History Main / UnableToCry

* In ''Blind Faith'' by Ben Elton, protagonist Trafford lives in a dystopian society where every detail of one's life is public to all, and people are frequently encouraged to "emote" and share their every thought with others. At one point, a colleague is unable to cry when she is urged to express her feelings over the death of her baby son. Others in the office are disappointed with her, but Trafford notes that her quiet dignity somehow makes a bigger statement than a flood of tears.

* In an early episode of ''{{WesternAnimation/Futurama}}'', Fry [[ItMakesSenseInContext drinks an alien emperor whose body is made of liquid and sleeps in a glass bottle]] and is [[IdiotPlot crowned the new emperor]], which seems great until it becomes clear that the role has a ridiculously high turnover rate, being almost a guaranteed ticket to assassination. When it turns out that the old emperor he drank isn't really dead, but is alive inside his stomach, the options of getting him out are narrowed down to Fry crying, which he can't because he's "too macho"; even a reminder that he [[HumanPopsicle outlived everyone he ever loved]] is [[AngstWhatAngst easily shrugged off]]. Bender finally finds some success by telling him that Leela was brutally murdered on her way over to help him out, but Leela, who's not in on the plan, actually shows up before he's shed more than a few tears. [[spoiler:The ultimate solution, of course, [[CuttingTheKnot is for all his friends to kick the crap out of him until he sheds tears of pain]]. It works. Then the emperor himself says, "Thanks for crying me out!" and takes over the pummeling.]]

* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' haS Eren Yeager in the Final Season, [[spoiler:where Sasha died from being shot by Gabi. And after heard what her last word is, all he can do is laugh. Change to flashback from season 1, where Sasha said when they win and conquer land, they can farm animals and have meat. Ends of flashback, Eren grit his teeth unable to shed tears losing his friend. Technically, it wasn't hIs fault he can't cry. Because it's Reiner's fault for showing too many painful hells to him.]]

* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' have Eren Yeager in the Final Season, [[spoiler:where Sasha died from being shoot by Gabi. And after heard what her last word is, all he can do is laugh. Change to flashback from season 1, where Sasha said when they win and conquer land, they can farm animals and have meat. Ends of flashback, Eren grit his teeth unable to shed tears losing his friend. Technically, it wasn't he's fault he can't cry. Because it's Reiner's fault for showing too many painful hells to him.]]

* The Princess in ''Anime/{{Naruto}} TheMovie: Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow''. To do a scene where her character cries (She's a RebelliousPrincess-turned-Actress), she needs eye drops.

* In Creator/AlfredLordTennyson's poem "Home They Brought Her Warrior Dead", a queen does neither weep nor speak when her husband is brought home dead. Her handmaids believe she will die if she does not weep, but their efforts have no effect until an old nurse brings the queen's child to her. The queen weeps, saying she will live on for his and her child.

* Edgar Lee Master's [[http://poetry.poetryx.com/poems/7600/ "Charles Webster"]]

* A unique example in ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'', Scotty tells Spock that the daughter of Chancellor Gorkon didn't 'shed one bloody tear!'. Spock points out Klingon's don't have tear ducts. Furthermore, the first missive she issues clearly shows her bereavement.

* In Creator/GahanWilson's ''Nuts'', the Kid wonders why he can't cry when his favorite uncle dies, until he imagines his dog dying instead and then weeps his heart out.

* In ''Anime/{{Scryed}}'', when [[spoiler:Scheris dies]], Ryuho is initially frozen in stunned shock. Kazuma (in his own caring but rough way) tells him it's all right for a man to cry... and Ryuho '''''[[AnguishedOutburst melts down]]'''''.

* In ''Lightnovel/TheWayToProtectTheFemaleLeadsOlderBrother'' Dion is permanently unable to cry (and emotionally stunted in general) due to his upbringing. Due to this, he'a also endlessly fascinated with his half-sister's (who went through the same upbringing) ability to cry, to the point of going out of his way to [[KickTheDog give her reasons to be sad]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', Butters' dad Stephen seems to either be unable to shed tears or is only pretending to cry.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' episode "Girly Edition:"
-->'''Lindsey Naegle''': Bart, look up here! This is where the tears would be if I could cry! But I can't. Botched facelift. You could learn a lot from him, Mary Anne!\\
'''Lisa''': It's Lisa.\\
'''Lindsey Naegle''': Mary Anne's better!
* In an early episode of ''{{WesternAnimation/Futurama}}'', Fry [[ItMakesSenseInContext drinks an alien emperor whose body is made of liquid and sleeps in a glass bottle]] and is [[IdiotPlot crowned the new emperor]], which seems great until it becomes clear that the role has a ridiculously high turnover rate, being almost a guaranteed ticket to assassination. When it turns out that the old emperor he drank isn't really dead, but is alive inside his stomach, the options of getting him out are narrowed down to Fry crying, which he can't because he's "too macho"; even a reminder that he [[HumanPopsicle outlived everyone he ever loved]] is [[AngstWhatAngst easily shrugged off]]. Bender finally finds some success by telling him that Leela was brutally murdered on her way over to help him out, but Leela, who's not in on the plan, actually shows up before he's shed more than a few tears. [[spoiler:The ultimate solution, of course, [[CuttingTheKnot is for all his friends to kick the crap out of him until he sheds tears of pain]]. It works. Then the emperor himself says, "Thanks for crying me out!" and takes over the pummeling.]]
* In ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', Butters' dad Stephen seems to either be unable to shed tears or is only pretending to cry.

* Michael Bluth never cried as part of a RunningGag that GOB kept calling him a heartless robot. It wasn't a matter of ''couldn't cry'' as it was he didn't feel that he needed to. He did shed a few tears in the finale, though, which elicited opposite reactions from those around him; GOB, especially, who'd made a big deal about his failure to cry, found the sight repulsive and unmanly, and it's what convinced his mother to sell out the company to Stan Sitwell.

In many works this will be leading up to a Big Scene where something triggers the character to break down in floods of cleansing tears, hopefully leading to catharsis, possibly leading to {{Narm}}. But alternatively, it can be simply a way of trying to explain/justify MenDontCry, in which case the tearless hero will remain [[TheStoic stoical]] till the end, maybe shedding [[SandInMyEyes half a freedom drop]] at most.

* In the ''Series/DoctorWho'' novel Set Piece. As Ace, stuck in ancient Egypt, gets to grips with the fact that the Doctor [[spoiler: ''did'' apparently die]] and is not coming back for her, she tries to grieve for the Doctor's loss and finds she can't cry.

* In VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt an optional line of dialogue has Geralt say "I can't cry. Don't know how." after [[spoiler:Vesemir dies.]] Whether he physically can't due to his mutations or finds it extremely difficult due to his upbringing/jadedness is up to the player's interpretation.

* In the Series/DoctorWho novel Set Piece. As Ace, stuck in ancient Egypt, gets to grips with the fact that the Doctor [[spoiler: ''did'' apparently die]] and is not coming back for her, she tries to grieve for the Doctor's loss and finds she can't cry.

* In ''Film/{{The Secret Garden|1993}}'', like the book it's based on, Mary is this way after being neglected by her birth parents. Part of her CharacterDevelopment is learning how.

* ''Cemetery Gates'' by Music/Pantera.

* Music/AliceCooper's "I Never Cry" (though the narrator may be lying to himself).