39,327
edits
Knight in Sour Armor: Difference between revisions
m
update links
mNo edit summary |
m (update links) |
||
Line 8:
The presence of cynicism usually makes the idealistic behavior even more noteworthy: it's easy to [[The Messiah|love everyone]] when [[Rousseau Was Right]], but you really have to be a good guy to believe that [[Humans Are Bastards]] and care about them anyway. Such characters can also be [[The Fettered]]; their cynical outlook tells them they could probably get away with all kinds of things that they don't do because [[What You Are in the Dark|that would be wrong]], and just because the world sucks doesn't mean you need to make it worse. Then again, this kind of character goes great with a world where you [[Earn Your Happy Ending]] after much strife.
This is the inverse of the worldview of most [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|Well Intentioned Extremists]], especially those who believe that [[Utopia Justifies the Means]]. Extremists or [[Knight Templar|Knights Templar]] may ''believe'' themselves to be this, but their actions are far too extreme. A Knight In Sour Armor believes in the rules and breaks them only when absolutely necessary, which is very rarely; not surprisingly, many have taken a [[Heroic Vow]] related to this behavior. Often has a personal set of rule, trimmed down to those that really ''matter'' in order to minimize conflicts and distractions. Contributes to the Knight's gruff tendencies, since politeness tends to appear a lot further down the priority list than feeding orphans and so on.
Generally, these characters fit one of two personality types. Members of the first type are former [[Wide-Eyed Idealist|Wide Eyed Idealists]] who have come to [[Jade-Colored Glasses|accept]] that their world is on the low end of the [[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism]], but who still find something beautiful in their former ideals that they want to hold on to. Those of the second type are born cynics, who would make natural [[Jerkass]] [[Anti-Hero|antiheroes]], but who nevertheless have devoted themselves to a code of honor or fair play. In either case, these people tend to have gone through (often painful) [[Character Development]] in their past, meaning that they are normally older than the average hero.
Either way, however, the effect is basically the same: you have a [[Knight in Shining Armor]] wearing [[Jade-Colored Glasses]]; the difference between the first and second types is which comes first.
Line 27:
'''Jet:''' I'm trying to, real hard. }}
* Edward Elric from ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]''.
** Mustang even more so. He basically IS this trope, along with Hawkeye, Hughes and the rest of his group.
* [[Great Teacher Onizuka|Eikichi Onizuka]] probably has as little a reason as anyone to put up with the students of his class, and by all rights probably should have quit teaching from the very start. The fact that he genuinely cares and believes that students should be able to have fun at school (and he's too stupid to quit) allows him to strive to make school a better place.
* Fakir in ''[[Princess Tutu]]'', but only after he gets a grip on his - perfectly understandable - fear.
Line 34:
** Hiko, Kenshin's mentor, is just as cynical as Saitou. He berates Kenshin that yes, the Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu successor is meant to protect the innocent and uphold justice, but as a warrior unbound by political prejudices, not a political tool. He knows the age of the the swordsmen is over, and is quite bitter about it.
** In the Tsukioku-hen OVA's we meet Kenshin's other two mentors, Kogoro Katsura and Shinsaku Takasugi. They were ''not'' exactly happy with how the soon-to-be [[Imperial Japan]] was developing, and they weren't shy about letting their unhappiness show either.
* Genjo Sanzo of ''[[Saiyuki]]'' - a chain-smoking, gambling monk with a tragic past who [[Deadpan Snarker|has a smartass comment for every occasion]]. Nevertheless, he still chooses to do the right thing.
* Kazuma Kuwabara of ''[[Yu Yu Hakusho]]'' seems like the only character in the series who both recognizes how truly nasty people can be, and still fights to do right by them.
** Or hot demon chicks....
* Dr. Tenma from ''[[Monster (manga)|Monster]]'' is of the aforementioned first personality type, whereas Detective Lunge is of the second.
* To some extent, [[Gundam Wing|Duo Maxwell]] can be seen as one as well. In spite of his cheerful and babbling behavior, he is actually a bitter young man who has witnessed the cruelty of war in front of his very eyes. It is probably the reason he aspires to become a God of Death - "It is so much better than a Hero of Destruction."
** Should be added that Duo is emotionally the oldest of the Gundam pilots, having had neither training nor shelter, and avoids all forms of idealism, militarism, and even nihilism in favor of a highly pragmatic but strict personal code. He's basically a cynic surrounded by various stripes of romantic. This is often but far from always an advantage.
** In line with this trope, Duo doesn't take things terribly seriously on one hand, but regularly risks his life for other people or the world on the other.
* Near the end of the 1st season of [[Mobile Suit Gundam 00]] {{spoiler|Neil Dylandy}} expresses his [[Knight in Sour Armor]] attitude that he has hidden deep inside with these words: "You people, are you satisfied with this world...? I'm not, and I hate it...!" {{spoiler|And right then, he dies.}}
* ''[[Tiger and Bunny]]'''s Blue Rose ''hates'' being a corporate sponsored superhero. [[Triple Shifter|She gets little time for herself and her interests]], has to wear an [[Stripperiffic|impractically sexy costume]] in dangerous situations, spout catchphrases she doesn't like, act like an oversexed dominatrix for ratings, and gets chewed out by her boss and sponsors if she doesn't manage this in addition to scoring points for capturing criminals -- who really don't care about the saving lives part so much as they care about their public image. So why does she keep at it?
{{quote|'''Blue Rose:''' I want to save people in trouble. Isn't that enough of a reason? }}
* Homura Akemi from ''[[Puella Magi Madoka Magica]]''. For someone who knows how the [[Crapsack World|world]] works and that with kindness comes naïveté, courage becomes foolhardiness, and dedication has no reward, she has a particularly strong ideal and hope in protecting Madoka, even if it means [[You Are Worth Hell|suffering]] {{spoiler|[[Groundhog Day Loop|an endless recursion of time]]}} for it.
** {{spoiler|In the finale, Madoka. She sacrifices all semblance of her own identity to change the Magical Girl system. She creates a new world where suffering runs just as rampant as ever, acknowledging good cannot exist without evil. And why? Because, by God, Magical Girls deserve to die happily anyway, and she's willing to become the embodiment of hope itself in such a despair-filled world.}}
** [[Deconstructed Trope|Deconstructed]], however, with Sayaka Miki. After learning {{spoiler|the first}} [[Awful Truth]] of becoming a [[Magical Girl]] and having a heart-to-heart with Kyouko who tells her that she is better off battling witches for her own rewards than to protect others, she still chooses to continue to stay a hero. However, {{spoiler|when her [[Locked Out of the Loop]] friend Hitomi admits to having also been in love with Kyosuke and gives her a day to admit her feelings, which she can't due to the nature of the truth}}, her ideals begin to gradually shift more and more until {{spoiler|she becomes a [[Tragic Monster|witch]] [[Despair Event Horizon|herself]].}}
* In ''[[Naruto]]'', {{spoiler|Itachi seems to be one of these, as revealed by his comments after he is brought [[Back From the Dead]]. Despite all the [[Dirty Business|terrible things he has been forced to do]], he still believes in the ideal of the Will of Fire, and considers himself a shinobi of Konoha.}}
Line 64:
* Spider Jerusalem from [[Transmetropolitan]]. Cynical or not, and crazy though he might be, he's a journalist because he cares about the truth, and a savage beating from people who don't appreciate it won't make him see otherwise.
* Rorschach from the ''[[Watchmen]]'' talks like a lunatic nihilist who lost all faith in humanity, yet still fights for his vision of justice. This is particularly evident in the story of Dr. Malcolm Long, who becomes "infected" with Rorschach's disorder after a [[Critical Psychoanalysis Failure]]: while he begins viewing the world as cold and cruel, he also feels compelled to stop injustice and abuse whenever he encounters it.
* Matt Murdock in ''[[Daredevil]]'' definitely counts. He's put through through the emotional ringer a dozen times over and his life always seems to get worse when You think it can't possibly decline further. Its so bad the poor guy can barely muster the energy to brood. Despite this, he struggles on and serves as a true hero of New York.
== Fan Fiction ==
* Caphriel, angel and [[Love Martyr]], from the ''[[Good Omens]]'' [[Dark Fic]] ''[[The Sacred and the Profane]]:'' it's his job to love and protect the world and the people in it. It all keeps letting him down over and over again ([[Who Wants to Live Forever?|across millennia]]), [[Determinator|but he can't]] ''[[Determinator|afford]]'' [[Determinator|to give up.]]
* In the ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles]]'' fanfic ''[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4942679/1/The_Long_Walk The Long Walk]'', the [[Original Character]], jaded [[Grumpy Bear]] cynic Breech Loader is portrayed this way - she's fighting on the side of good, for good reasons, but despite a devotion to learning the ways of honour, she still fights horribly dirty.
{{quote|'''Leonardo:''' "You're one of us now, Breech, and we're a family full of good people."
'''Breech:''' "You don't pay much attention when I fight, do you?" }}
Line 79:
== Film -- Animation ==
* Ezylryb {{spoiler|(Lyze of Kiel)}} of ''[[Legend of the Guardians:
{{quote|'''Ezylryb:''' [[Every Scar Has a Story|This is what it actually looks like when you've fought in battle.]] It's not glorious, it's not beautiful, it's not even heroic. It's merely doing what's right and doing it again and again, even if someday you look like this.}}
* [[Shrek]] is crude, hot-tempered and cynical, but nearly always manages to do the right thing, especially for people (and donkeys) that have proven they're able to see past the idea of "big, stupid, ugly ogres."
Line 120:
** Sandor Clegane, Ned Stark, and Daenerys Targaryen are this as well.
*** Ned Stark is FAR too much a believer in [[Honor Before Reason]] and Sandor Clegane is not a good person at all, just not as bad as his reputation would have you believe. I wouldn't disagree with Daenerys, however.
**** Ned fits quite well. He knows the world sucks and most people don't care for anything - but HE keeps trying and does not compromise.
*** Also, adding the Hound to this page would involve [[Berserk Button|calling him a knight]].
** There's also Tyrion Lannister, who's snarktastic and has contempt or hatred for most of those around him (because they either assume he's a Lannister and think he's untrustworthy, or see that he's ugly and short and assume he's evil), but he truly tried to do what was best for the kingdom while he was Hand. His brother Jaime is another example, sort of, although he was a bit darker than is usual for the role {{spoiler|([[Brother-Sister Incest]], anyone?)}}
Line 144:
** [[Alternate Character Interpretation|It depends on how you view him]].
*** [[Take a Third Option|Or...]] It could be argued that ''in the beginning'' Snape's motivations were entirely selfish (which could be justified when you consider that he was 21 years old, very immature, scared, and was still idealistic enough [broadly speaking] to believe that {{spoiler|Dumbledore's protection would keep Lily alive}}). When that didn't happen... Remember that "usually painful [[Character Development]]" that was talked about at the top of this page? One-sided or not, {{spoiler|losing the love of your life}} is ''wrenching'', and was probably the point where Snape grew up (again, [[Jerkass|broadly]] [[Sadist Teacher|speaking]]) and realized that working for {{spoiler|Voldemort}} wasn't going to get him anything besides more pain and disappointment. At which point he accepted {{spoiler|Dumbledore's}} outlook and, when Voldemort came back, {{spoiler|used his skills as a spy to bring Voldemort down, not because he liked people or wanted to "save" anyone, but because it truly was the right thing to do.}}
** Dumbledore's brother Aberforth is this as well.
* Arkady Renko, from the series of novels by Martin Cruz Smith.
* Stephen Donaldson protagonists tend to be big fans of sour armor. The titular lead of the ''[[Chronicles of Thomas Covenant]]'' novels turns this trope [[Up to Eleven]], stubbornly persevering even though he knows everything he does will be turned into disaster by the [[Big Bad]].
Line 157:
* Typically in the [[Star Wars Expanded Universe]], Luke Skywalker is quite idealistic. But in ''[[Luke Skywalker and the Shadows of Mindor]]'', the [[Big Bad]] makes him mentally experience [[And I Must Scream|an eternity after the heat death of the universe]] in an attempt to break him and get him ready for a [[Grand Theft Me]]. It doesn't entirely work, but when Luke gets out, he's made deeply cynical, believing that ''everyone's'' life is waste, saving someone wasn't really saving them because that would just prolong the brief interval. All striving leads to nothing, and everyone who talked about duty and honor and love was just using him. He doesn't want to believe it, but he does - and he makes the very conscious decision to act exactly like he did before, like when he trusted in these airy concepts and believed lives were worth saving, in the hope that he can fall back into the dream and [[Becoming the Mask|become the mask]]. Later he sees a very [[Mind Screw]]-y vision that relieves some of that cynicism, though, so he's not a sour knight for very long.
* In ''[[The Screwtape Letters]]'', Screwtape, a demon's mentor, warns him about these. "Do not be deceived, Wormwood. Our cause is never more in danger, than when a human, no longer desiring, but intending, to do [[God|our Enemy's]] will, looks round upon a universe from which every trace of Him seems to have vanished, and asks why he has been forsaken, and still obeys."
* Dedicate Rosethorn from the [[Circle of Magic]] series qualifies. She's very much a sarcastic and irritable [[Cynical Mentor]] to Briar, but she has given up a normal life in order to help the poor.
* Most of the protagonists in the Anthology ''Dark and Stormy Knights'', edited by P. N. Elrod are this although there are also examples of [[Noble Demon]], [[Action Survivor]] and [[Punch Clock Hero]].
* Garrett from the ''[[Garrett P.I.]]'' series describes himself like this.
Line 179:
** It's possible lawyer Romo Lampkin is also this way, as he has the cynicism of the disillusioned idealist. We never get to hear why he hated Lee's grandfather, a famous criminal defense attorney, so it's difficult to say.
*** Said grandfather was revealed in ''Caprica'' to have gotten through law school funded by the Tauron mafia and in the very first episode bribes a judge to get off mobsters, among other things. He apparently got a lot better, but there were probably lots of reasons to dislike him.
* Pretty much everyone in ''[[Torchwood]]''.
* Dr Cox of ''[[Scrubs]]'' is a cynical, angry, egotistical man, who firmly believes everyone should get the best treatment possible and often tries to stop injustice in the system. Indeed, many a [[Dr. Jerk]] could be described as this. Why do you think they're doctors?
** "Chicks, money, power, and chicks." Dr. Cox, "My Bed Banter and Beyond"
*** Of course, in the same breath, he admits that he doesn't get any of that.
* ''[[Angel]]''. Hell, the entire cast of that show could fall under this, especially Angel and Wesley. Angel's philosophy is that the world is a terrible place, but heroes live life as it should be, and that even if they can't defeat evil, they can make its existence very painful.
** Angel himself phrases it much more poetically in the Season 4 episode "Deep Down". "Nothing in the world is the way it ought to be. It's harsh, and cruel. But that's why there's us. Champions. It doesn't matter where we come from, what we've done or suffered, or even if we make a difference. We live as though the world were as it should be, to show it what it can be. You're not a part of that yet. I hope you will be. I love you, {{spoiler|Connor}}. Now get out of my house."
* Boyd in ''[[Dollhouse]]''. Ballard seems to be on his way to this from his original [[Knight in Shining Armor]] characterization
** Of course, {{spoiler|Boyd turned out to be both [[The Mole]] ''and'' the [[Evil Overlord]] (and a [[Knight Templar]])}}.
Line 202:
* Clayton Webb of ''[[JAG]]''. Comes with his [[The Spymaster|profession.]]
* Most of the characters on [[Criminal Minds]] have been this at one point or another. (Except Garcia, and even she has her borderline moments.) Derek Morgan explicitly gave voice to it near the end of 4x25/26, "To Hell And Back", pointing out that however many unsubs they catch, the world always produces more. He wavered on whether to leave- except that he didn't, giving truth to the Trope.
** The exception being Jason Gideon, who seemed like one for a while, and then abandoned the team in 3x01 because the awfulness of the world had overwhelmed him.
* James "Sawyer" Ford {{spoiler|and also, ultimately, Benjamin Linus}} from ''[[Lost]]''.
* Andy Sipowicz from ''[[NYPD Blue]]'', as an intersection of [[Noble Bigot with a Badge]] and [[Rabid Cop]], with a decent dose of [[Deadpan Snarker]] and a surprisingly large amount of [[The Woobie]].
Line 210:
* Jack Bristow in ''[[Alias (TV series)|Alias]]''.
* Nick in ''[[New Girl]]'' is filled with bitterness, anger, cynicism and self-loathing but is still a great friend and almost always does the right thing even as his life keeps getting progressively worse.
* Derek Hale in ''[[Teen Wolf (TV series)|Teen Wolf]]'' is a prime example of this.
* After being on ''[[Degrassi]]'' enough seasons you either end up here or [[Jade-Colored Glasses]], just a fact of life for teenagers. Best examples for this side of things would be Spinner, Darcy, Jimmy, Marco, Sav, Clare, Alli, and Jenna. The series is abundant with drama and cruelty for them, but they still believe no matter how the world sucks... it's what they have and it's worth it to not give up. But the world unquestionably sucks, they are all more than clear there.
Line 216:
== Mythology And Religion ==
* The Norse worldview basically consisted of a largely amoral universe where bad things happened to good people and everything ended in death. Yggdrasil was eaten by serpents from below, and deer from above, and even the Aesir would die at Ragnorok. Until then, the Aesir weren't entirely good guys either. Nevertheless, the warrior's code was to fight the good fight and the mythology is riddled with examples of standing and fighting even when death is inevitable, because that's the right thing to do.
** Bizarrely, however, most of the stories with Thor, and certainly all those focused on him as opposed to the Aesir at large, tend to be far more upbeat, and he tends to win ultimately, after much fun is made at his expense.
*** Protector of Midgard and Friend of Men. He is The Good Guy in Norse mythology, fighting giants to protect both Aesir and Humans.
* [[Jesus|Some guy]] who says "[[The Bible|forgive the one who hurts you, and do good to those that persecute you]]" probably fits this trope. Especially since he knew in advance that the people of his [[Crapsack World]] were going to kill him for saying so.
** [[Thanatos Gambit|Knew it? He planned it that way!]]
** I thought they killed him for fomenting dissent against the government?
*** [[Your Terrorists Are Our Freedom Fighters|See, Rome had this thing about potential centers of rebellion, and the local community leaders had this thing about having their piety colorfully insulted by extremely popular people who had shown themselves willing to throw violent tantrums in civic centers.]]
Line 227:
* A common character type in ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'', especially among the Imperium of Man.
** [[Gaunt's Ghosts|Colonel-Commissar Ibram Gaunt]] is perhaps the most prominent example, a genuinely selfless, courageous, and noble hero who is becoming deeply bitter and cynical towards the Imperial Guard command structure. Major Elim Rawne of the same series quite arguably worked his way into this trope from the other direction-he started as a ruthlessly cynical, self-serving bastard, and remains a ruthlessly cynical bastard-but one with a very tarnished and deeply hidden heart of gold.
** Comissar [[Ciaphas Cain]], '''HERO OF THE IMPERIUM''', projects this at times... because his reputation (and possibly he) would be shot if anyone knew [[Dirty Coward|how he actually is]]. Of course, we only have his word for that. The author himself has stated [[Shrug of God|that he doesn't know]] whether Cain is the [[Dirty Coward]] he presents himself as, or [[Unreliable Narrator|doesn't give himself enough credit.]] Its clear that in the very least he is not the type of commissar to shoot his men for very little reason and from what we see in Last Stand that he wants to prepare his proteges for the galaxy at large as best he can. In general its clear he at least is a decent person.
* [[Dungeons and Dragons]]
** The Paladin class itself flirts with being an example of this, especially in a setting where the government is harsh or totalitarian. It's pointed out in the ''Book of Exalted Deeds'' that when faced with a choice between Law and Good, a true Paladin will always choose the latter (the Paladin's code in the book has a loophole about "Legitimate" authority for this reason).
Line 237:
== Theater ==
* Cassandra in ''[[Code 21]]'' is a good example. She decides to work in mental health because she wants to make a difference and over the years adhering to the system's rules makes her feel embittered and less hopeful about the world.
* ''[[Wicked (theatre)|Wicked]]'': Why, Miss Elphaba... you and this trope [[Arc Words|deserve each other]].
* In ''[[Man of La Mancha]],'' Don Quixote ''might'' be this; he has a skewed perception of the world as a beautiful, marvelous place when it clearly isn't, but he indicates that, even when he ''knows'' the world is a dire mess that has little hope of elevation, he will fight on. When he converts {{spoiler|Dulcinea}} to his cause, she becomes a full fledged [[Knight in Sour Armor]].
== Toys ==
Line 328:
{{quote|The philosopher can even discover how permanent carnage is provided for and ordained in the grand scheme of things. But will this law stop at man? Undoubtedly not. Yet who will kill him who kills everything else? Man! It is man himself who is charged with slaughtering man.
But how can he accomplish this law, he who is a moral and merciful being, who is born to love, who weeps for others as for himself, who finds pleasure in weeping and who even invents fiction to make himself weep, and finally, to whom it has been said that ''whoever sheds blood unjustly, by man shall his blood be shed''? }}
* [[The Existentialist]] movement is like this. Yes, such a "meaning in life" [[Nietzsche Wannabe|does not exist anyway]] in this [[Crapsack World]], but they still continue to make the most meaningful out of it and live it.
** Soren Kierkegaard, considered the first Existentialist philosopher, basically described his Knight of Faith as a somewhat more poetic version of this trope. Like both nihilists ("aesthetic people") and those who resign themselves to the afterlife (the "knight of infinite resignation"), he knows that pursuing an unreachable goal in this world is cynically absurd/meaningless (if it's impossible to reach someone you love, the vast majority would just give up), yet in contrast to them he does anyway as a way of making his life even more meaningful.
* [[Abraham Lincoln]] spent most of his life, especially the [[American Civil War]], severely depressed over the nature of the country, particularly the South, and he fought to keep it together anyway.
| |||