| abstract | - A common way to convey that a character is either really strange or has either paranoid or schizophrenic tendencies (or both) is to make them an insomniac. Whether only during times of great stress or as a chronic disorder (obviously a case of Truth in Television) expect these characters to be cranky, moody, mistrusting and sometimes even violent. Expect lots of Eye Tropes. In fiction, four types can be observed:
* A. The Goofy Insomniac: Usually used as a comedy device. The character in question goes without sleep for a number of days (as these characters are often only temporary insomniacs) and react comically out-of-character for the duration of their sleep deprivation.
* B. The Obsessive Insomniac: More likely to be a chronic insomniac. This character is so driven to catch or kill their nemesis that they forgo everything, including sleep. Typically, their sheer determination, rigid mindset and complete disregard for their bodies' needs actually make them more capable, making this a common Disability Superpower. See also Triple Shifter. May result in a Heroic RROD.
* C. The Realistic Insomniac: Often used in more serious works, where the disorder is neither funny nor makes the character any better at what they do. Often the delusional/hallucinogetic part of sleep deprivation is played up, sometimes in conjunction with Tomato in the Mirror surprises for the viewer.
* D. The Superpowered Insomniac: Part of the character's power set is the ability to go without sleep--either for long periods of time or for good. The Undead nearly always fit into this category as a general rule, usually pairing it with Perpetual Motion Monster. See also Bad Dreams. Waking up from one may cause a sleepless night; waking up from one many, many, many nights may lead to this in its milder forms, since the character gets some sleep. Characters for whom not sleeping is normal are The Sleepless, though it can overlap with this trope, particularly the obsessives of Type B. The webcomic No Rest for The Wicked can be found by following that link. Examples of The Insomniac include:
|
