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Rule of Three: Difference between revisions

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Rule of Three (view source)

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* The titual character of Paulo Coelho's ''[[The Alchemist]]'' believes that anything that happens twice WILL happen again. He is not proven wrong.
* [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in [[Sergey Lukyanenko]]'s ''The Stars Are Cold Toys'' by an alien living computer who wonders about the human fascination with the number three. The humans are stumped, and the best explanation they can come up with is "two is not enough, and four is too much." Surprisingly, the alien is satisfied with the answer.
* In the [[Star Trek Deep Space Nine Relaunchrelaunch]], the number three appears to have considerable significance for the cultures involved with the Wormhole Aliens; the Eav'oq, the Bajorans, and the Ascendants (who themselves make three, obviously). Connected to this, we have the trio of the Voice, the Hand and the Fire. Further, there are nine orbs (three times three), and nine Emissaries. The Wormhole Aliens certainly like the number three, though for what reason (other than this trope) is as yet unclear. Finally, the Hebitians, a race of Precursors on Cardassia, also demonstrate a great love of the number. This may not be coincidental; frequent hints that Hebitian culture is connected to that of the Bajorans suggest we have a whole interconnected spiritual community valuing the rule of three.
* ''[[A Song of Ice and Fire]]'''s [[Arc Number]] is usually seven, but the [[Rule of Three]] still pops up a few times.
** Jaqen H'ghar owes Arya three [[I Owe You My Life|life debts]], and in true folktale fashion she wastes the first two on trivial vendettas and [[Guile Hero|makes creative use]] of the last one to get what she really wants.
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* Some religions divide reality into Heaven, Earth and Hell.
** For the Norse, the universe was divided into nine (thrice three) worlds on three levels: the upper level had Alfheim (elves), Asgard (war gods and those who died in battle), and Vanaheim (fertility gods). The middle level has Midgard (humans), Jotunheim (giants), Svartalfheim (dark elves), and Nidavellir (dwarves). The [[Hailfire Peaks|bottom level]] has Niflheim (those who died of disease) and Muspell (fire demons).
** [[Useful Notes/Mormonism|Mormonism]] recognizes three heavens/kingdoms of glory after the Final Judgement: The Celestial Kingdom (itself divided into three kingdoms), the Terrestrial Kingdom, and the Telestial Kingdom.
* Subverted in Lakota mythology: Three is the number of imperfection, while four, far from its [[Four Is Death|other implications]], is the number of perfection.
* Hinduism : Three gunas (modes) of nature : goodness, passion and ignorance.
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** And let's not forget the three-star rating.
* ''Zelda'' has the supreme Triforce: Power, Wisdom, Courage. Also the three Goddesses that go with it: Din, Nayru, and Farore.
** Also [[The LegendofLegend of Zelda CDI Games|three CDi games...]][[Canon Dis Continuity|maybe not]].
** Not only just Triforce, the Zelda games are littered with Three's: There are [[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|three Sacred Stones, three magical spells, three elemental arrows]], [[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|three Provinces covered in twilight, three Fused Shadows to collect]], [[The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass|three fairies to save, and three metals from which the Phantom Sword is formed]], in addition to everything else listed.
** Several bosses will go down after three sets of attacks from Link. [[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|King Dodongo]], for instance, goes down after three bombs.
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