History Main / TooBrokenToBreak

->''"Whatever awaits, it cannot be worse than what I've endured."''

'''Blonksy:''' I already know what you are. I know how tough you are to the nearest decimal point. ''(voice getting increasingly deeper)'' I don't know to know how to ''become'' like you, '''I need to know how to control it.'''

* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'', this is one factor that allowed Sirius Black to remain sane even while in [[TheAlcatraz Azkaban]], a prison guarded by [[EmotionEater joy-sucking]] {{Eldritch Abomination}}s. Sirius is so unhappy already, over the deaths of Harry's parents and over his own wrongful imprisonment, that there isn't really much joy left for the Dementors to eat. This in turn is aided by the fact that he is consumed by thoughts of {{revenge}}, which fuel him enough to stave off despair, but aren't happy thoughts, so the Dementors can't take them away from him.

* ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest'': As Bootstrap Bill helps his son Will escape from the ''Flying Dutchman'', Will points out that the other crewmen will know he did so and will hold him accountable. Bootstrap, having already pledged to serve on the hellish ship for all eternity, merely laughs and says "What more can they do to me?"

See also ConditionedToAcceptHorror, in which is not that the person is too broken to react, but that they actually find this normal and mundane. Similar to InsanityImmunity, except in this case the character still holds to their sanity, to DisabilityImmunity, where the disability in this case is psychological rather than physical, and to EmptyShell and StoppedCaring, with the difference that this character can still feel and care normally. Also, TheLastDance, when the character becomes this moments before his/her unavoidable death.

* In ''Film/{{Ikiru}}'', Kanji Watanebe has stomach cancer and as a result is expected only to live another six months. He makes getting a children's park built his final project. At one point a Yakuza boss who wanted to build a block of restaurants on the spot where the park was getting built threatens to kill Watanabe; Watanabe just grins after hearing the threat, which completely unnerves the Yakuza boss and his underlings.

* Thaddeus "Rusty" Venture of ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'' could very well be the TropeCodifier. No matter what horrible things can happen to him in the show, [[TraumaCongaLine he's been through worse.]] An abusive childhood has made him incredibly callous. When the Monarch tries ColdBloodedTorture on him, nothing has any effect due to him having experienced almost all of it at some point. Trying to crush his spirt doesn't work either, because he's so [[JadedWashout depressed and bitter]] that [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness old college friends of his consider it almost creepy to see him looking happy.]] The Monarch puts it best:

* TheProtagonist of ''LightNovel/MyYouthRomanticComedyIsWrongAsIExpected'' is a young boy who experimented the deception of human relationships at short age, especially about the rejection of girls and ostracism of his class towards him. All of that makes him a [[IWorkAlone lone wolf who doesn't want/interest to make any kind of relationship]], sees the youth as a big lie and has a misogynistic vision of women in general ([[BigBrotherInstinct with the exception of his little sister]]); reasons more than enough for his teacher to force him to be part of the Service Club in order to [[DefrostingIceking "save his soul" and "being more human"]]. During the series it's seen how Hachiman commits [[ZeroApprovalGambit social suicide acts]] to achieve his goals for the Service Club, which could left devastated if it's made by anyone else, but he isn't affected a bit... except when he sees the collateral damage he makes to [[FireForgedFriends Yukino and Yui]] everytime he does this in the series, which makes him question his own methods for first time.

* Present in the comic prequel of the game ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare 2: Ghost''. The protagonist, Simon "Ghost" Riley, is captured among other soldiers. Then they are put under torture during months until their will breaks, as the first stage of a long term program of brainwashing. This works with all of them, except for Simon. The reason? His infancy was so ridiculously abusive and traumatic, that the only thing the torture did for him on a psychological level was reawaken those traumatic memories. And as he explains to a thug before killing him, they could not break someone who is already broken.

* ''Fanfic/TheSacredAndTheProfane'': Played for horror and tragedy with Zirah. There's really nothing the other characters can threaten him with, because over the course of his millennia-long existence, the worst has already happened. He's been kicked out of Heaven, gone insane, committed countless evils, and lost all empathy for everyone. [[spoiler:He's ultimately undone by the one person he genuinely cares for, and who still cares for him: Caphriel, who is able to get the drop on him and douse him with holy water.]]

* In the original movie, what made Film/{{Godzilla|1954}} so hard to kill wasn't his incredible durability but the fact that his mutation into his current form caused him more pain then anything humanity could do to him.

* Played with in the dramedy film ''Film/IntoTheNight''. Creator/JeffGoldblum's character Ed Okin has been suffering from chronic insomnia, apparently for years. During the course of his two-night adventure he encounters threats, violence and murder, including Creator/DavidBowie's assassin character sticking the barrel of a Walther PPK in his mouth while interrogating him and, later, the need to try and talk down a surrounded former Iranian secret police agent who has taken Creator/MichellePfeiffer's character hostage. For the most part Ed barely reacts with anything more than mild bemusement or disbelief (although a jump scare with a barking dog briefly panics him). His condition has left him mostly detached from the reality of the dangers around him.

* ''VideoGame/IncredibleHulkUltimateDestruction:'' Same as in the comics, Bruce Banner finds himself held captive by the US military, with Emil Blonksy subjecting him to a MindProbe (which Doc Samson complains would be like "trying to slice an onion with a chainsaw"). Banner assumes Blonksy is trying to destroy him, but that's not the case.

* Thaddeus "Rusty" Venture of ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'' could very well be the TropeCodifier. No matter what horrible things can happen to him in the show, [[TraumaCongaLine he's been through worse.]] An abusive childhood has made him incredibly callous, as mentioned in the quote above. When the Monarch tries ColdBloodedTorture on him, nothing has any effect due to him having experienced almost all of it at some point. Trying to crush his spirt doesn't work either, because he's so [[JadedWashout depressed and bitter]] that [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness old college friends of his consider it almost creepy to see him looking happy.]] The Monarch puts it best:

* Played with in the dramedy film ''Film/IntoTheNight''. Creator/JeffGoldblum's character Ed Oken has been suffering from chronic insomnia, apparently for years. During the course of his two-night adventure, he encounters threats, violence and murder, including Creator/DavidBowie's assassin character sticking the barrel of a Walther PPK in his mouth while interrogating him and, later, the need to try and talk down a surrounded former Iranian secret police agent who has taken Creator/MichellePfeiffer's character hostage. For the most part Ed barely reacts with anything more than mild bemusement or disbelief (although a jump scare with a barking dog briefly panics him). His condition has left him mostly detached from the reality of the dangers around him.

See also ConditionedToAcceptHorror, in which is not that the person is too broken to react, but that they actually find this normal and mundane. Similar to InsanityImmunity, except in this case the character still holds to their sanity, and to EmptyShell and StoppedCaring, with the difference that this character can still feel and care normally. Also, TheLastDance, when the character becomes this moments before his/her unavoidable death.

* Thaddeus "Rusty" Venture of ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBros'' could very well be the TropeCodifier. No matter what horrible things can happen to him in the show, [[TraumaCongaLine he's been through worse.]] An abusive childhood has made him incredibly callous, as mentioned in the quote above. When the Monarch tries ColdBloodedTorture on him, nothing has any effect due to him having experienced almost all of it at some point. Trying to crush his spirt doesn't work either, because he's so depressed and bitter that [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness old college friends of his consider it almost creepy to see him looking happy.]] The Monarch puts it best:

* In an episode of ''Sereis/MalcolmInTheMiddle'', Francis is taken by a secret society at the MilitarySchool to be tortured. When they try to torture him by suspending, blindfolded, over a "bottomless pit," threaten to flog him t death, and even put his head inside a cage with some hungry rats, Francis responds that he's not scared at all. When the leader asks how their tactics are not scaring him, Francis says that his mom had long ago broken his spirit, so he can handle whatever they dish out.

* Played with in the dramedy film Into the Night. Jeff Golblum's character Ed Oken has been suffering from chronic insomnia, apparently for years. During the course of his two-night adventure, he encounters threats, violence and murder, including David Bowie's assassin character sticking the barrel of a Walther PPK in his mouth while interrogating him and, later. the need to try and talk down a surrounded former Iranian secret police agent who has taken Michelle Pfeiffer's character hostage.. For the most part Ed barely reacts with anything more than mild bemusement or disbelief (although a jump scare with a barking dog briefly panics him).His condition has left him mostly detached from the reality of the dangers around him.

* Played with in the dramedy film Into the Night. Jeff Golblum's character Ed Oken has been suffering ftom chronic insomnia, apparently for years. During the course of his two night adventure, he encounters threats,violence and murder, including David Bowie's assassin character sticking the barrel of a Walther PPK in his mouth while interrogating him and the need to try and talk down a surrounded former Iranian secret police agent who has taken Michelle Pfeiffer's character hostage.. For the most part Ed barely reacts with anything more than mild bemusement or disbelief (although a jump scare with a barking dog briefly panics him).His condition has left him mostly detached from the reality of the dangers around him.

* Played with in the dramedy film Into the Night". Jeff Golblum's character Ed Oken has been suffering ftom chronic insomnia, apparently for years. During the course of his two night adventure, he encounters threats,violence and murder, including David Bowie's assassin character sticking the barrel of a Walther PPK in his mouth while interrogating him and the need to try and talk down a surrounded former Iranian secret police agent who has taken Michelle Pfeiffer's character hostage.. For the most part Ed barely reacts with anything more than mild bemusement or disbelief (although a jump scare with a barking dog briefly panics him).His condition has left him mostly detached from the reality of the dangers around him.

* ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanDeadMansChest'': As Bootstrap Bill helps his son Will escape from the Flying Dutchman, Will points out that the other crewmen will know he did so and will hold him accountable. Bootstrap, having already pledged to serve on the hellish ship for all eternity, merely laughs and says "What more can they possibly do to me?"

* TheProtagonist of ''LightNovel/MyYouthRomanticComedyIsWrongAsIExpected'' is a young boy who experimented the deception of human relationships at short age, especially about the rejection of girls and ostracism of his class towards him. All of that makes him a [[IWorkAlone lone wolf who doesn't want/interest to make any kind of relationship]], sees the youth as a big lie and has a misogynistic vision of women in general ([[BigBrotherInstinct with the exception of his little sister]]); reasons more than enough for his teacher to force him to be part of the Service Club in order to [[DefrostingIceking "save his soul" and "being more human"]]. During the series it's seen how Hachiman commits [[ZeroApprovalGambit social suicide acts]] to achieve his goals for the Service Club, which could left devastated if it's made by anyone else, but he doesn't affect a bit... except when he sees the collateral damage he makes to [[FireForgedFriends Yukino and Yui]] everytime he does this in the series, which makes him question his own methods for first time.

->'''Dormammu''': You will suffer!\\
'''Doctor Strange''': Pain's an old friend.
-->--''Film/DoctorStrange''

!!Examples

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

--->'''Daredevil''': You think you can break me? You're a joke and a fraud. [...] And trying to drive me insane? Kingpin nearly did it, once."

-->'''Simon "Ghost" Riley''': There isn't a man alive that doesn't have a breaking point. Your mistake with me was that I'd already reached mine a long time ago. I was already broken, mate.

* In the original movie what made Film/{{Godzilla|1954}} so hard to kill wasn't his incredible durability but the fact that his mutation into his current form caused him more pain then anything humanity could do to him.

* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': In ''TabletopGame/{{Ravenloft}}'', many beings are forced to live eternally in {{ironic hell}}s. Lord Soth actually escaped because he was to broken he accepted his punishment and nothing the dark forces could do hurt him anymore.

-->'''The Monarch''': "What can I do to this guy that life hasn't already?"

-->'''Blue Diamond:''' What?
-->'''Lapis:''' ''(wipes a single tear from her eye)'' I've felt worse.

-->'''Dormammu''': You will suffer!
-->'''Doctor Strange''': Pain's an old friend.

''Taken Administrivia/UpForGrabs by Basara-kun. This is a good draft that deserves to be saved, and so I'll do. As always, any help is welcome.''
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