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{{trope}}
▲The villain was evil, by the lights of the protagonist. But the villain was defeated, and now he's dead.
There's no choice. So that innocent people do not suffer (or to protect the reputations of the people in charge, in more cynical works), the higher-ups have no option but to '''Give the Villain a Hero's Funeral'''. The protagonist is rarely happy with this decision
▲But he was famous, or he was in a highly-placed position, or somebody influential trusted him. If the general public finds out that he was a villain, then his family will suffer or his employers will go out of business. Alternatively, the ones he betrayed are not ready to break this new to the public.
This is a subtrope of both [[Never Speak Ill of the Dead]] and [[Treachery Cover-Up]]. Compare with [[The Power of Legacy]], where people are mislead for the deceased's protection or the people he betrayed aren't ready to tell anyone of his villany. Contrast with [[Redemption Equals Death]], where the villain was no longer a villain when he died. If the villain is still alive but his superiors have ordered him to go get killed, that's [[Uriah Gambit]].▼
▲There's no choice. So that innocent people do not suffer (or to protect the reputations of the people in charge, in more cynical works), the higher-ups have no option but to '''Give the Villain a Hero's Funeral'''. The protagonist is rarely happy with this decision... but usually understands why it had to be made.
▲This is a subtrope of both [[Never Speak Ill of the Dead]] and [[Treachery Cover-Up]]. Compare with [[The Power of Legacy]], where people are mislead for the deceased's protection. Contrast with [[Redemption Equals Death]], where the villain was no longer a villain when he died. If the villain is still alive but his superiors have ordered him to go get killed, that's [[Uriah Gambit]].
{{deathtrope}}
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{{examples}}
== [[Comic Books]] ==
* A really sad example in the DC Golden Age, later retitled ''Earth Two'' incarnation when Bruce Wayne gives [https://dc.fandom.com/wiki/Selina_Kyle_(Earth-Two) Selina Kyle] a lavish funeral. She died during a heist gone wrong, and he gives her a funeral worthy of a Wayne. Why? Because Selina ''was'' a Wayne by marriage; she pulled a [[Heel Face Turn]] after [[Faking Amnesia]] about her criminal background, and married Bruce, settling down to start a family with him. A former henchman named "Silky" Cernak framed Selina for murder long after she married Bruce, blackmailing her to do a heist as Catwoman using a doctored photo. Batman and Commissioner Gordon tried to stop the heist, only for Batman to kick a gun from a [[Mook]]'s hand and cause it to misfire, hitting Selina and knocking her off a mezzanine, fatally injuring her. Accidentally killing his wife caused Bruce to retire as Batman, while motivating their daughter Helena Wayne to become the superhero Huntress to avenge her mother. She and Bruce track down "Silky" Cernak, and obtain the proof that Selina was never a killer during her criminal life, giving Bruce closure shortly before he dies a year later.
* Happens in ''[[Teen Titans (Comic Book)|Teen Titans]]'' during ''The Judas Contract'' arc. After
== [[Fan Works]] ==
* In the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' fic ''[[Angry Harry and the Seven]]'' by "Sinyk", Amelia Bones acknowledges that three members of the Ministry forces who took part in the climactic attack on Voldemort's resurrection were actually marked Death Eaters who were responsible for the only Ministry losses (and were themselves killed). However she refuses to identify which of the casualties were the traitors "to give their families peace".
== [[Film]] ==
* A variant occurs in ''[[Batman: Under the Red Hood]]''. Batman has a memorial for Jason Todd in the Batcave, to remind himself of the son he lost. After learning that
* ''[[The Dark Knight (film)|The Dark Knight]]'' ends with this: after Joker corrupts
* In Sam Rami's ''[[Spider-Man (film)|Spider-Man]]'' Peter covers up the nature of Norman Osborn's death, and his identity as the Green Goblin, as not to upset his friend Harry. In the next scene, Norman is seen being buried, with the public none-the-wiser.
== [[Literature]] ==
* ''[[The Apollo Murders]]'': It wasn't until
== [[Live-Action TV]] ==
* ''[[NCIS]]'' decided to do this with [[The Mole]] Agent Michelle Lee, after learning that she was blackmailed into her role. When her handler uses her as a [[Human Shield]] against Gibbs, she signals for Gibbs to shoot her, sacrificing her life in the process. Despite knowing how much information she compromised, NCIS covers up the treason and gives her a funeral with full honors.
== [[Newspaper Comics]] ==
* Villainous inversion during ''[[Flash Gordon (comic strip)|Flash Gordon]]''. [https://comics.ha.com/itm/original-comic-art/comic-strip-art/dan-barry-flash-gordon-daily-comic-strip-original-art-group-of-7-king-features-syndicate-1986-/a/122123-11868.s One arc featured Emperor Ming capturing Flash Gordon], having doctors treat him, and then doing a public execution. Afterward, he erects a large ostentatious tomb where Flash's body will rest for eternity, to break the rebellion's spirit. Fortunately, a doctor helped Flash fake his death in thanks for a life debt, and he graffitied: "MING LIES; FLASH GORDON LIVES" on the tomb before making his getaway.{{context}}
== [[Oral Tradition]], [[Folklore]], Myths and Legends ==
* It's a staple of [[Hindu Mythology]]. You can have evil people, demons, and deities, but if they stuck to their dharma and honor, they can receive a funeral that purifies them of their sins and ascend to heaven.
** After Vishnu as his Narasimha avatar kills Prahlad's father for attempting to kill his son, Narasimha says Prahlad must have a boon for his worship. Prahlad requests his father is purified for his sins in death. Narasimha says if Prahlad takes the throne and rules wisely, that will be done. He gives his father a kingly funeral.
** When Karna dies in ''[[The Mahabharata]]'', the Pandavas just remember him as the charioteer boy that beat them in archery and the [[Number Two]] to the war's instigator, Duryodhana. It's only after the war that their mother Kunti begs them to give him a proper funeral, because he's their older brother. She had him out of wedlock and sent him out on the river, where charioteers found him. [[My God, What Have I Done?|
== [[Video Games]] ==
* In ''[[Valkyria Chronicles III]]'', The Nameless (the story's protagonists) privately give traitor Gusurg a funeral after they kill him because its members understand (though not necessarily agree with) with his reasons for betraying Gallia, and still genuinely respect his mentorship/leadership and the friendships they had before his betrayal.
== [[Western Animation]] ==
* In the ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'' adaptation of the Judas Contract arc, a variant is added. Unlike in the comic where the Titans were able to cover up
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