choosing between equally unappealing possibilities theme

A character must choose between courses of action and outcomes that are all bad.

Examples

In nightgallery0x01b "Eyes", Sidney was faced the stark option of whether to sell his eyes for $9000 in order to repay his debt to a criminal and escape lethal retribution. He believed that without sight he would probably fall into a depression and soon kill himself.

3 total · 2 major · 1 minor

StoryLevelMotivation
nightgallery0x01b major Sidney sacrificed his eyes in order to repay his debts and save his skin
voy5x18 major The facsimile Voyager crew faced with dying on the way to Earth versus dying on the way to demon planet.
movie: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) minor Lieutenant Saavik had to pass the Kobayashi Maru test which was designed to have no way to win. A young Kirk dealt with the test by reprogramming the computer so that it was not longer a no win scenario.