10 Characters Who Feel Like Outcasts: Misfits in Their Own Worlds

These characters don't fit in with the world around them. Whether due to their beliefs, appearance, or life circumstances, they stand apart, unable to find their place in society. Here’s a look at 10 outcasts whose personal struggles and alienation resonate with anyone who's ever felt like they didn’t quite belong.

1. Holden Caulfield 📚🖤

   • Outcast Nature: Cynical and disillusioned, Holden criticizes the "phony" world around him, making it impossible for him to connect with others.

   • Where It Began: First appeared in The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (1951).

   • Outcome: Holden ends up in a rest home, reflecting on his mental breakdown and uncertain future.

2. Elphaba 🧙‍♀️💚

   • Outcast Nature: Born with green skin, Elphaba is discriminated against and later becomes the "Wicked Witch of the West," largely due to her rebellious nature.

   • Where It Began: First appeared in Wicked by Gregory Maguire (1995).

   • Outcome: Despite trying to do good, Elphaba is vilified, cementing her outcast status.

3. Quasimodo 🔔💔

   • Outcast Nature: Deformed and isolated in the bell tower, Quasimodo's appearance makes him a target of cruelty and rejection.

   • Where It Began: First appeared in The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo (1831).

   • Outcome: Quasimodo's tragic love for Esmeralda leads to his lonely death, symbolizing his deep isolation.

4. Don Quixote 🏰🛡️

   • Outcast Nature: Obsessive and delusional, Don Quixote’s chivalric ideals make him a figure of ridicule, leaving him alienated from society.

   • Where It Began: First appeared in Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes (1605).

   • Outcome: His adventures end in disillusionment, with Don Quixote dying estranged from the world.

5. Luna Lovegood 🌙🦉

   • Outcast Nature: Eccentric and dreamy, Luna's odd beliefs and behavior make her a target of ridicule, though she remains unfazed.

   • Where It Began: First appeared in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling (2003).

   • Outcome: Luna eventually earns the respect and friendship of her peers, finding acceptance while staying true to herself.

6. Willy Loman 💼😔

   • Outcast Nature: A struggling salesman, Willy's belief in the American Dream leads him to isolation and feelings of failure as society shifts around him.

   • Where It Began: First appeared in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller (1949).

   • Outcome: His alienation culminates in suicide, believing it will offer his family more value than his life did.

7. Lisbeth Salander 💻🖤

   • Outcast Nature: A brilliant hacker with a traumatic past, Lisbeth's antisocial behavior and distrust of others isolate her, even as she fights for justice.

   • Where It Began: First appeared in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (2005).

   • Outcome: Lisbeth uncovers corruption and gains empowerment, but remains largely solitary, remaining true to her rebellious nature.

8. Jay Gatsby 🥂💔

   • Outcast Nature: Despite his wealth and lavish parties, Gatsby remains an outsider due to his mysterious background and obsessive love for Daisy Buchanan.

   • Where It Began: First appeared in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925).

   • Outcome: Gatsby dies alone, still unable to gain the acceptance he longed for, with only a few attending his funeral.

9. Amélie Poulain 🌸👗

   • Outcast Nature: A shy and imaginative woman, Amélie lives in her own world, disconnected from the people around her.

   • Where It Began: First appeared in the film Amélie (2001, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet).

   • Outcome: Amélie steps out of isolation to pursue love and finds happiness and connection with others.

10. Gregor Samsa 🐞💔

• Outcast Nature: Transformed into a giant insect, Gregor’s physical change makes him a repellent figure to his family, amplifying his existing sense of alienation.

• Where It Began: First appeared in The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (1915).

• Outcome: Gregor’s family becomes increasingly hostile, and his death is met with relief, emphasizing his utter alienation.

These characters exemplify the painful yet powerful experience of being an outcast. Their journeys of isolation and discovery reflect the struggle for belonging, acceptance, and the toll it takes to stay true to oneself.