Daria Mental-Torture Fiction

A sub-category of angst fiction (the term was coined by TerraEsperZ), Daria mental-torture fiction involves fics in which characters go through a staggering amount of psychological anguish and torment, usually at their own hands or in a self-punishing manner. Fiction of this kind pre-supposes that the protagonist(s) are in fact responsible for their own situations and inner torment.

The true torment for these characters is that they either cannot see their responsibility for their self-harm, or else refuse to see it, thereby remaining prisoners within hells of their own design, with the keys easily within reach but unused, possibly forever. In this fashion, hope for a reprieve exists inside each character, if they only dare look inside themselves and attempt to change, not for others or as others would like, but for themselves.