This meme template features a stark contrast between two versions of actor Willem Dafoe: one where he appears polished and 'fresh' on a red carpet, and another where he looks weathered and manic as Thomas Wake in the 2019 film The Lighthouse. The comparison gained traction on social media as a 'before and after' format, typically illustrating the toll that a stressful event, a long work week, or a difficult project takes on a person’s mental state. It perfectly encapsulates the descent from optimism and order into total, salt-sprayed exhaustion. Users love it for its versatility in describing everything from the first day of school to the final hours of a software sprint.