Lady and Knight: Difference between revisions

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The [['''Lady and Knight]]''' is a chivalric image that many of us probably know very well, though perhaps you didn't realize they come in two flavors. A staple in fiction everywhere, the [[Lady and Knight]] dynamic is at least [[Older Than Feudalism]], though no doubt that whole era of Romantic adventure stories like ''[[King Arthur]]'' and ''[[Robin Hood]]'' perpetuated it. While it is very common in works set in a Medieval era or [[Medieval European Fantasy|equivalent fantasy version]], they can pop up anywhere, but even in modern settings they are usually meant to invoke that era's ideal image of a Lady and her Knight.

The iconic portrayal is of the Lady as a beautiful, admirable woman with dignity and nobility and The Knight as a strong, brave man of virtue sworn to protect her. The [[Lady and Knight]], while originally female and male respectively, aren't always nowadays and either role can be played by either gender. While there is often a [[Bodyguard Crush]] involved, sometimes it's a chaste [[Courtly Love]] and in same-sex couple versions there's less of a chance of romance being involved. In the past the Lady was often a [[Damsel in Distress]], but now it's nearly as common for the Knight and his Lady to form an [[Action Duo]] or [[Battle Couple]].

There are two particular variations of the [[Lady and Knight]] dynamic: the '''Bright Lady and White Knight''', a good version, and an [[Evil Counterpart]], the '''Dark Lady and Black Knight'''. While the types are fairly distinct, it's not unheard of for Ladies and their Knights to switch from one to the other, should they perform a [[Heel Face Turn]] or [[Face Heel Turn]]. For more information about the two different types, see [[Lady and Knight/Analysis|the Analysis page]]. Almost never seen is a mismatched set -- either a white knight and a dark lady, or a black knight with a bright lady.

Often there's some sort of ceremony or official pledging, accompanied by the knight giving the Lady a kiss on the hand or kneeling. Sometimes non-historical based works will slip something similar in as a tip off to the two character's relationship. In settings which support actual knights being in the work, if the Knight doesn't start off as an ''actual'' Knight, he is almost always formally [[Knighting|knighted]] by the end of the work.

* ''[[ZeroThe noFamiliar Tsukaimaof Zero]]'' has the subversion of noblewoman Louise and her Knight Saito.

* Technically [[Flame of Recca|Recca]] is a ''Ninja'' but otherwise fulfills the role of the White Knight by being [[The Hero]] and pledging his loyalty and service to Yanagi, who in turn, is a Bright Lady by her compassion. She uses [[Healing Hands]] to help others but needs Recca to keep her safe.

* A very ''weird'' example exists in [[Baccano!]] with Ladd and Lua. Ladd has traits of the white knight (attraction to Lua because of her gentle personality, protects her {{spoiler|at the cost of his arm}} and is engaged to her) but he doesn't wants anyone to kill her because he wants to be the one to do it. Lua would be a bright lady (beauty, innocence, emotional support for her knight) if she weren't looking forward to being killed by him.

=== Film ===

* ''[[The Princess Bride (film)|The Princess Bride]]'' features another subversion as in the beginning Buttercup was haughty and arrogant but she grew into her role later, Westley being her Knight. Oddly, being the Dread Pirate Roberts, Westley qualifies as [[Dark Is Not Evil]].

* ''[[Lady and the Tramp]]'': Lady's role is obvious by [[Exactly What It Says on the Tin|her name]]. Tramp acts as protector when she gets lost in the streets, but is at first reluctant to help her back to her home, as he is leery of humans; in a way, he's also trying to protect her from what he perceives is the shackles of domesticity. His irresponsibility does get Lady in trouble when they raid a chicken coop and she gets taken to the pound, and what she learns about his past there leads to a falling out. He redeems himself by {{spoiler|saving Darling and Jim Dear's baby from a rat}} and eventually warms up to domestic life and becomes a White Knight.

* ''[[Star Wars]]'': Lady Padmé Amidala and Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker. [[Foregone Conclusion|It ends in tears]].

=== Literature ===

=== [[Live Action TV]] ===

=== [[Video Games]] ===

* This is a ''game mechanic'' in ''[[Ar tonelico]]'' games, with Reyvateils and their vanguards.

* [[Radiata Stories]]: Jack apoints himself Ridley's White Knight {{spoiler|on the Fairy path}} and not only protects her but lifts her spirits with endearingly corny jokes. {{spoiler|in personality they're the Bright couple but to the humans they're the dark couple, yet Gerald praises him for having the balls to turn against his entire race for the sake of his girl.}} For her part Ridley is a Bright Lady [[Ojou]] who is trying to do what she think is right, and is grateful for Jack's support.

** Aideen and Midayle in ''Genealogy of the Holy War''. {{spoiler|Lachesis and Fin}}, if we go for the Oosawa manga.

** Miranda and Connomore (possibly) in ''Thracia 776''. {{spoiler|Her ending only says she married "a certain knight", but the only one who fits in such a description is Connomore.}}

** Lyndis and Kent in ''The Blazing Sword''. To a smaller degree Eliwood and Ninian (she isn't royalty, but he has swore to help and protect both her and her brother Nils), as well as Priscilla and either of her love interests. {{spoiler|Though only Erk manages to marry her.}}

=== [[Western Animation]] ===

* Tao Jun and her mind-controlled zombie puppet kung-fu guy Lee Pai Long from ''[[Shaman King]]'' -- until—until Lee Pai long is released from his mind control, develops real feelings for her and they both turn good, becoming an example of Bright Lady and White Knight.

=== [[Comic Books]] ===

=== [[Fairy Tales]] ===

=== Fan Works ===

* An odd, gender-flipped example in ''[[Armored Core: From the Ashes]]''. [[Villain Protagonist|Ghost]] is a masterful [[Chessmaster]] and [[Magnificent Bastard]], and is paired with {{spoiler|Fiona Jarnetfeld, a severely Yandere, insane pilot who ''used'' to be normal, but prior to the story, was subjected to [[Mind Rape]] by Ghost... who she happened to be in love with at the time.}} However, this is heavily subverted - although his 'Knight' does much of his dirty work, Ghost is an even more competent pilot (explicitly stated to be the best on Earth, tied with Kruger, his [[Arch Enemy]] and the story's [[Hero Antagonist]]; this naturally leads to discussion later on of whether they can qualify as [[A God Am I|gods]] because of their power), and will often deploy onto the battlefield if things are looking particularly bad to deliver a [[Curb Stomp Battle]] on his enemies (unless Kruger is involved, in which case you either end up with a ''massive'' high-speed battle, while the two discuss deep philosophical matters of good and evil, right and wrong, and whether Ghost's actions are justified or not, or one of the two calling a full retreat (which Ghost's Knight may not always obey).

=== Film ===

=== Literature ===

** Actually that's playing it straight, in the [[Lady and Knight/Analysis|Analysis ]] section is mentions that it's very common for Black nights to be mind-controlled by their Dark Ladies.

=== Multiple Media ===

=== Music ===

=== [[Western Animation]] ===

* Spoofed in an episode of ''[[The Tick (animation)]]'' with the overweight grotesque Venus and her wimpy inventor husband Milo.

* In ''[[Winx Club]]'' there's a Dark Lady/Dark Knight example with Darcy and [[Face Heel Turn|Riven]]. In the 4Kids version, he is put under a spell, while in the original version, he works with Darcy willingly. Luckily, Riven has a [[Heel Face Turn]].

=== [[Video Games]] ===

{{quote| '''Haman:''' Show me how a knight fights!<br />