Editing Misanthropy (section)

=== Literature and popular culture ===
Many examples of misanthropy are also found in literature and popular culture. [[Timon of Athens]] by [[William Shakespeare]] is a famous portrayal of the life of the Ancient Greek [[Timon of Athens (person)|Timon]], who is widely known for his extreme misanthropic attitude. Shakespeare depicts him as a wealthy and generous gentleman. However, he becomes disillusioned with his ungrateful friends and humanity at large. This way, his initial philanthropy turns into an unrestrained hatred of humanity, which prompts him to leave society in order to live in a forest.{{sfn|Harris|2022|pp=27–30}}{{sfn|Gibson|2017|pp=1–2}} [[Molière]]'s play ''[[The Misanthrope]]'' is another famous example. Its protagonist, Alceste, has a low opinion of the people around him. He tends to focus on their flaws and openly criticizes them for their superficiality, insincerity, and hypocrisy. He rejects most social conventions and thereby often offends others, for example, by refusing to engage in social niceties like polite small talk.{{sfn|Gibson|2017|pp=2–4}}{{sfn|Harris|2022|p=58}}{{sfn|Hawcroft|2007|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=ewxREAAAQBAJ&pg=PA132 132]}}

[[File:Portrait of Jonathan Swift - Francis Bindon .PNG|thumb|alt=Portrait of Jonathan Swift by Francis Bindon|Jonathan Swift is well known for his often explicit pronouncements of misanthropy.]]
The author [[Jonathan Swift]] had a reputation for being misanthropic. In some statements, he openly declares that he hates and detests "that animal called man".{{sfn|Gibson|2017|p=14}} Misanthropy is also found in many of his works. An example is ''[[Gulliver's Travels]]'', which tells the adventures of the protagonist Gulliver, who journeys to various places, like an island inhabited by tiny people and a land ruled by intelligent horses. Through these experiences of the contrast between humans and other species, he comes to see more and more the deep flaws of humanity, leading him to develop a revulsion toward other human beings.{{sfn|Gibson|2017|pp=84–5}}{{sfn|Jan|Firdaus|2004|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=diLPYfA--XMC&pg=PA115 115]}} [[Ebenezer Scrooge]] from [[Charles Dickens]]'s ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' is an often-cited example of misanthropy. He is described as a cold-hearted, solitary miser who detests Christmas. He is greedy, selfish, and has no regard for the well-being of others.{{sfn|Moore|2011|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=lfmqz6ybAVEC&pg=PA16 16]}}{{sfn|Pirson|2017|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=3YswDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA58 58]}}{{sfn|Cornog|1998|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=cyD059eY2RYC&pg=PA357 357]}} Other writers associated with misanthropy include [[Gustave Flaubert]] and [[Philip Larkin]].{{sfn|Steegmuller|1982|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=vFzQdS8N_5IC&pg=PR14 xiv]}}{{sfn|Raban|1992}}

[[The Joker]] from the [[DC Universe]] is an example of misanthropy in popular culture. He is one of the main antagonists of [[Batman]] and acts as an agent of chaos. He believes that people are selfish, cruel, irrational, and hypocritical. He is usually portrayed as a [[sociopath]] with a twisted sense of humor who uses violent means to expose and bring down organized society.{{sfn|Lee|Bird|2020|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=pHwCEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA164 164]}}{{sfn|Donohoo|2023}}{{sfn|Bolus|2019|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=7bamDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA24 24]}}