History Main / StagesOfMonsterGrief

* All over the place in ''VampireTheMasquerade'' and ''VampireTheRequiem''. Notably, the Tzimisce in Masquerade take Embracing The Dark Side to its extreme in the form of BodyHorror flesh crafting. In Requiem, the Ordo Dracul go the other way, seeking to transcend vampiric weaknesses (though not necessarily become human).

* '''Mic'''hael goes through this in the ''Underworld'' movies, completely disbelieving what he's seeing, forcing himself to eat normal food and then deciding ah screw it; living forever with KateBeckinsale, it could be a lot worse.

'''Mic'''hael goes through this in the ''Underworld'' movies, completely disbelieving what he's seeing, forcing himself to eat normal food and then deciding ah screw it; living forever with KateBeckinsale, it could be a lot worse.

Characters who have been transformed from human into something else tend to get quite a shock, and change as much in morality and mind as they do in body. Much like the Stages of Grief in real life, these formerly human characters may transition from stage to stage, though not necessarily in any order.

[folder:Film]]

Speaking of whom, a few manage to hold on to their sense of morality and identity and reach '''[[IAmWhatIAm Acceptance]]'''. These characters range from FriendlyNeighborhoodVampires to {{Fully Embraced Fiend}}s. They don't deny what they are, or bear grudged against their fellows, but in making peace with their non-human nature they may have also distanced themselves from humanity, no longer viewing it as a group they belong to or should give equal consideration to.

* The ''FanFic/TheReturn'' has charted the protagonist's descent through all stages from denial (ended rather harshly with the creation of a new demonic daughter), defiance (allow her to denigrate and abuse her inadvertent transformers), acceptance with the creation of a whole brood of fellow demons and daughters), all the way through to the cusp of betrayal. Only the fact her new human "friends" are a bunch of [[NGOSuperPower above the law mercs]] who let her kill and feast on flesh with impunity is preventing that final step.

Speaking of which, try and avoid the loonies who [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope jumped]] at the chance to '''[[TranshumanTreachery Betray]]''' humanity. These types think being a monster is an excuse to act like one. [-(Well yeah, we ''are'' monsters, but there's no need to be a ''monster'' about it)-] Thankfully, these idiots tend to burn out pretty fast, what with ignoring the {{Masquerade}} and acting all {{Horror}} movie monster. ... but those that don't? Yeah, [[CompleteMonster watch out for those]]. I don't know why, but these bastards seem to actually [[TheDarkSide get stronger]] from all that [[KickTheDog puppy kicking]], though they usually [[WasOnceAMan stop even looking remotely human]].

* Stage One perfectly played on TheVampireDiaries by [[spoiler: Caroline in Season two, episode two.]] Seems to be moving on to Stage Two as of the end of "Brave New World."

* In 1990 Marvel Comics presented an ongoing story of Lifeform, a hideously mutated young man, through annual issues of ''ThePunisher,'' ''{{Daredevil}},'' ''TheIncredibleHulk,'' and ''The SilverSurfer.'' George Prufrock was exposed to an artificial virus which quickly mutated him into a man-eating monster. After several battles, Prufrock learns of a scientist named Lamar Kwiat also suffering from the virus and tells Kwiat what is in store for him if he lives. In a combination of acceptance and driven to suicide, Kwiat agrees it would be for the best if Prufrock ate him. Prufrock did so. . . and everyone else in the hospital.

* Stage One perfectly played on TheVampireDiaries by [[spoiler: Caroline in Season two, episode two.]] Seems to be moving on to Stage Two as of the end of "Brave New World."

If they don't [[DrivenToSuicide take a walk]] in [[WeakendByTheLight the sun]] or hide in the woods, they'll get angry. And I mean ''[[RoaringRampageOfRevenge really]]'' angry, [[IHateYouVampireDad cut out your sire's heart with a rusty wooden spoon]] and [[KillItWithFire burn his castle down]] angry. These '''[[VampireRefugee Defiant]]''' SOB's usually can't keep it in their pants, either; before long they'll [[HunterOfHisOwnKind start gunning for the rest of us]], as if dying once wasn't hard enough.

If they don't [[DrivenToSuicide take a walk]] in [[ItBurns the sun]] or hide in the woods, they'll get angry. And I mean ''[[RoaringRampageOfRevenge really]]'' angry, [[IHateYouVampireDad cut out your sire's heart with a rusty wooden spoon]] and [[KillItWithFire burn his castle down]] angry. These '''[[VampireRefugee Defiant]]''' SOB's usually can't keep it in their pants, either; before long they'll [[HunterOfHisOwnKind start gunning for the rest of us]], as if dying once wasn't hard enough.

* Ophelia of ''{{Claymore}}'' when she becomes an [[BodyHorror "Awakened Being"]], which she had previously had a fetish for hunting. At first, she's in such denial that she hasn't noticed any changes, even her new HorrorHunger for guts doesn't tip her off when she attacks Clare. However, when confronted with her visage reflected in the water, she become immediately distraught and self-pitying. She then blames the heroine she was fighting for all that's happened to her[[spoiler: (Accusations that are surprisingly accurate, but whether or not Ophelia knew they were true or was just lashing out from grief is a matter of speculation)). She then attacks the heroine, but soon realizes her situation, as having lost control and turned into a monster, she cannot complete her quest for revenge. Accepting this, she then allows Clare to kill her, as they had the same target for revenge and Clare would continue on.

[[folder:Comic Books]]
* In 1990 Marvel Comics presented an ongoing story of Lifeform, a hideously mutated young man, through annual issues of ''ThePunisher,'' ''{{Daredevil}},'' ''TheIncredibleHulk,'' and ''The SilverSurfer.'' George Prufrock was exposed to an artificial virus which quickly mutated him into a man-eating monster. After several battles, Prufrock learns of a scientist named Lamar Kwiat also suffering from the virus and tells Kwiat what is in store for him if he lives. In a combination of acceptance and driven to suicide, Kwiat agrees it would be for the best if Prufrock ate him. Prufrock did so. . . and everyone else in the hospital.

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Me? I'm at what you'd call '''[[IAmWhatIAm Acceptance]]''' [-(and if you have a lick of sense, you will too)-]. You wake up one night, realize [[WhoWantsToLiveForever forever is a long time to mope]], and [[LivingForeverIsAwesome decide to make the most of it]]. Most of us are sane, and some even do a [[ReluctantMonster good impression]] of [[FriendlyNeighborhoodVampire Mahatma-bloodsucking-Ghandi]]. That's [[FullyEmbracedFiend not to say we're all "nice"]] or [[VegetarianVampire never hurt anyone]], we just don't see the point in beating yourself [-[[ImAHumanitarian (or your food)]]-] up.