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Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
#REDIRECT [[:Category:Jerk with a Heart of Gold]]▼
[[File:homerflowers.jpg|link=The Simpsons (animation)|frame|Love me, dammit!]]
{{quote|<poem>''"I must be [[Cruel to Be Kind|cruel only to be kind]].''
[[Category:Trope]]▼
''Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind"''</poem>|Hamlet, ''[[Hamlet]]'', Act 3, Scene 4, 177–179}}
A person you would expect to be a big [[Jerkass]] turns out to be the nicest person you've ever met, or at the very least has some redeeming qualities behind their tough demeanor. Occasionally, they'll actively try to make it a [[Hidden Heart of Gold]].
In a romance series a female character filling this role is usually a [[Tsundere]] instead of a '''Jerk with a Heart of Gold''', (occasionally she's both). A male '''Jerk with a Heart of Gold''' is usually [[Troubled but Cute]], and his heart of gold should never outweigh his inner jerk because [[All Girls Want Bad Boys]]—though it can if [[Single Woman Seeks Good Man]]. If his jerkishness threatens to overshadow his good qualities, he's likely to attract a [[Love Martyr]].
Sometimes [[Truth in Television]], though you can expect [[Real Life]] examples of this to be far more subtle than fictional ones. Often this is [[Played for Laughs]], but not always. They are just as common in drama, suspense, horror and other genres as they are in comedy. One reason for this is that they make an convenient [[Plot Device]]. After all, the supposed [[Jerkass]] turning out to save the family from their '''real''' stalker, instead of being said stalker, can be a source of [[Heartwarming Moments]] when done right.
Will get plenty of [[Pet the Dog]] moments. Immune to [[Moral Dissonance]]. If he's a manly-man who pursues an unexpectedly delicate hobby, it's a case of [[Real Men Wear Pink]]. Audiences may also sympathize more with the JWAHOG if he's shown to frequently have a good reason to act angry or annoyed. Even the most patient of souls can only endure being the [[Only Sane Man]] when they're [[Surrounded by Idiots]] for so long, after all.
Not to be confused with [[Hitch Hikers Guide to The Galaxy|a certain jerk]] whose spaceship is ''named'' [[Incredibly Lame Pun|"The Heart of Gold."]] Even if he is an example. Or [[Firefly|a group of people]] who helped ''defend'' the [[Stealth Pun|Heart of Gold]], even though - again - they include at least two examples.
Compare/contrast with [[Jerkass Facade]], [[Bitch in Sheep's Clothing]], [[Noble Demon]], [[Bruiser with a Soft Center]], [[Hero with an F In Good]], and [[Innocently Insensitive]]. Sometimes subverted as [[Jerk with a Heart of Jerk]].
[[The Lancer]] and [[Loveable Rogue]] are often, but not always, portrayed in this light. One half of the [[Belligerent Sexual Tension]] couple. Also compare [[Good Is Not Nice]].
Truth in Television: most of the jerkasses you'll meet in your life will have some redeeming qualities to them.
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{{examples on subpages}}
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See, this page is just a big ol' softie.
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Tropes of Legend]]
[[Category:Characters As Device]]
[[Category:Anatomy of Metal]]
[[Category:Magical Girl Tropes]]
[[Category:Truth in Television]]
[[Category:Ice Queen Characters]]
[[Category:The Jerk Index]]
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