Published May 17, 2026
Imagine standing on a stage where every movement feels visible, every word slightly judged. At first it feels like excitement—you are the center of something. But then the awareness sets in: you are not just performing, you are being seen. And suddenly, the performance becomes self-conscious.
The example I gave above is imperfect but I wish to show you how cringe is the built-in punishment for main character syndrome — the moment the gap between who you think you are and who others see you as becomes painfully obvious. I used to be naturally expressive—loud, curious, always sharing my interests. But over time I started to learn that self-expression could be seen as “too much,” and I began filtering myself in social situations. But around covid, I’ve met relatives, who taught me that self-expression is shameful and not to show off because it was considered improper. And because of it I struggle with ED, depression, and constant need to suppress myself cuz it’s “rude.” Thankfully I have amazing friends and parents that help me recover and gain my confidence back along the years .I in no where want any kids to to suffer the same thing I did. Kids and teenagers should be allowed to express themselves, it’s a part of growth that everyone should know and respect. And I fear that the widespread use of the word ‘cringe
Main character syndrome” describes a mindset in which an individual frames their life as a narrative centered on themselves as the protagonist. “Cringe,” in contrast, refers to the experience of secondhand embarrassment triggered when behavior appears socially awkward or overly performative. Drawing ideas from Jean-Paul Sartre’s concept of "the gaze" and Martin Heidegger’s das Man, we experience the world as the center of our own universe—a free, acting consciousness. However, the moment we realize another person is looking at us, a shift occurs: we begin to see ourselves as external objects, judging our posture, actions, and existence from the perspective of the observer. We set a standard on the self we want to project(heroic, cool, coherent) which contrasts with the true self that actually appears. This tendency appears naturally in most people and it’s ok until it becomes dangerous enough that you forget you are free to stop playing ‘the protagonist.’
A Norwegian philosopher by the name Peter W. Zapffe argued that humans have too much consciousness — we are aware of our own absurdity in a way that is painful. For Zapffe, human consciousness itself becomes a burden; we are capable of reflecting on ourselves in ways that generate shame, anxiety, and existential discomfort. This is further expanded by Kierkegaard’s The Crowd is Untruth, where he said that the fear of cringe is fear of the crowd's judgment. Crowds erase individuality and encourage performative existence. Cringe emerges when self-awareness, social judgment, and performance collide. It is the painful awareness that the self we perform cannot fully control how others perceive us. Our fear of judgment can stop us from actually discovering ourselves. The solution to cringe is not perfection, but sincerity. The more we attempt to curate ourselves into flawless protagonists, the more fragile our identities become. Every failed joke, awkward movement, or enthusiastic obsession becomes a threat to the image we are trying to maintain. Existentialist philosophers argue that authenticity begins when we stop living entirely for the gaze of others. Perhaps growing up is not learning how to avoid embarrassment, but learning that embarrassment cannot define your existence unless you allow the crowd to define it for you.
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Hai :3
Whoa, this is such a thoughtful, emotionally charged essay!! I really love how you’re trying to connect something very modern and internet-coded with these much older philosophical ideas about the gaze, the crowd, authenticity, shame, etc. That’s such a cool conceptual bridge!! It makes the essay feel personal but also intellectual, like you’re not just talking about a trend, you’re trying to understand why that trend hurts people so much.
LOVE this opening image !!!
The stage metaphor works really well because it immediately gives us the feeling of performance before you even define “main character syndrome.” Everyone knows what it feels like to be watched, even when no one is actually saying anything. That’s such a strong way to begin because cringe is not embarrassment ~~ I'd say it is more like embarrassment with an audience. The line “you are not just performing, you are being seen” is especially good!! That’s where the whole piece clicks into Sartre before you even name him.
!!!! This is SUCH a strong thesis. This sentence is probably the backbone of the whole essay. It’s clear, sharp, and memorable. I love “built-in punishment” because it makes cringe feel like a social mechanism, not just a feeling. Like, cringe becomes the penalty for being too visible, too expressive, too earnestly alive in public. That’s really compelling!!
^^^ I do think this thesis could come a little earlier or be isolated more clearly. Right now, the first paragraph has the stage example, then the thesis, then your personal experience, then social concern. All of those things matter, but they’re doing a lot at once ~~ Maybe let the thesis stand on its own before moving into the personal section, so the reader knows exactly what argument they’re following? It's hard for me to parse through and automatically think, that's it.
This is so vulnerable and so important!! I love that you bring the abstract idea down into the body and the self. The essay isn’t just saying “cringe culture is bad” in a vague way because that is not beneficial ~~ I like how it shows the cost of learning to suppress yourself. The phrase “too much” is especially powerful because it’s such a common criticism thrown at expressive people, especially kids and teenagers. It sounds casual, but it teaches people to shrink.
This sentence is really painful, and I appreciate the honesty here!! It makes the stakes very clear: this isn’t just about internet slang or embarrassment; it’s about shame becoming internalized. That said, since this is such a serious personal moment, I’d maybe slow it down and polish the sentence so the gravity lands fully. Something like: “Because of that, I struggled with an eating disorder, depression, and a constant need to suppress myself because I had learned expression was ‘rude.’” ED is a bit unclear, even if the average person understands it is eating disorder. The emotion is already there though!!
^^^ I fear this sentence seems unfinished!! I think this is where you were about to make one of your most important points: that overusing “cringe” can punish kids for experimenting with identity. Definitely finish this thought because it connects your personal story to your broader social argument ~~ Something like: “And I fear that the widespread use of the word ‘cringe’ teaches young people to mock sincerity before they ever get the chance to understand themselves.” Obviously use your own wording, but that idea is SO strong.
What a beautiful ending!! This is wise and compassionate without being cheesy. I love that you end with growth rather than revenge against judgment. It gives the essay a hopeful final note: not that cringe disappears, but that it loses its authority. In a way, maybe embracing "cringe culture" can help people grow out of their shells and find communities with likeminded individuals ~~ It's great that you've left it on a note where there's room for expansion.
My biggest suggestion is structure. You have all the right ideas, but some paragraphs are carrying too many idea at once. I’d separate it more clearly into: stage metaphor, thesis, personal experience, definitions, philosophers, social consequences, and conclusion!!
Overall, this is such a smart and personal essay though!! The strongest thing here is the way you connect your lived experience to philosophy without making either side feel random. Balance is key!! Kids and teenagers deserve room to be earnest, dramatic, awkward, obsessed, loud, experimental, and alive without being punished by the crowd for not performing coolness correctly. Amazing work!! ^_^
- Payton
this was a great read. though this is something i've pondered myself, i've never actually seen anyone speak directly on "cringe", "main character syndrome" and the other things you touch on. i think you approach it in a very nuanced way.
also, the ending reminded me of a quote i really like: 'it's only embarrassing if you're embarrassed'. it really shines a light on the fact that a lot of shame we feel in social situations can actually stem from ourselves.
that's not to say we live in a perfect society. cringe-culture has gotten crazy lately, and it's refreshing to see someone speak on it.
like i said i found this very satisfying and refreshing to read, there were only a few small critiques i noticed:
'And because of it I struggle with ED, depression, and constant need to suppress myself cuz it’s “rude.”' - this text has a pretty serious, researched tone (especially with you quoting philosophers and authors) so the 'cuz' felt a bit jarring.
between 'cringe' and 'main character syndrome', there seems to be some sort of formatting error.
anyway that was really all i had to critique, i really enjoyed this piece. great work!