Introversion - Tumblr Posts
In the modern publishing landscape, these days, I think like we do not have many (if any) point-of-view characters with low social motivation for whatever reason.
Sure, there are lots of characters with social anxiety or other perceived or legitimate foibles to overcome, there are many YA villain origin stories, and there are many unpalatable, traditionally "unlikable" men in classics, but disregarding those, who else do we have?
Can the state of openly being alone (and content) rarely be presented as morally-neutral or as the end result of a narrative? Must it always be that either being alone is the starting point, so there's room for "personal growth," or that being alone is seen as "undesirable" and/or an indication that the person alone has a "problem" or something otherwise wrong with them, like a deficit or moral failing that in some kind of karmic way gives them "what they deserve," which is being alone and discontent with it?
Characters with society anxiety, any differences in communication, or other reasons that interfere with forging connections "don't count" because they may still be motivated. Traits such as these only stand in the way of gaining relationships, as plot obstacles. They aren't intrinsically tied to indifference or to low motivation. So, these characters clearly are not experiencing a lack of interest. And they are not the ones rejecting others. Thus, they "don't count" as far as the archetype that I'm looking for goes.
Characters who undergo villain arcs or otherwise negative arcs may want to maintain their relationships or gain them, so some examples are immediately disqualified (hence not having low social motivation), even if they are the type of character most likely to alienate themselves by a story's end, conflicting with what they wanted.
(Unfortunately, Coriolanus Snow, who is quite close to the type of protagonist I'm searching for "doesn't count" because he has some drive to keep people in his life.
Rafal Mistral partially "counts," and is satisfying as a character, but also doesn't count because he temporarily makes "friends" or allies, depending on how you look at his exploits. Yet, despite all this, not having friends isn't exactly framed as a morally-neutral state either, so he is also disqualified by the end. Basically, he does have low social motivation, but his narrative lacks the conditions that would make the natural consequences of that low motivation play out for themselves. He is always surrounded by people, even if he hates every last one of them.
And, generally speaking, the usual, moody-broody, "misunderstood" YA love-interests very easily "don't count" because they have a desire to get closer to their object of affection.
Even Katniss Everdeen, an overall good person, who usually views herself as "unlikable," befriends others, originally for pragmatic, survival purposes. However, she does start with low social motivation, so that's something in her favor.
And yes, I'm aware that we need other people in this world—I would just like to see someone prove that supposed truth wrong once. And perhaps succeed in their world, if that's not too much to ask for.)
Also, are there any instances of characters who progressively alienate themselves from others, in which that progression is not inherently seen as negative? Like, what about non-corrupt misanthropes? Are there few of those in literature? (Maybe—Eleanor Oliphant from literary fiction counts, but something about that book did not appeal me and I didn't finish it.)
Classics guys sort of "count," but I haven't really seen examples of any comparable protagonists today since many authors and readers write and look for "relatability" in blank slate everyman figures oftentimes.
(I'm not done with Crime and Punishment yet, but Raskolnikov is very tentatively looking like a safe bet for a character who may end up alone and who may not be completely malcontent over such a fate, even if I'm expecting tragedy. I'm that not far along, but I also wouldn't mind it too greatly if he died, I suppose.
And even Sherlock Holmes has Watson as his constant, even if he's notoriously asocial! So he "doesn't count" either.
Carol from Main Street also comes close, but still ultimately desires approval from others.
Maybe no one is truly immune to humanity and I should give up on this notion?)
How many pov characters out there are 1) apathetic toward the masses and 2a) either alienate themselves as the plot progresses or 2b) do not make any friends? (I will allow them making friends and consequently losing them though because that still ends in net zero!)
Indeed, this "gap" in protagonists I've been running into lately, especially with coming-of-age arcs and protagonists whose arc is some form of "getting out of their shell," is: why do we (almost?) never see protagonists who just flat-out don't progress in terms of connecting with fellow humans?
Wouldn't having even a handful of those types be reflective of reality? (We as a society are more disconnected than ever, to be fair, despite constantly having access to one another via technology.)
Or I would completely understand it, if it were narratively impractical to have a plot in which a protagonist makes zero friends. Maybe, it's a near-unwritable form for a story?
So, my question is: does anyone have book recommendations, which present a character whose end goal is not to make friends or forge connections (any other ambitions or motivations are fine) and whose state of being friendless both lasts and is regarded as morally-neutral or as not outright evil? Any genre is fine. High fantasy is preferable. I am stumped.
(I also wouldn't mind recommendations of books in which the protagonist is vilified due to being alone, even if that is not my primary query here.)
pov: you're an introvert
you: out of nowhere you remembered something embarrassing you said 2 months ago
your brain: WHY'D YOU SAY THAT?!
your anxiety: hi motherfucker did you miss me?
We just had some friends over for my mom’s birthday (with masks and six feet apart of course). My brother just came in and said to me “God, social interaction never made me tired before quarantine! Is this what it’s like being you?”
Told him yes, and he asked me how I survive
I never leave the house.
My social battery is dead~
Doo do do doo
But I've only been here for like
30 minutes...
Yay! No one else is home! Got the whole place to myself—
*continues quietly hiding in my room*
People say that vampires can't come out during the day it's because they will get burned.
Vampires don't come out during the day is because they don't want to deal with people like a typical introvert. Not because it will burned them alive. They Just enjoy quiet nights with no hooligans making noises.
It's a 3 am. They see it all. They see what your doing and was NOT impressed.
Dracula takes peoples blood in their sleep because he RATHER not having a conversation with somebody. Not because- I don't remember the reason.-
Terminei a quinta temporada de Daria e eu gostei muito até metade da quarta temporada.
Daria traz muito de como é ser introvertido e antissocial e por incrível que pareça é exatamente assim até hoje.
As pessoas introvertidas não são consideradas legais, as pessoas nos julgam como triste, deprimidos mesmo que não estejamos assim, sempre excluídos dos grupos pelo simples fato de não gostar de falar desnecessariamente.
E notável como temos menos oportunidades na vida só pelo fato de gostarmos de falar menos e conviver menos entre as pessoas. Mas isso não quer dizer que não há espaço para conversar e amizades, ela só não são tão frequentes e exageradas como a de outras pessoas.
Outro ponto que tenho notado é que pessoas mais extrovertidas faltam muuuuito com a verdade, quem é introvertido costuma ser um bom observador e como é bizarro ver o quanto as pessoas mentem, seja para ser engraçado, seja para fazer parte do grupo, só para não ser chato, enfim...
Parece que fazer parte da sociedade, do convívio com os demais é ser falso todo o tempo, fingir, mentir, ocultar, manipular e por aí vai.
This is for the people who didn’t party in their teens and twenties. For the people who didn’t have that “coming of age” movie experience with shenanigans and revelations. This is for the people who mostly keep to themselves. Who maybe prefer things to be quieter and gentler. This is for the people who don’t feel like they belong in a culture that values loud parties and flashing lights. I see you. And you are valid.
Silence is only frightening to people who are compulsively verbalizing.
William S. Burroughs (via nathanielstuart)
I hate having a really good time with someone I actually enjoy being with and then coming home and second guessing everything I said or did and somehow turning it into a failure.
I automatically assume people won’t like me, so I don’t talk to them unless they approach me first. I can’t become a part of a crowd because I can’t get past that feeling that I don’t belong.
Stephanie Kuehnert, Ballads of Suburbia (via wordsnquotes)
I imagine most of my friends can relate to this, I can!
My comic; “Introversion” is finished! Please go to the main page of my blog to read it in full size (the text is kinda small)
I really hope you’ll like it!
Recently, a friend mentioned that I'm the epitome of an introverted extrovert, and I couldn't agree more. While I naturally lean towards introversion, I often find myself embodying an extroverted persona in social settings. It's a paradoxical situation considering how much social interaction drains me, yet I crave the company of people and actively seek out social situations most of the time. It's a fascinating dynamic to navigate.
As the winters are approaching, I feel glad my longing for soft, big clothes, that hid me well will finally be realised. It was as if summers exposed me, to the harsh heat of the world, and winters shall enclose me back in the shell I have created among the cozy blankets. Oh oh oh summers! Never come back!
Summer of 2009, some music festival somewhere.
A certain bemused 17-year-old seeks solitude.
Do you get tired of the “What’s it like being a woman in comics” question?
Me too!
I didn’t get asked that at all in this interview!
It’s all about self care as a creative person. I hope y’all will check it out and enjoy. Also poke through the rest of the blog, there are some wonderful interviews there.
You always see in movies and in books that an introverted character eventually breaks out of their shell because one person changes them and if I’m being honest, I hate that. I hate the idea that something is wrong with introversion. Yes, socializing is good, but not a lot of people understand how physically and emotionally draining it is to be in crowds of people or to be told to “let loose” and “have fun.” As an introvert, my idea of fun is sitting on my couch, reading a book, and listening to the rain as it hits my roof. If that’s boring to other people, then that’s fine, but I shouldn’t have to feel bad just because I have a different way of having fun. No one should. Introversion shouldn’t be scolded, it should be embraced and celebrated and people who are introverts shouldn’t have to feel bad about it. There is no need to try to change something about us that we can’t help.