Automoderated users, Autopatrolled users, Bureaucrats, Comment administrators, Confirmed users, Forum administrators, Interface administrators, Moderators, Rollbackers, Administrators
117,047
edits
Right Makes Might: Difference between revisions
→Comics: -> Comic Books
No edit summary |
Looney Toons (talk | contribs) (→Comics: -> Comic Books) |
||
| (9 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown) | |||
Line 10:
Very prevalent in [[Shounen]] anime series, but really, this has been used to deliver morals throughout history. It was even assumed in unenlightened times in Western civilization to ''work in real life'', on the logic that God would help the proper victor; the practice of letting this scenario play out was known as "trial by combat". Nowadays in media, emotional choices trump logical ones (see [[Straw Vulcan]]).
If the defeated party acknowledges the wrong of his/her/their ways, this may also include [[Defeat Means Friendship]]. If the meaning of the battle is supposed to be particularly obvious, the characters will actually engage in a [[World of Cardboard Speech]] or [[Reason You Suck Speech]] before or [[Talking Is a Free Action|during]] the battle, explaining their particular beliefs, the lessons they've learned and why they have faith that they will carry them through this battle successfully.
Though usually done with a hero and somebody darker, it can also be done in a [[A Lighter Shade of Grey]] or [[A Lighter Shade of Black]] scenario, to show that, while their ideas and worldviews might still be rather flawed, the winning side at least has a better understanding of how the world should be or at least got more points right than the enemy.
Not to be confused with [[Might Makes Right]].
Line 23:
** Kenshin points out the same to [[Kid Samurai]] [[Sidekick]] Yahiko, who asks at the end of the Kyoto arc "We won, doesn't that mean we were right?" that this outlook is essentially a reflection of [[Big Bad]] Shishio's belief that might makes right.
* By the author's own admission, all of ''[[One Piece]]'' is built on this idea. In fact, breaking someone's dreams is so traumatic that the author cites it as the reason characters don't kill their foes. To little surprise, the author was an assistant on ''Rurouni Kenshin'' before starting ''One Piece''.
* In ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'' the outcome of a card duel is decided by who has stronger convictions, rather than by random chance. They call it "The Heart of the Cards". Yugi (or Yami) always pull out the card they need to reverse the otherwise impossible situation.
* ''[[Naruto]]'''s Might Guy actually believes in this, but it's impact on the show is questionable, as his apprentice, Rock Lee, is forbidden from using his most powerful techniques except for when it's to protect a friend or loved one. Also questionable in the fact that [[The Worf Effect|Rock Lee loses a lot.]] In Naruto, there's one sure-fire way to win which even works for Lee. Promise someone important that you will win. Naturally, you can't break your promise, so you'll just have to win instead.
* The titular character from ''[[Saint Seiya]]'' is driven by justice, the [[Power of Friendship]], and his [[Always Save the Girl|love for Saori (that is, the Goddess Athena.)]] He's a Bronze Saint --[[Underdogs Never Lose|the lowest class of guardian, beneath Silver and Gold Saints, Specters, Marine Shoguns, and God Warriors]]
* The fight between Marco and Luchist in the ''[[Shaman King]]'' republications. Although Marco's clothes (or lack of), and his [[Bishonen]] looks led many fangirls to think that true justice is [[Stripperiffic|the one that's hotter and uses the less clothing pieces as possible]].
* Used all the way to [[Dead Horse Trope|death]] in ''[[Digimon Adventure]]'' and ''[[Digimon Adventure 02]]''. The Chosen Children "wielded" various virtues (yes, as in Wielder of Courage, Wielder of Friendship, Wielder of Purity, etc.). Their [[Mons]] got bigger when the kids developed positive character traits. This is fairly blatant
** One episode of the ''fifth'' season is named "Justice Equals Power," which is the trope name slightly rephrased. Though ironically in that case it was one of the ''villains'' who believed this, Duftmon of the [[Well-Intentioned Extremist|Royal Knights]]. Suffice to say, his belief didn't stop the heroes from smashing him via an [[Eleventh-Hour Superpower]].
* A key element of [[Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann]]: Spiral Power is based on the ability of organic life to adapt to and ultimately overcome adversity. Though any strong emotion can produce it, more Spiral Power can be derived from [[The Power of Love|Love]], [[The Power of Friendship|Friendship]], and [[Papa Wolf|Protective]] [[Mama Bear|Instinct]] than mere [[Unstoppable Rage]].
==
* In the ''[[Astro City]]'' series "Tarnished Angel" we follow Steeljack, a Supervillain who wants to simply retire, but has a hard time because '''A:''' he is a well known supervillain, '''B:''' is completely covered in shiny metal skin which kills his chances of getting a normal job and '''C:''' the deck is stacked against him. One of the things that has always dogged him is that he could never make it as hero because he always came up short for some reason, but at the end of the story when he is facing off against the Big Bad who happens to be in a top of the line Power Armor suit in EPIC COMBAT, he thinks something like:
{{quote|
* Whenever [[Captain America (comics)]] throws [[Anvilicious|His Mighty Shield]], you can see this written on it in six-inch letters. His [[Nigh Invulnerable]] [[Unobtainium]] shield is literally reinforced with American Righteous Might - not [[Clap Your Hands If You Believe|Self-Righteous Might]]. [[Eagle Land|America is the Greatest Country in the World]] - but only when it ''[[Sliding Scale of Idealism Versus Cynicism|maintains its idealism]].''
{{quote|
* ''De Rode Ridder'' (The Red Knight) is canonically unbeatable in a straight fight for justice, as is stated in-universe by an [[Evil Sorcerer]] doing a mystical examination on his sword. The only way the villains can ever get at him is by treachery or hostages.
== Film ==
* In [[The
== Literature ==
Line 48 ⟶ 46:
* In ''The [[Wheel of Time]]'', the White Cloaks have a Trial Beneath the Light, in which judgement is dispensed by the accuser and accused fighting to the death. The White Cloaks, being [[Knight Templar]], haven't used this particular trial in 400 years. And just to make sure the reader knows who's going to win: Eamon Valda, the accused, goes up to the Galad Damodred, the accuser, and mentions that Galad's stepmother was healthy when he last saw her and that "she was the best ride I ever had, and I hope to ride her again one day."
* The Galahad quote above is referenced and mocked in [[Discworld]]:
{{quote|
'''Angua''': Really? Well, there's eleven of ''them''. }}
** Given what Carrot has been shown to be capable of (he once took on the entire crowd at the Drum, including a troll, and WON) it is possible this is true in his case.
Line 59 ⟶ 57:
** The violent reaction of the robot buddy epitomizes the [[Technical Pacifist|Overpowered Space Hippies Philosophy]] of the Culture: they will remain tolerant and friendly and will even go as far as to hide their godlike power as long as you do not threaten them with a weapon. When you start threatening them, they start blowing up suns.
* In Tamora Pierce's [[Tortall Universe]], this is a common belief. The most notable example would be in the end of the second book of the Alanna series, "In The Hand of The Goddess". Alanna has evidence that the King's uncle is out for the throne; since she's a newly made knight, nobody really believes her. She's challenged to a duel, saying the winner will show who's the right one. While she wins by a mix of luck and genuine talent, its also because she is favoured by the Goddess.
** In a short-story, this also seems to be the belief of an [[Fantasy Counterpart Culture|African-like tribe]]; when settling a dispute about a broken marriage vow, they feel the gods will let whoever was right win. In this case, the young girl who faught the older man won because she ''really'' had been practicing hard.
* Ironically, in M.K. Wren's ''The Phoenix Legacy'', there's a scene where one of the '''villains''' invokes this. It's not made entirely clear whether he genuinely believes it and has a backwards notion of what's right, or, as a politician type, is just talking the talk.
Line 67 ⟶ 65:
== Mythology and Religion ==
* [[The Bible]] - [[Playing
* [[King Arthur]] spent the majority of his reign trying to dispel the idea that [[Might Makes Right]] and implement a legal system where
* This is a constant theme in Egyptian Mythology, resulting in nearly universally happy endings. The good guys (champions of order, justice, goodness, the gods, and Egypt) always triumph over the bad guys (fighting for rebellion, chaos, injustice, and anarchy) every time. Even when gods do things [[Values Dissonance|modern readers may object to]], it's always depicted as unambiguously the right and just action, not because [[Might Makes Right]], but because the gods (such as Re and Amun) are always good and always want what's best for the world. They always ensure the triumph of good, just mortals over bad, chaotic ones. Goodness, cosmic order, social order, justice, and monarchy are inextricably linked together as the concept/goddess of Ma'et, and it/she needs to be firing on all cylinders to prevent the sea of chaos from dissolving the whole universe. Thus, even violently putting down a rebellion against the Egyptian empire is supposed to be important for ensuring the stability of the cosmos. (Your enlightened conquerers obviously know what's best for you...)
== Video Games ==
* In the computer game ''[[Freedom Force]]'', the main hero, The Minuteman, [[Trope Namer|actually says]] "Right Makes Might!" He's also your most damaging melee fighter (if not the sturdiest), so he is apparently right on that.
* It was stated several times in ''[[Devil May Cry]]'''s continuity that the two sons of Sparda are perfectly equal in every way; power, ability, faces, etc. Naturally, Dante beats Vergil in their final clash, after having just [[Jumped At the Call|awoken to justice]]. Keep in mind, in the same continuity, it also stated several times that Vergil has a much stronger control over his devil powers (specifically the devil trigger) and takes his training more seriously.
* ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'' has an ability, called "Valor" or "[[Hot-Blooded|Hot Blood]]", that [[Game Breaker|doubles the damage of the next attack]]. Its use is balanced by its price: most most pilots can use it two or three times a stage at high levels. ''Every'' [[Super Robot Wars]] ''seishin'' spell is something like this, from Courage and Love (essentially [[Last-Disc Magic]]) to Trust (healing) to Hard Work and Luck (doubled rewards for killing). Which can produce interesting in-jokes - [[
* In ''[[
* In ''[[
* The final fight between {{spoiler|Shirou and Kotomine}} in ''[[Fate/stay
* Many ''[[Star Wars]]'' stories turn out this way. Usually the light side of [[The Force]] is just better... because it is. Even if you are allowed to create the end yourself, you can be sure, that somewhere after this particular incident good will win anyway ('cause both ''[[Knights of the Old Republic]]'' took place before the prequels, where the good guys were in charge... more or less).
** [[Enforced Trope]] by George Lucas's policy. In a Star Wars game, only the "Light Side" path is considered canonical. This prevented Obsidian from doing a [[Kill'Em All]] ending and forced them to prop up the Light Side path they were working so hard on deconstructing.
Line 87 ⟶ 81:
== Webcomics ==
* In ''[[
Line 93 ⟶ 87:
* In the ''[[Double Dragon]]'' cartoon, the power of the Dragon was literally drawn on the strength of their belief that good was stronger than evil. They even had the phrase [[By the Power of Greyskull|"For Right" "For Might"]] and they received armor that was tempered in the fire of Hope.
* Downright inverted in ''[[Justice League (animation)|Justice League]]'', where a battle between Batman and Justice Lord Batman, his Fascist [[Evil Twin]] from another dimension, is interlaced with a debate between the virtues of the Justice Lords' [[Utopia Justifies the Means|fascist utopia]] and the
* Bionic-1 uses this exact phrase in a ''[[Bionic Six]]'' episode.
Line 107 ⟶ 101:
[[Category:Stock Aesops]]
[[Category:Sublime Rhyme]]
▲[[Category:Hottip markup]]
| |||