Make an Example of Them: Difference between revisions

[[File:pirates_be_warned_7534pirates be warned 7534.jpg|link=Pirates of the Caribbean|frame|[[Ye Olde Butcherede Englishe|"Ye Be Warned"]] indeed.]]

{{quote|''"Until it smoulders, these people are traitors and must be made examples of."''|'''Frollo''', ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]''}}

It is often associated with governments, especially the more tyrannical of them but not exclusively; see also the deterrence argument for use of this in the context of more democratic societies. Also, even forces outside the law, like terrorists, criminal syndicates and [[Serial Killer|Serial Killers]]s, apply this as well.

** The above page quote, of course, refers to the Disney version of ''[[The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Disney film)|The Hunchback of Notre Dame]]''. The context of the quotation ({{spoiler|trying to justify burning down a house with a family trapped inside}}. Scene viewable [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRwhaRrEJng#t=3m6s here.]) is not the only example; Frollo {{spoiler|whipping the previous captain of the guard in front of the next one, apparently to show what happens to captains who disappoint Frollo}}, is likely also an example of this.

** Hopper, from ''[[A Bug's Life (Animation)|A Bugs Life]]'', uses this tactic often. He gives a speech to other grasshoppers about how if "you let one ant stand up to us, then they ''all'' might stand up" and to drive the point home, even uses a demonstrated analogy involving grains that results in one of his henchmen getting buried; it's twofold in involving him applying it to his own henchmen in the context of a speech made to get them to apply it to the ants. Later on, {{spoiler|he is about to squish the queen so as to "show the ants who is the boss," and also tries to find out whose idea the bird was so as to make an example of him or her.}}

{{quote| '''Hopper:''' Let this be a lesson to ''all'' you ants; ideas can be very dangerous things.}}

{{quote| '''Lotso:''' This is what happens when you ''dummies'' try to ''think!''}}

{{quote| '''Technician:''' Sir, the oxygen level is bottoming out in Sector G. What do you want me to do about it?<br />

'''Vilos Cohaagen:''' [as if obvious] Don't do anything.<br />

'''Technician:''' But they won't last an hour, sir.<br />

* In ''[[Discworld (Literature)/Wyrd Sisters|Wyrd Sisters]]'', the Duchess has a thing about having underlings punished as an example to the others. The Duke remarks that if she keeps it up, eventually she'll be having the last remaining guard cut his own throat as an example to himself.

* Visser Three uses this tactic, or *thinks* he is, on the runaway Hork-Bajir in ''[[Animorphs (Literature)|Animorphs]]'' "The Change". Only, the real Hork-Bajir are somewhere else, and the two 'dead' ones and the wolves 'eating' them are morphed Animorphs. He intends to do this with Aftran in "The Sickness", but Cassie rescues her before it can happen.

* In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'', {{spoiler|Ganondorf, as a warning to those who would oppose him, [[Moral Event Horizon|tries to feed all the Gorons to a dragon in the fire temple]].}}