty character yells "WHY" in response to a tragedy.
41	* BitingTheHandkerchief: Sad character bites into their handkerchief as they cry.
42	* BittersweetEnding: A happy ending with little bits of sadness mixed in.
43	* BleakLevel: A depressing video game level in an otherwise bright and cheerful game.
44	* BreakTheCutie: Sweet and likable character goes through tragedy after tragedy, effectively crushing their spirit.
45	* BreakTheComedian: Repeated sorrows and misfortunes destroy a comedic character's ability to be funny.
46	* BrokenBird: Character has gone through so much sadness and trauma that they've basically become a broken shell.
47	* BrokenHero: TheHero remains in good spirits despite dealing with sadness and hardships in life.
48	* BSODSong: Someone who is in a very bad mood sings about the bad mood they're in.
49	* CatharticChores: A character performs repetitive mundane work to deal with their sadness.
50	* CelebrityElegy: A song mourning the death of a famous person.
51	* ChildrenAreTenderHearted: Child characters easily feel sadness over the suffering of others.
52	* ChronicSelfDeprecation: A character has very low self-esteem, to the point of hating themselves.
53	* ConsolationBackfire: Attempts to cheer up and reassure a sad character backfire.
54	* CopeByCreating: A character deals with their sadness by creating art.
55	* CopeByPretending: A character deals with their sadness by pretending that things aren't so bad.
56	* CornerOfWoe: Character retreats to a corner because they feel sad.
57	* CradleOfLoneliness: Sad character cradles their dead/missing loved one's item close to their heart.
58	* CreatorBreakdown: The author inserts their feelings of sadness into their work.
59	* CruelTwistEnding: A sad ending that comes out of nowhere.
60	* CryIntoChest: At the height of their sadness, a character breaks down crying into another character's chest.
61	* CryLaughing: Laughing that degenerates into mournful crying.
62	* CuriousQualmsOfConscience: A character feels sad and guilty about doing something that's supposed to be their duty.
63	* DarkAndTroubledPast: A character has lived a sad and tragic life that affects them to this day.
64	* DCupDistress: A girl feels sad and insecure over her excessive chest size.
65	* DeathByDespair: A character dies as a result of feeling overwhelming sadness.
66	* DeathByNewberyMedal: A sad character death is the highlight of a work aimed at children.
67	* DeathIsASadThing: Death of loved ones is very sad and traumatizing for children.
68	* DeathIsSuchAnOddThing: A character doesn't know whether or not to be sad over a death.
69	* DeathWail: Character screams in sadness over their loved one's death.
70	* DespairEventHorizon: The point in which a character's sadness overwhelms them and they lose all hope.
71	* DespairSpeech: A character who has lost all hope gives a mournful speech.
72	* DesperatePleaForHome: A character pushed to the limits of their grief expresses a firm desire to go home.
73	* DeusAngstMachina: Character experiences too much sadness to the point that it feels contrived.
74	* DiabolusExMachina: Character is given a sad ending without warning.
75	* DirtyBusiness: Character does something heinous, and they feel sad and remorseful about it.
76	* DontYouDarePityMe: Character is sad, but they don't want anyone's sympathy.
77	* DownerBeginning: The story begins on a sad note.
78	* DownerEnding: The story ends on a sad note.
79	* DramaticDrop: Sadness causes a character to drop something they were holding.
80	* DramaticSitDown: A character is so upset that they need to take a seat as they process what just happened.
81	* DrivenToSuicide: When feelings of sadness make a character take their own life.
82	* DrowningMySorrows: A character copes with sadness by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
83	* DrowningOurRomanticSorrows: Romantic rivals cope with their sadness and share their feelings by drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.
84	* DullEyesOfUnhappiness: A character's eyes go blank when they feel sad.
85	* DumbStruck: A character is so sad they can't speak.
86	* DysfunctionJunction: The show's entire cast is sad and full of issues.
87	* TheEeyore: A character who always feels sad.
88	* {{Emo}}: A music genre that tends to be very sad and emotional.
89	* EmoTeen: A teenage character who is constantly sad and brooding.
90	* EmptyBedroomGrieving: A character's death or absence is symbolized by their empty bedroom.
91	* EtTuBrute: Feeling sad at a friend's betrayal.
92	* EverybodyCries: Three or more characters are sad and in tears.
93	* ExcessiveMourning: Character feels sad over a loved one's death to an unhealthy degree.
94	* FantasticAngst: Real world sadness brought on by speculative fiction elements.
95	* FellAsleepCrying: A character cries from loneliness long enough to fall asleep.
96	* FirstWorldProblems: Character feels sad and angsty over something petty and unimportant.
97	* FiveStagesOfGrief: Sad characters always go through these five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance.
98	* ForgetsToEat: A character is so sad they neglect their need for sustenance.
99	* ForgottenFallenFriend: TheHero mourns for their dead loved one and then gets over them very quick.
100	* FourTemperamentEnsemble: Melancholic, which makes you prone to feeling sad.
101	* FreudianExcuse: A past sadness is the reason behind a character's cruel actions.
102	* FridgeSadness
103	* FromBadToWorse: A tragedy just gets even more tragic.
104	* {{Gayngst}}: Being LGBT causes a character sadness.
105	* GayngstInducedSuicide: LGBT-identifying character ends their life over sadness at feeling not being accepted.
106	* GermanicDepressives: Germans portrayed as sour and melancholic.
107	* GloomyGray: Gray is the color of all things sad.
108	* GoodbyeCruelWorld: A suicide victim leaves behind a suicide note expressing their sorrow.
109	* GraveClouds: Cemeteries are covered in dark clouds in order to give them a sad and gloomy look.
110	* GrayRainOfDepression: It starts to rain during a tearjerking scene.
111	* GuiltInducedNightmare: A bad dream caused by guilt.
112	* GriefInducedSplit: A couple breaks up after a tragedy.
113	* HalfBreedAngst: Character feels sad and insecure over being a hybrid species
114	* HalfSiblingAngst: A character being a half-sibling to their siblings and/or parents causes them grief.
115	* HappinessRealizedTooLate: A character finds themselves saddened by the realization that they were happy before they set out to change their lives.
116	* HatsOffToTheDead: A character mourns one's death or seemingly imminent death by removing their headwear.
117	* HeartbreakAndIceCream: A character gorges on ice cream in order to cope with the sadness of ending a relationship.
118	* HeartbrokenBadass: The tough as nails badass feels sad because they've lost their loved one.
119	* HeightAngst: Sadness due to insecurity over one's height.
120	* HeroicBSOD: Overwhelming sadness causes a character to just shut down.
121	* HeroicSelfDeprecation: Despite all of the amazing things they've done, TheHero feels sad and undeserving of praise.
122	* HeWillNotCrySoICryForHim: A character doesn't cry despite their sadness, so another character cries for them out of sympathy.
123	* HibernationMigrationSituation: Characters are sad because one of them (an animal) has to hibernate or migrate for the winter.
124	* HisOwnWorstEnemy: A character self-sabotages out of sadness and/or self-loathing.
125	* HomesicknessHymn: A song about missing home and loved ones; the level of sadness involved varies.
126	* HopeCrusher: A character who enjoys making people sad and destroying their hope.
127	* HowlOfSorrow: An animal character, such as a wolf, lets out a sad howl.
128	* IJustWantToHaveFriends: A character is sad because they don't have any friends.
129	* IMissMom: Character misses their dead/missing parent(s).
130	* InsecureLoveInterest: A character feels sad because they believe they are unworthy of another's love.
131	* InternalizedCategorism: A character is sad because they belong to a group of people which they hate.
132	* IronWoobie: They constantly have to deal with sadness in their life, but they are determined to live on.
133	* ItsAllMyFault: Sadness leads a character to believe they are to blame for a tragedy.
134	* ItAlwaysRainsAtFunerals: Rain is pouring during a funeral service as a way to convey the sadness of the whole thing.
135	* ItsAlwaysSunnyAtFunerals: The weather is surprisingly beautiful at a funeral as a way to contrast the sadness of the whole thing.
136	* ItsOkayToCry: AnAesop about how crying or expressing sadness is okay.
137	* JerkassWoobie: A mean character experiences sadness that makes the audience feel sympathy for them.
138	* KillTheOnesYouLove: TheHero must put their loved ones to death, which grieves them deeply.
139	* LonelyAtTheTop: A character gets everything they want, but loses everything and everyone they loved in the process.
140	* LonelyFuneral: The only thing sadder than a funeral is a funeral where fewer to no people show up to honor the deceased.
141	* LonelyPianoPiece: Sad piano music that plays over tearjerker scenes.
142	* LongLastLook: A character gives one last mournful look back at the place or person they're leaving.
143	* LosingTheTeamSpirit: A great loss causes the group of TrueCompanions to become very despondent.
144	* LostFoodGrievance: A character is sad because they just lost some food they were going to eat.
145	* LostPetGrievance: A character is sad after their beloved pet either died or ran away.
146	* LostToyGrievance: A character is sad about losing a beloved toy.
147	* LyricalDissonance: A peppy sounding song has very dark and depressing lyrics, even though that's not always the case.
148	* MadeMyselfSad: A character feels sad because of something they just said.
149	* {{Mangst}}: A tough-as-nails character feels sadness that they don't disclose to others.
150	* ManlyTears: Male character feels sad and cries.
151	* MeaningfulFuneral: The funeral for a major character causes the cast grief, but also brings everyone together.
152	* MelancholyMoon: Characters stare at or are lit by the moon to symbolize their feelings of sorrow and isolation (though occasionally they'll be tentatively hopeful too).
153	* MelancholyMusicalNumber: Sad characters sings about their sorrow.
154	* MenDontCry: No matter how sad they feel, male characters are not allowed to shed tears.
155	* MessOfWoe: A house becomes a mess because the home owner is too sad to clean.
156	* MiseryBuildsCharacter: Undergoing sadness and tragedy makes a character tougher.
157	* MiseryPoker: Character complains about their troubles to people who are worse off than they are.
158	* MiseryTrigger: Sadness as a response to a stimulus.
159	* MistakenForBrooding: A character mistakes someone else for being sad.
160	* TheMourningAfter: A character mourns the loss of a loved one.
161	* MourningAnObject: A character is sad because an object they love is destroyed, goes missing, or stops working.
162	* MovingAngst: A character is sad because they miss their old home after moving to a new environment.
163	* MovingBeyondBereavement: A character arc in which the death of a loved one must eventually be accepted.
164	* MuscleAngst: Male character feels sad and insecure because he lacks muscles.
165	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Character realizes that they've done something wrong and they feel sad and remorseful for it.
166	* NeglectedGarden: A garden that hasn't been cared for in a long time, showing a character's depressed emotional state.
167	* NostalgicMusicBox: The tune of a music box used in association with sadness, nostalgia, or anything else emotional.
168	* OcularGushers: A character is so sad they cry literal waterfalls.
169	* OneWomanWail: Music which features a woman's mournful singing.
170	* OutOfTheFryingPan: An upsetting situation is initially solved, but then turns into another upsetting situation.
171	* PastExperienceNightmare: Negative feelings from a past experience such as sadness and grief cause a character to have nightmares.
172	* PerpetualFrowner: A character is too sad to even smile, so they will wear a sad frown on their face.
173	* PersonalEffectsReveal: Character goes through their dead loved one's belongings, only to find upsetting things revealed about said dead loved one.
174	* PersonalHorror: A character falls into despair after betraying their own moral code.
175	* PlayerPunch: The moment in a video game where something upsetting happens to a character the player has grown attached to.
176	* PlayingTheHeartStrings: String music used for depressing effect.
177	* PostHistoricalTrauma: A character struggles to explain an upsetting fact of life to someone more naive.
178	* PowerLossDepression: A character becomes sad as a result of [[DePower losing their powers]].
179	* ProneToTears: Character who easily cries.
180	* RageAgainstTheReflection: A character is so upset with their own actions, they take out their frustration on their reflection.
181	* RayOfHopeEnding: What should be a sad ending actually has a light at the end of the tunnel.
182	* RedSpiderLiliesOfMourning: Red spider Lilies are associated with loss, separation, and melancholy feelings.
183	* RepressionNeverEndsWell: A character hides their sadness until they lose control and let it loose messily.
184	* SadBattleMusic: Battle music that's sorrowful rather than epic.
185	* SadClown: Character jokes around as a coping mechanism for their grief.
186	* SadTimesMontage: A montage of a character going through a hard time.
187	* SandInMyEyes: Character is crying, but is too prideful to admit it. Claiming they just have something in their eye.
188	* SelfSoothingSong: A character sings to themselves to deal with a distressing event.
189	* SentimentalHomemadeToy: A homemade toy symbolizes the emotional connection between two characters, usually a parent and child. Often the last reminder of a dead parent.
190	* SexForSolace: A character has a lot of sex as a way to cope with grief.
191	* ShooTheDog: A character must sadly send away someone or something (such as a pet) they love because they'll just be in trouble if they're together.
192	* ShootTheShaggyDog: The heroes' attempts at achieving a happy ending are rendered pointless.
193	* ShowerOfAngst: A character takes a shower following an emotional event in order to symbolically wash away their sadness.
194	* ShrineToTheFallen: Characters in mourning keep a memorial shrine for their dead loved one.
195	* SilenceOfSadness: Someone stops speaking or speaks less because they're unhappy.
196	* SimpleScoreOfSadness: Sad moments are accompanied by slow, soft music.
197	* SnowGlobeOfInnocence: A snowglobe represents a happier, more innocent time or place for a character experiencing some kind of trauma or hardship.
198	* SolemnEndingTheme: The end credits for a show features a sad and melancholy song.
199	* SorrowfulStutter: When talking about the deceased, a character pauses for a moment to get their voice under control.
200	* SourOutsideSadInside: Character appears angry and bitter, but is really just sad and heartbroken.
201	* SparklingStreamOfTears: Tears of sadness that shimmer beautifully.
202	* StoicWoobie: They have sadness in their life, but they never angst about it.
203	* SuddenDownerEnding: An upbeat story ends on a shockingly sad note.
204	* SupernaturalAngst: A character has supernatural traits that cause them grief.
205	* SurvivorGuilt: A character feels sad over outliving their friend.
206	* SymbolicSereneSubmersion: A character is shown floating limply in the water to represent intense sorrow.
207	* TearJerker: An event or element in a story that invokes feelings of sadness.
208	* TearfulSmile: Smiling despite crying tears of sadness.
209	* TearsFromAStone: Something physically incapable of shedding tears manages to do so anyway.
210	* TearsOfFear: Crying tears of both fear and sadness.
211	* TearsOfRemorse: A character cries because they feel sad and guilty over their actions.
212	* TenderTears: A character feels sad and cries a lot because they're very sensitive.
213	* ThisCannotBe: Said in response to something upsetting that a character hoped would never happen.
214	* ThisIsUnforgivable: The BigBad does something that causes TheHero grief, and causes them to go on a RoaringRampageOfRevenge.
215	* ToAbsentFriends: Grieving heroes reminisce on their dead loved one(s).
216	* TomboyAngst: Tomboyish female feels sad because she wishes she could be more feminine.
217	* TooInjuredToSave: People grieving for a friend who is about to die.
218	* TooUnhappyToBeHungry: A character has no appetite due to sadness and grief.
219	* TooUpsetToCreate: A character is so sad, they can't make anything.
220	* TookALevelInCynic: A character becomes more cynical due to sadness in their life.
221	* TragicAbandonedToy: A sentient toy grieves after being lost or forgotten.
222	* TragicHero: TheHero succumbs to a FatalFlaw and it causes them grief.
223	* TragicIceCharacter: Ice-elemental characters are often tragic figures.
224	* TragicIntangibility: Characters bemoan being unable to touch or feel friends or family.
225	* TragicKeepsake: A memento from a great tragedy.
226	* TragicVillain: A villain is evil because they feel they have no choice.
227	* TraumaCongaLine: A character undergoes one sadness after another.
228	* TraumaSwing: Sad character sits alone on a swing.
229	* TreatedWorseThanThePet: Someone's status in their family is so low that even animals are treated better or valued more than they are.
230	* TrivialTragedy: A character (or several characters) grieve over a very minor/innocuous event.
231	* TroubledChild: A child who has suffered some serious grief that traumatized them greatly.
232	* TroubledFetalPosition: Character sits with their face buried into their knees when they're depressed.
233	* TroubledSympatheticBigot: Character has a sad reason for why they hate a group of people.
234	* TrueArtIsAngsty: Stories full of sadness and heartbreak are what sells.
235	* TryingNotToCry: Sad character fights the urge to break down crying.
236	* TwistedChristmas: The Christmas season serves as a source of grief for a character.
237	* UnableToCry: Sad character feels like crying but can't.
238	* UnfulfilledPurposeMisery: A character feels sad because they're unable to fulfill their purpose in life.
239	* TheUnwittingComedian: A character is seen as funny when they're not in the best of moods.
240	* VengeanceFeelsEmpty: A character gets their revenge, and now their life feels empty and miserable.
241	* VillainousBreakdown: The BigBad breaks down in despair when their evil plan fails. May be portrayed sympathetically.
242	* VillainousBSOD: The BigBad gets a conscience and becomes overwhelmed by sadness and guilt at all the terrible things they've done.
243	* WallGlower: A character who sulks when out in public.
244	* {{Wangst}}: Excessive sadness.
245	* WasTooHardOnHim: A character feels sad and guilty over scolding or harshly punishing someone.
246	* WatchingTroyBurn: The heroes sadly watch as a place they love is decimated.
247	* WheelchairWoobie: A character who invokes sadness and sympathy because they're wheelchair-bound.
248	* WhenYouComingHomeDad: Child character feels sad that their parent is too busy to spend time with them.
249	* WistfulSmile: The expression of someone who is genuinely sad and happy at the same time.
250	* TheWoobie: A character who undergoes so much sadness and grief that the audience feels sympathy for them.
251	* WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds: A sad and traumatizing event causes a character to snap and turn evil.
252	* WoobieFamily: A whole family who experiences constant sadness.
253	* WoobieSpecies: A species who undergoes so much sadness that the audience feels for them.
254	* TheWorldMocksYourLoss: A character goes through a break up and feels sad at seeing everyone around them in happy relationships.
255	* YourDaysAreNumbered: A character realizes that they're going to die soon and this grieves them greatly.
256
257	[[/index]]
258	----
259	[[TrueArtIsAngsty Good God, there's a lot more of these than there are]] HappinessTropes, [[TrueArtIsAngsty aren't there?]]
260
261	[[HopeSpringsEternal Just because sadness comes in more varieties than happiness doesn't mean that it's more prevalent]]. [[HopeIsScary (But then again...)]]
262

Context Main / SadnessTropes