Literally me characters have been the rave throughout last year — with the word constantly thrown on TikTok. These characters are usually sad and lonely men; who people idealize and feel they can relate to. Sometimes they aren’t even sad and lonely. They’re just eccentric go-getters who believe the world is theirs to conquer and that the end justifies the means.
Characters like Lou Bloom, the Protagonist from Drive, and Bojack Horseman, from Bojack Horseman, are perfect examples of literally me characters. They show the angst our generation faces and how we lean into sociopathy as comfort.
While literally me characters are popular in film, Do you know there are literally me characters in Manga? Stay tuned and keep reading to find out.
Literally me characters are fictional characters people relate to or see similarities with.
The 21st century has seen men(mostly heterosexual men) with increased feelings of existential dread and loss. We are at a point where gender dynamics have completely changed, and the role that society once placed on a man has been rendered defunct. This has led to a swathe of men — be they public speakers or influencers calling for a return to old gender norms. All this has led to an increase in male adoration of dangerous but charismatic figures and the rise of the literally me characters.
Literally me characters, also called Sigma Males, are fictional characters with obsessive, psychopathic, and sociopathic tendencies. They glorify wealth; they are nonconformists; they are goal driven and can sacrifice everything to achieve their goals.
While this set of characters is known in film and is well-covered in pop culture, they also exist in Manga and Anime. The likes of Naruto, Monster, Vagabond, Berserk, Oyasumi Pun Pun, and Beck all have literally me characters. Where these mangas excel above their film counterparts is how the characters realize how flawed their systems are and grow.
Manga has always had its share of literally me characters since time immemorial. Shonen, Seinen, and Josei manga genres have seen cold-driven male characters with sickening charisma that have displayed unhealthy habits. We have still loved them regardless and related to their penchant for chaos. Characters like Madara Uchiha from Naruto, Aizen from Bleach, and White Beard from One Piece are all Sigma males(literally me characters).
They fit the mold due to an obsessive desire for power and a penchant for causing disorder.
While I see the rise of Literally me characters as inherently dangerous and a symbol of toxic masculinity. Their positives are still hard to deny, especially with the characters that change or come full circle. They are living proof that our endearment to the tropes of a sigma male isn’t even worth it.
Here are three manga characters that fit the literally me trope
Anyone who has touched the black and white panels must have heard of Miyamoto Musashi. Apart from being a popular figure in Seinen manga, he’s famous for his life as a samurai and his work as a philosopher.
What makes Miyamoto Musashi a literally me character can be seen from his behavior in the first few arcs. In those arcs, we see a young Musashi who just wants nothing but to be the strongest, a behavior that stems from fear and trauma.
Where we see Musashi change his ways after his battle with the Yoshioka where he murders all of them in cold blood. After the fight, we see a Musashi who should be bathing in victory but appears more lost than ever. Furthermore, he is left paralyzed and unable to fight. This leads to our literally me to truly become a Sigma male and choose what is important to him.
Attack on Titans Eren Jaegar fits this trope more than any other person in the manga and Anime world. He is also another character whose totalitarian tendencies are praised instead of criticized.
What makes Eren Jaegar a thrilling Literally me character is the banner of freedom he falsely flies. Freedom is an excuse for Eren Jaeger to murder his own people, and commit genocide against other races. Eren, like most literally me characters is a walking paradox; at the end of Attack on Titan, he gains some clarity, but it’s too late.
If Berserk was a TV series, Guts would have been part of the TikTok compilations that spoke heavily on Literally me characters. Like most literally me characters, Guts is cold, nihilistic, and at times sad*stic. When he goes after demons: Guts resembles Patrick Bateman(a famous literary me character), a sad*stic psychopath more than the Antihero fans portray him to be.
Guts is shaped by pain, and most of the time, forces beyond his control. So, throughout the Manga, we see Guts always angry and dissatisfied with life. The constant dissatisfaction drives him to challenge beings way more powerful, and even challenge gods.
While many see themselves in Guts for his relentless drive, Guts himself is tired of the constant fights and truly wants to stop. At the end of Berserk, he finally finds peace in the small joys of life.
As long as fiction exists, literally me characters will always exist. While manga characters haven’t enjoyed the same popularity as their film and TV counterparts, it is safe to say that they’ve handled this trope better.
While I consider literally me characters toxic, there’s still much that can be learned from them. Their existence should be discussed and broken down to create more genuine conversations. This can aid those influenced by the evil charisma of these characters to something more positive.
