Anthropomorphism is not rational thought. Bristlecone pines can live thousands of years, but that doesn't give them a conscious being, memory, wisdom or any sensation of comfort or discomfort. Our conscious being is all tied to a complex nervous system, something plants do not have. There is cell to cell communication of sorts, but no nerve endings or impulses, all primarily from hormones or other genetic communication.
Back to your comment on withering in the sun, I've seen garden plants (like zucchini, squash, pumpkin vines grow 3 to 4 feet in intense sunlight. I've seen corn grow over a foot in intense sunlight, literally in hours. In one 12-hour period, I've seen the difference in greenhouse growth from injecting additional CO2 to elevate CO2 from atmospheric levels to around 2000 parts per million. Each plant is unique and different, which can provide a lifetime of study.
What you have witnessed is called turgor pressure. It has more to do with water than sunlight, but yes, there are numerous plants that can't tolerate direct sunlight. Most planting instructions include a description of best grown in partial shade, avoid direct sunlight, plant in full sun etc. depending on the plant.
Plants offer a lot to think about, one of my favorites is how does a Giant Sequoia transport 500-1,000 gallons of water and minerals from the roots to the crown every day. It all happens without a pump, defies gravity (water weighs about 8 lbs per gallon), and is one of the greatest miracles of life.