Butt Monkey: Difference between revisions
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Simply having a character go through hell once or twice (no matter how severely) is not enough to be the Butt Monkey. With primary and secondary characters, it must be a regular occurrence. With tertiary characters, it must be their sole purpose to exist. They don't do anything to earn the hell they go through, other than being an easy target. Sometimes it's all the writers can think of to do with the character. |
Simply having a character go through hell once or twice (no matter how severely) is not enough to be the Butt Monkey. With primary and secondary characters, it must be a regular occurrence. With tertiary characters, it must be their sole purpose to exist. They don't do anything to earn the hell they go through, other than being an easy target. Sometimes it's all the writers can think of to do with the character. |
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The direct opposite of a [[Karma Houdini]] (although technically the definition applies to those who escape from karma regardless of whether it's good or bad) If carried too far, may result in [[Deus Angst Machina]]. This can be counteracted if you occasionally [[Throw the Dog A Bone]], though many writers just can't resist [[Yank the |
The direct opposite of a [[Karma Houdini]] (although technically the definition applies to those who escape from karma regardless of whether it's good or bad) If carried too far, may result in [[Deus Angst Machina]]. This can be counteracted if you occasionally [[Throw the Dog A Bone]], though many writers just can't resist [[Yank the Dog's Chain|Yanking The Dog's Chain]]. The Butt Monkey is occasionally dangerous if he's [[Who's Laughing Now?|pushed too far]]. |
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If the audience sympathizes with them, they become [[The Woobie]]. If, however, the character's suffering is [[Played for Laughs]] and the reason the audience loves them is ''because'' of all the crap they get put through, they're generally [[The Chew Toy]]. On the other hand, if the audience begins to resent the "unfair" treatment of the character, they can become the [[Designated Monkey]]. The joke can also be dragged too far in other ways - to make a character a Butt Monkey of fate is one thing; to have them constantly taking the punishment for the misdeeds of an unsympathetic cast is another. |
If the audience sympathizes with them, they become [[The Woobie]]. If, however, the character's suffering is [[Played for Laughs]] and the reason the audience loves them is ''because'' of all the crap they get put through, they're generally [[The Chew Toy]]. On the other hand, if the audience begins to resent the "unfair" treatment of the character, they can become the [[Designated Monkey]]. The joke can also be dragged too far in other ways - to make a character a Butt Monkey of fate is one thing; to have them constantly taking the punishment for the misdeeds of an unsympathetic cast is another. |
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