Books or films with narcissistic characters?

[Biscuitsareme]

I've only recently 'discovered' narcissistic behaviour and it's been a real eye-opener to me. Now there are some characters in books and films that really hit me as narcissistic.

I'll go first:

Muriel's Wedding: Muriel's awful awful father

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell: the Gentleman with the Thistledown Hair
(although Strange and Norrell have traits I suppose)

Any more?

[StickyProblem]

Did anyone say this Dragon? The one with Constance is Dark Lady by Sally Beauman, fab book, but lots of creepy characters!

[DragonsAreReal]

Oh yes that's it sticky thank you, and I love Sally Beaumans Rebecca to.

[Faezy]

My first thought was Gone With The wind bruffin

[Biscuitsareme]

yes to Zenia in The Robber's Bride!

Never thought of Heathcliff & Cathy as 2 sides of the narcissist before.

[alto1]

Don Giovanni

[Chubfuddler]

Valmont and merteuil in dangerous liaisons. Other people aren't really real to them.

[JaceyBee]

Definitely chub, I was thinking that while watching it the other night.

[Sparklysilversequins]

Don Draper.

[shadesofwhite]

Hi OP ,

I'd highly recommend an excellent book by Dr Albert J. Bernstein called Emotional Vampires dealing with people who drain you dry .

People do misunderstand narcissism quite a lot, this book has various types of personality disorders but narcissism is hugely covered. Its a self help book and worth every penny. Its a humorous book filled with real life examples and the writter is a clinical psychologist. Can get it from Amazon/Waterstones.

Once I'm done reading it I'll post it to my narcissistic STBXH .

[DragonsAreReal]

I have the all time one here Jilly coopers Roberto Rannaldini!

[OnIlkelyMoorBahtat]

Mrs Bennett in Pride and Prejudice. Livia Soprano is a good one, but also Janice.

[OnIlkelyMoorBahtat]

Ooo, sorry lottieandmia - missed your post about Livia AND Janice

But as we concur with each other we are obviously both right

[OnIlkelyMoorBahtat]

Patsy's mum, Patsy and Eddy (in order of "narcness") in AbFab.

[Wellwobbly]

I also thought Mrs Bennett, IlkelyMoor!

Absolutely the Wizard of Oz, brilliant Dystopia

Any boffins out there who can explain Wuthering Heights? It was my O level book and always gave me the creeps...

[GetStuffezd]

Oh definitely Mrs. Bennett. Also, perhaps, Alfie (Judle Law/Michael Caine)

[lottieandmia]

Definitely OnI - to me Janice seemed even more dislikable than Livia but I suppose Livia had more effect on Tony perhaps which is why that angle is played up. Janice's level of self delusion is hilarious!

[Biscuitsareme]

God yes, Patsy's mum! And Patsy and Eddy. I find some scenes between Eddy and Saffy painful to watch really, def. not laugh out loud funny!

Thanks for the book ref. 'Emotional Vampires'. I'm interested in the PP's view that narcissism is a disorder of identity and that narcissists fake relationships- thought that was a sociopath's thing? Or are narcissists less cool and calculating in doing so?

Will also follow up 'Trapped in the Mirror'.

Surely not every selfish or immature person is also a narc?
I always thought Mrs Bennett, though irritating, as having a point: the only way out of poverty for her daughters is a good marriage, and she gets not support whatsoever from Mr Bennett.

[2013go]

Has anyone said the mum in Arrested Development?
Def Heathcliff, probably Cathy.
Yy to Tangled!

[NanettaStocker]

Narcissists deep down feel they are actually inadequate and worthless, that's why they can't take criticism. Psychopaths or sociopaths have no such inferiority issues.

Anyone seen Sightseers? The mother and leading man are so spot on, it's pretty triggering.

[Lucca22]

My husband of 28 years who has just left me and our son is a narcissist, there is a film called gaslight with Ingrid Bergman where her husband slowly sends her nuts and these two conditions just about sums the horrid little man up.

[Biscuitsareme]

Lucca22 I'm so sorry; here's to rebuilding your life

I've heard about the film Gaslight before and really want to see it.

Will look out for Gypsy too.

I'm now thinking that a lot of 'Jonathan Strange and Mister Norrell' is about irrationality: 'madness' vs sanity, but also extreme arrogance and fear of being thwarted in the guises of Mr Norrell and the Fairy he conjures. So about personality disorders really.

[BatwingsAndButterflies]

Harry Potter has a few:

Lord Voldemort, classic narc to extremes
Gilderoy Lockhart
Malfoy Junior (poss seniors as well)
Pansy Parkinson
Ludo Bagman
Bellatrix Lestrange
All the Dursleys (golden child vs. scapegoat with Dudley (later redeemed somewhat) and Harry)

Probably more that will come to mind.

[OnIlkelyMoorBahtat]

God yes Batwings - the Dursleys DEFINITELY.

Would we say Blanche Dubois is a narcissist? Am on the fence on this one as she quite a tragic figure, so you can see why she ended up as she was...

This is a great game this