This index focuses on characters quitting or giving up on something.
Compare Retirement Tropes and Victory and Defeat.
Tropes:
- 10-Minute Retirement: The hero temporarily gives up their career before being convinced to go back in the saddle.
- Achilles in His Tent: A team member quits only to come back because the team needs their specific talents.
- Anti Poop-Socking: A video game discourages players from playing too long by reminding them to take breaks after playing the game for a while.
- Anti-Rage Quitting: A video game punishes players for attempting to leave multiplayer matches early.
- Attack! Attack... Retreat! Retreat!: Someone launches an attack, then suddenly has to call it quits.
- Despair Event Horizon: A character loses the will to keep going after becoming very depressed.
- Driven to Suicide: A character becomes so distraught by what they've been through that they decide to quit living by killing themselves.
- Gave Up Too Soon: The character would've accomplished their goal had they waited or persisted a little before deciding to give up.
- Giving Up on Logic: A character gives up on trying to figure out anything after being overwhelmed with how ridiculous and nonsensical things are.
- Guilt-Based Gaming: A Video Game's text appeals to the players' sense of guilt or shame to get them to play in a certain way.
- Insignia Rip-Off Ritual: When a character voluntarily removes their own decals to signify their resignation.
- It Is Beyond Saving: A character gives up on improving a place or group because they think it's not possible.
- Know When to Fold 'Em: A character is willing to accept when letting their opponent win is the only viable option.
- Off the Wagon: A character who has overcome their addiction ends up going into a relapse.
- Opt Out: A character gives up and leaves the story altogether out of principle.
- Quitting to Get Married: A character (usually female) gives up their job when they marry.
- Rage Quit: You angrily give up doing something.
- Recovered Addict: An addict has managed to quit their addictive vice after a long struggle.
- Resignations Not Accepted: Nobody leaves the evil organization alive.
- Resigned in Disgrace: A scandal forces you to quit, either to escape scrutiny or because your boss wants you out.
- Resign in Protest: Someone disagrees so strongly with an order or the direction of their group that they leave rather than be part of it any longer.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here: A character chooses to leave after deciding that the problem they're facing isn't worth getting involved with.
- Stopped Caring: A character realizes that nothing is going to work and decides to give up.
- Take This Job and Shove It: Someone angrily quits their job.
