"World of Cardboard" Speech: Difference between revisions
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A fundamental part of telling a story is conflict: you want the hero to have their problems and, hopefully, overcome them in a satisfactory manner. In many cases that conflict is entirely external; the [[Big Bad]] is plotting to [[Take Over the World]] and [[The Hero]] is out to stop them. But there is also that conflict which is emotional; it exists in their mind and usually forms a mental block that they cannot break through. |
A fundamental part of telling a story is conflict: you want the hero to have their problems and, hopefully, overcome them in a satisfactory manner. In many cases that conflict is entirely external; the [[Big Bad]] is plotting to [[Take Over the World]] and [[The Hero]] is out to stop them. But there is also that conflict which is emotional; it exists in their mind and usually forms a mental block that they cannot break through. |
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A [[World of Cardboard Speech]] is where the hero acknowledges that this mental block has been limiting them. And because of a recent personal revelation about themselves and/or their situation, they have found a way to excel past their previous limits. This trope is heavily dependent on the context of the story and the life of the character. Despite the room [[Tropes Are Flexible|for variation]], each speech has to follow the same pattern to be a world of cardboard speech: the hero is having trouble from an emotional/psychological viewpoint, the hero has a powerful revelation, and then they give the speech. |
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In effect, this is a [[Eureka Moment]] that leads to a [[Heroic Resolve]]. The speech itself can vary depending on the revelation, but the crux of this trope revolves around the epiphany. Universal to all of these speeches is that realization and being subsequently empowered because of it. |
In effect, this is a [[Eureka Moment]] that leads to a [[Heroic Resolve]]. The speech itself can vary depending on the revelation, but the crux of this trope revolves around the epiphany. Universal to all of these speeches is that realization and being subsequently empowered because of it. |
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** And used again in the Season Seven episode, ''Bring On The Night''. Buffy, after spending an episode fleeing, with her friends, from a supposedly unkillable, prehistoric "uber-vampire," finally meets him face-to-face, in front of her friends, and gives a speech: |
** And used again in the Season Seven episode, ''Bring On The Night''. Buffy, after spending an episode fleeing, with her friends, from a supposedly unkillable, prehistoric "uber-vampire," finally meets him face-to-face, in front of her friends, and gives a speech: |
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{{quote|"Look at them. They're terrified. Meat for the beast. You're going to kill them, and there's no way I can stop you. You can't be killed. But, see, here's the thing: I don't believe that. I ''always'' find a way. I'm the thing that nightmares have nightmares about. And right now, you and me are going to show them why." }} |
{{quote|"Look at them. They're terrified. Meat for the beast. You're going to kill them, and there's no way I can stop you. You can't be killed. But, see, here's the thing: I don't believe that. I ''always'' find a way. I'm the thing that nightmares have nightmares about. And right now, you and me are going to show them why." }} |
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* Admiral Adama, from |
* Admiral Adama, from [[Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)|the rebooted ''Battlestar Galactica'']], gets at least two of these per season. |
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** There were two in the season 3 finale. One by Lee Adama (which is too long to put here, but is in the quotes page), and a short one by: |
** There were two in the season 3 finale. One by Lee Adama (which is too long to put here, but is in the quotes page), and a short one by: |
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{{quote|My name is '''Saul Tigh'''. I am an officer in the Colonial Fleet. Whatever else I am, whatever else it means, that's the man I want to be. And if I die today, that's the man I'll be.}} |
{{quote|My name is '''Saul Tigh'''. I am an officer in the Colonial Fleet. Whatever else I am, whatever else it means, that's the man I want to be. And if I die today, that's the man I'll be.}} |
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