Beware the Honest Ones: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

In a series where the characters aren't really good or evil, [[Token Good Teammate|there will be one who is an idealist]]. From the point of view of the others, that character will be completely untrustworthy; everyone else can be depended upon to act in their own self interest, but [[Evil Cannot Comprehend Good|nobody can predict the idealist.]]

 

{{examples}}

* Matsuda from ''[[Death Note]]''. He's honest and idealistic to a fault, and more often than not makes a nuisance of himself. However, his attempt to infiltrate the Yotsuba Group provides vital information, even though it backfires, and {{spoiler|when Light Yagami reveals himself as Kira and starts gloating, [[Beware the Nice Ones|Matsuda is the first to whip out his gun and start shooting.]]}} This is, incidentally, something like the true inverse of [[Bad Guys Do the Dirty Work]]—the closest surviving thing to a good person does the shooting.

* Suzaku of ''[[Code Geass]]'' - because of his idealism, he acquires a major case of [[Chronic Backstabbing Disorder]].

** Mao, as well, tries to be as honest as possible, and he can see through anyone's lies because he can read minds; but he's a very dangerous villain.

* Tenma from ''[[Monster (manga)|Monster]]'' is deemed untrustworthy by his director for choosing to operate on the patient who came first, as opposed to the patient off of whom he'd profit more.

* Xellos from ''[[Slayers]]''. He never lies, nor does he disobey an order. However, he will often leave very crucial details out of the information he gives and use all flexibility he is given to further his own goals.

* Tamiya attempts to wrest back control of the [[Litchi Hikari Club]] from Zeera once the group approaches the [[Moral Event Horizon]]. Very fittingly, his epithet is "Bullet of Truth" and he is often shown as the most obviously upstanding member of the nine.

** {{spoiler|In a [[Crowning Moment of Awesome|perfectly legal ritual duel]], no less, and [[You Kill It, You Bought It|gets Valda's rank and Blademaster status afterwards]].}}

* Adviser Arfarra from Yulia Latynina's ''[[Wei Empire]]'' cycle might fit - while almost the entire Weian establishment is either corrupt or negligent, Arfarra is neither, but is instead a truly ruthless (but consistently, if not obviously idealistic) [[Knight Templar]] who has been described as being "capable of ''anything'' in matters that ''didn't'' affect his own interests" (as opposed to the character that described him thusly, who is capable of anything in matters that ''did'').

* From ''[[Harry Potter (novel)|Harry Potter]]'', Snape doesn't really lie to Harry. He hates him, [[Identical Grandson|his father]], his [[Messy Hair|untameable hair]]. Harry needs to shut up the [[Wangst]] and train more. He doesn't really lie to Dumbledore. He was a Death Eater because he wanted to be one. He doesn't dislike the cause. He detests Muggles and his lineage. It's nigh impossible to lie to Voldemort. {{spoiler|He even '''told''' him he fancied Lily Potter, Voldemort just wouldn't hear of it.}} Fans spent years debating whether his attitude yet conflicting behavior meant he was on the good side, on the bad side or on his own, but he was never that much of a [[Magnificent Bastard]] and his goal was never ''that'' complex. {{spoiler|He was just a Death Eater who made a [[Heel Face Turn]] because he '''really''' loved Lily Potter.}}

* Meursault in ''[[The Stranger]]''. It never occurs to him to lie, even to save his own life. Why would his life need saving? Oh, because he's facing the death penalty for having shot a man. For no reason. Unless "the sun was bright" counts as a reason.

* In ''[[A Confederacy of Dunces]]'', Ignatius is not necessarily evil, but his convictions and rigidity drive the entire plot. At the very outset, his obstinance almost gets him arrested, and [[Idiot Plot|things spiral from there]].

 

* Michael in [[Prison Break]]. Linc knows he is going to be executed but at least he has the satisfaction of knowing that Michael went to college and will have a good life. Except not because Michael cannot let Linc die for a crime he didn't commit so he gets himself sent to prison on purpose to rescue him.

** Michael's idealism is a source of conflict throughout the show. It takes place in a [[Crapsack World]] so they should probably run far away but Michael wants to take down the company.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Characterization Tropes]]

[[Category:Morality Tropes]]

[[Category:Truth and Lies]]