Neutral Good: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

The [[Character Alignment]] of sweetness and light. A '''Neutral Good''' character will usually comply with laws if doing so benefits the greater good, but rebel against those they consider unjust or which conflict with the greater good.

Their are different kinds of Neutral Goodness:

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, before you all run up to this alignment expecting it to hand out unconditional love and [[The Cake Is a Lie|free cake]] a small word of [[Beware the Nice Ones|caution]]: if this alignment is combined with [[Good Is Not Soft|Good Is Not]] ''[[Good Is Not Soft|Soft]]'', things can get [[Vigilante Man|interesting]] and you could end up with a [[Discworld|Granny Weatherwax]] Type neutral good character. That is to say, someone who will always, always do what they believe is right, and won’t let either [[Lawful Good|laws]] or [[Chaotic Good|personal freedoms]] get in their way. If played properly alongside [[Good Is Not Nice|Good Is Not]] ''[[Good Is Not Nice|Nice]]'', this trope can be downright [[Knight Templar|scary]].

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* Even though there are some situations where they can't always use this method, [[Lawful Good]] characters believe the best way is to have a specific, strict code of conduct, whether self-imposed or codified as a law. Their first impulse when making a moral decision is to refer back to this code; those with externally imposed systems (codes of laws, hierarchies, etc.) will try to work within the system when those systems go wrong. Depending on whether they are more Lawful or more Good, they will either refuse to break the code even though it would hurt someone, or else break it only very reluctantly, and only when it would hurt someone if they kept their code. [[Lawful Good]] characters have to be very good at [[Taking a Third Option]].

* Most [[Chaotic Good]] characters don't constantly break the law, but they cannot see much value in laws (or, for weaker-CCGs, do not see the value in laws that do not function solely to punish evil). They believe that their own consciences are their best guides, and that tying themselves to any given code of conduct would be limiting their own ability to do good. They do not get along with anyone who tries to instill any kind of order over the [[Chaotic Good]] character or others, believing these people to be restricting their freedom and the freedom of others; however, most [[Chaotic Good]] characters will respect the right of others to impose strong codes of conduct on themselves. [[Chaotic Good]] characters often focus very strongly on individual rights and freedoms, and will strongly resist any form of oppression of themselves or anyone else.

 

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* [[Superhero]]es who have to deal with an [[Untrusting Community]]

* [[Badass Pacifist]]

* [[Knight in Shining Armor]], if not [[Lawful Good]]

 

 

{{examples}}

 

 

== Anime and Manga ==

* Nagisa Misumi and Honoka Yukishiro from ''[[Futari wa Pretty Cure]]'', despite their vastly different personalities, quite probably share this alignment. Thus proving that alignment is only a ''part'' of characterization, not characterization itself.

** The same applies to seemingly all of [[Futari wa Pretty Cure Splash Star|their]] [[Yes! Pretty Cure 5|successors]]. In fact, it seems to be part of the job description--[[Student Council President|K]][[Lonely Rich Kid|a]][[Lady of War|r]][[The Smart Guy|e]][[The Lancer|n]] is the one who could most reasonably be called anything different (being more Lawful-ish than is typical), and she had some difficulty answering the [[Call to Adventure]]. Coincidence, or cause and effect?

* Of course, [[Gundam]] has characters in this alignment.

** [[Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team|Shiro Amada]] is perfectly willing to violate the common sense of war and the military rules to save the lives of everyone including even his enemies from death in battlefields.

* [[Hajime no Ippo|Ippo]] is so polite, nice and well-meaning that it almost hurts sometimes, feeling sympathy to almost all of his opponents. That said, his devotion to winning even during the toughest of odds leaves him to do whatever it takes, but he still is extremely polite to his opponents even after they lose.

* [[Liar Game|Nao Kanzaki]] is about as Neutral Good as it gets - yes, she'll trick people, but only if they don't trust her enough to believe that she's really looking out for them. And she is - she pays off all her opponents' debts after beating them, even though this will almost certainly leave her with an unpayable (in the 'billions of yen' range) debt at the [[Dark Tournament|Liar Game Tournament's]] end.

** Winry is also Neutral Good.

* Gintoki from ''Gintama'' fits in this alignment. Usually, he is a useless lazy bum who is happy to go along with rules. However, he won't hesitate to break all rules and throw himself in fire when it comes to protecting those he cares about, whether it is his [[True Companions]] in danger or a child Gintoki promised to reunite with his mother.

== Literature ==

* Fat Charlie from ''[[Anansi Boys]]'' by [[Neil Gaiman]] probably counts as this. He tries to be at least.

* ''[[Harry Potter (novel)|Harry Potter]]'' possesses a great capacity for love and faith in his friends. He willingly consults authority figures for help and advice, but isn't afraid to subvert them to do what he believes is the right thing (which may or may not be because different authority figures are wrongly persecuting him half the time). Dumbledore also exhibits this alignment as well. He maintains firm discipline at Hogwarts and insists on certain behaviors from students. For example, when he needs Harry to do something when the latter is scheduled for detention Dumbledore reschedules the detention rather than simply cancelling it. At the same time, Dumbledore does subvert, or outright ignore, the rules (especially of the Ministry of Magic) when they get in the way of opposing Voldemort.

* Lu-Tze of ''[[Discworld]]'' hangs someplace between this and [[Chaotic Good]]. He also takes the [[Not Cheating Unless You Get Caught]] philosophy to its logical extreme-he tells his apprentice that yes, rules are sometimes obstructive and must be broken to get anything done, but that's why they're there; so that you ''think'' before you break them.

* Somewhere between "Literature" and "Comics", there are the protagonists of the [[X Wing Series]]. Wedge Antilles might seem [[Lawful Good]] but will disobey orders, frequently [[Fake Static|faking interference]], if he sees the need. He's a [[Mildly Military|Mildly]] [[Military Maverick]] who gets enough success that the New Republic loves him. He also leaves the New Republic when he finds that the Rogues can't get back at a traitor due to diplomatic immunity, and all of his subordinates follow.

{{quote|'''Antilles''': "I joined this Rebellion to fight the Empire's tyranny. Just because we have Coruscant doesn't mean it's ended. The New Republic might not be able to strike at Thyferra, but there are Rebels around who can. I quit."

'''Celchu''': "I don't think so. It's been a long time since I've been a civilian. I'm out as well." }}

* The ''[[Soul Drinkers]]'' Space Marines, who following a [[Gambit Pileup]] became [[Defector From Decadence|fed up to the back teeth with the Imperium]] and ended up declared Excommunicate Traitoris. They're mostly good guys, unusually compassionate for Space Marines (one of them notes that he feels more regret over killing a [[Red Shirt|Guardsman]] now that he's holding the gun himself instead of using them as meat-shields) and are having trouble balancing their opposition to Imperial tyranny and its role in protecting people against Chaos.

* In ''[[The Dresden Files]]'', Sanya, the Russian Knight Of The Cross, appears to be more ambivalent about following laws and order, and is more devoted to the simple act of rescuing innocents and fighting evil.

 

** In his later days (in the movies, mayhaps) Spock tends to flow a bit in to this as well, actually allowing emotion in order to quell his internal conflicts.

* Miles O'Brien from ''[[Star Trek: Deep Space Nine]]'' has no problems with orders and laws but will break or bend them for the greater good.

* Karl ("Helo") Agathon from ''[[Battlestar Galactica]]'', probably the most purely ''good'' character on the show. A strong case might be made for his being [[Lawful Good]], but his willingness to go beyond or disobey orders puts him more in the Neutral Good category.

** Also, Kaylee and Wash from the same show. Though they may have chaotic good leanings. They are just generally good, happy (for the most part) people who always try to do what they believe is right. They are also the two least violent people in the show making them [[Technical Pacifist]].

* Hercules, as depicted in ''[[Hercules: The Legendary Journeys]]''.

 

== Tabletop Games ==

** This is the most common alignment for [[Our Gnomes Are Weirder|gnomes]]. They are usually kindhearted and live in close-knit communities, but generally blanch at restrictive rules. They live in harmony with nature, which usually precludes a lawful or chaotic bias.

** Guardinals are a "race" of Neutral Good angelic beings who exemplify that alignment. They represent the nurturing, protective aspect of nature (hence the name) and appear as [[Petting Zoo People|humanoid animals]]. In ''[[Pathfinder]]'', they are renamed as "agathions" and represent a "peaceable kingdom" where everything fits into its natural place, taking animal forms based on the role they serve, and help the souls of the dead reach inner peace.

** Pelor, the sun god in the ''[[Greyhawk]]'' campaign setting, has a dual role as the protector of the meek and a crusader against evil without preference for order or chaos. Garl Glittergold, the god of the gnomes, is a watchful protector with a playful sense of humor.

** Saranrae, ''[[Pathfinder]]'''s sun goddess, fills a similar niche to Pelor's. Shelyn, the other major Neutral Good deity, is the goddess of beauty, love, art, and music.

 

== Video Games ==

* Gabriel Belmont from ''[[Castlevania: Lords of Shadow]]'', though a [[Byronic Hero]] with a [[Selfish Good|selfish]] goal of his own. Unlike [[God of War|Kratos]], Gabriel has much good inside his heart, and is aware of the world corrupted by darkness. While carrying the duty as a Brotherhood of Light, he would not hesitate to do things outside the norm of the Brotherhood (such as {{spoiler|upgrading his whip with spikes}}) to bring back the light to the world, thank to the guidance of his dead childhood love, [[Victorious Childhood Friend|Marie]]. In spite of [[Hannibal Lecture|the villains constantly denouncing him as]] [[Not So Different]] from themselves, the only things he would ever kill are aggressive evil creatures.

{{quote|'''Gabriel Belmont''': Mad or not, damn he for not protecting his people! (commenting on the Abbot hiding in a secluded church with the relic that could have been used to protect the people from the vampires)}}

** There's also [[Catgirl|Tao]][[The Ditz|kaka]], who has a genuinely kind heart and is equally willing to follow or break rules. Although, some of her actions and beliefs make her fall into [[Stupid Good]] territory sometimes, like {{spoiler|sparing Arakune even though he'll return and attempt to attack the village again}}.

** [[Little Bit Beastly|Mak]][[Ms. Fanservice|oto]] is definitely of this alignment. Like Litchi, she's kind, friendly, and doesn't have a genuinely malicious bone in her body. However, if you make the mistake of [[Berserk Button|threatening or harming]] [[True Companions|her friends]], she has [[Good Is Not Soft|no qualms about beating you into a mushy pulp]]. Also, {{spoiler|she works as a mole in the [[The Empire|NOL]] for [[La Résistance|Sector Seven]], although this more out of loyalty to her friends than anything else}}.

* In [[Dragon Age II]], Aveline's early [[Character Development]] transforms her in to this. She continues to uphold the law and is still very much by the book... it just skews a little when her friends are involved. She still berates them to no end, though.

* The world of [[Tekken]] may have taken a dive in [[Darker and Edgier]] turn. However, [[Gentle Giant|King]] [[Masked Luchador|II]] remains true to his personality as a orphanage owner, [[Friend to All Children]] and is still a generally positive [[Nice Guy]] who doesn't tolerate evil (in Scenario Campaigns, he clearly does not approve both Jin and Kazuya for their World War III attempts), and can be genuinely forgiving, even if you committed such a [[It's Personal|personal]] [[You Killed My Father|crime]] to him (as Marduk can attest). [[Nature Hero|Julia Chang]] can also count with her dedication to save nature and still a pretty decent girl overall.

 

 

* Lee Free Sr. in ''[[Everyday Heroes]]'' balances out here. His motivation, defense of the little guy against the system is Chaotic Good but as a skilled and knowledgeable lawyer he uses the law

* Criminy in Sinfest. Jesus being here should be a no brainer. Fuschia started as [[Chaotic Evil]] but eventually moved to Neutral Good by 2010.

 

== Web Original ==

* [[The Medic|Codex]] and [[Genki Girl|Clara]] from ''[[The Guild]]'' both seem to fit into this, or at least balance out Vork's [[Lawful Good]], Zaboo's [[Chaotic Good]], and the [[Neutral Evil]] of Tink and Tordek

 

== Western Animation ==

* [[Kid Appeal Character|Bumblebee]] from ''[[Transformers Animated]]''. He doesn't always follow orders from his superiors, but he is still consistently good. He has never disobeyed orders to do bad things (although he has done so to do [[Leeroy Jenkins|rash things]]).

** Most other [[Kid Appeal Character|Hot Rod/Hot Shots]] fall under this, or [[Chaotic Good]].

* [[King of the Hill|Bobby Hill]] fits this alignment fairly well. Much of the comedy of the series comes from the tensions between him and his father [[Lawful Neutral|Hank]].

* Robin from ''[[Teen Titans (animation)|Teen Titans]]'' ''tries'' to be [[Lawful Good]], but his willingness to use chaotic and occasionally morally ambigious means if he feels the situation demands it probably shifts him more to here particularly when Slade is involved. Starfire (who is very lawful in some respects and very chaotic in others) and Raven may also fit here.

** Perhaps the truest representation in the main Titans Team is Beast Boy. Sometimes he can come off as [[Chaotic Good]], but that has more to do with his status as the team's [[Wacky Guy]]. When you get right down to his motivations he does what he does because it is ''right.''