Servile Snarker: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
[[File:
{{quote|'''Bertie Wooster:''' Do you think I should play this song for the Glossops tonight, Jeeves?
'''Jeeves:''' There is also that to be considered, sir.
|''[[Jeeves and Wooster (TV series)|Jeeves and Wooster]]''}}
You wouldn't like taking orders from some pompous rich [[
▲{{quote|'''Bertie Wooster:''' Do you think I should play this song for the Glossops tonight, Jeeves?<br />
▲'''Jeeves:''' I could not advise it, sir. I have not heard that Sir Roderick is musical.<br />
▲'''Bertie Wooster:''' Oh, but Lady Glossop is.<br />
▲'''Jeeves:''' There is also that to be considered, sir.|''[[Jeeves and Wooster (TV series)|Jeeves and Wooster]]''}}
The
▲You wouldn't like taking orders from some pompous rich [[Upperclass Twit|higher up]] for an occupation. In turn, neither do the characters written this way. This trope espouses that the only way to tolerate their occupation of servitude is to snark at your employer for all it's worth. After all, they [[Can't Live Without You]]. Also, some employers genuinely enjoy the banter or value the valet's second opinion. Some might even consider them [[True Companions|a member of the family]], and know that there's genuine love behind the mocking.
See [[Sassy Secretary]] for another variation of this character. You might also want to see [[Sarcastic Devotee]], [[No Hero to His Valet]] and [[Honest Advisor]].▼
▲The [[Servile Snarker]] is a combination of a [[Deadpan Snarker]] and [[The Jeeves]] (although the original Jeeves, as the above quote shows, can be pretty snarky). A butler, maid, slave, servant, whatever, who is heavily sarcastic to their master and/or their master's guests and yet still manages to keep their job. Often a master of the [[Stealth Insult]].
▲See [[Sassy Secretary]] for another variation of this character. You might also want to see [[Sarcastic Devotee]], [[No Hero to His Valet]] and [[Honest Advisor]].
{{examples}}
▲== Anime & Manga ==
* Matsurika from ''[[Maria Holic]]'' is a particularly harsh example: she's beyond snarky with her master, she's flat out ''abrasive'' with everyone.
* Robert, Prince Wilfred's valet and bodyguard from ''[[Private Prince]]''.
* Linith from ''[[Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha (anime)|Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha]]''. She has ''very'' little respect for her creator Precia, and is not above talking back or using sarcasm even during her [[Famous Last Words]] ("my never kind master, Precia"). Has a better relationship with Fate, but is not above teasing her a little over her being sleepy in her [[Lotus Eater Machine]] dream.
* Kyon from ''[[The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya]]'' fits this to the T, being snarky in general, especially towards SOS-Brigade-leader Haruhi Suzumiya, who treats him as essentially nothing more than a slave and toy for her amusement.
* Riza Hawkeye, in ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist (manga)|Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', is [[Colonel Badass|Roy Mustang]]'s adjutant. Her job duties have her mixing this up with [[Sassy Secretary]], but whichever way you look at it, she's the only person who gets away with sassing
* Sebastian Michaelis from ''[[Black Butler]]'', oh so very much.
* Tomoe from ''[[Kamisama Kiss]]'' is sarcastic in the extreme. He continues to be sarcastic to his master Nanami even after he develops a [[Bodyguard Crush]] on her.
* Watase of ''[[Poor Poor Lips]]'', Ren's maid who has a sarcastic remark ready for all of her mistress' antics. We later meet more of the maid staff in Ren's household, whereupon we get to see that this is a trait shared by all of them.
* In ''[[Durarara!!]]'', towards Izaya, it's {{spoiler|[[Sassy Secretary|Namie]] }} of all people. Sure, she'll take any opportunity to insult him, but that doesn't mean she doesn't do everything she's told with style, and it doesn't mean Izaya can't[[Volleying Insults|return]] [[Snark
== [[Comic Books]] ==▼
* Alfred Pennyworth from most versions of ''[[Batman]]'' was considered as a candidate for the [[Trope Namer]]. It takes an extraordinary man to snark at someone who regularly makes others wet their pants in fear. He's also somewhat unique among examples of this trope in that his snarkiness, at heart, comes out of love for the man he snarks against. It's made abundantly clear that, despite his support, he really would rather Bruce Wayne ''not'' be Batman, and he's not shy about taking advantage of the fact that he's one of the only people who can dress Batman down and actually be listened to.▼
▲== Comic Books ==
▲* Alfred from ''[[Batman]]'' was considered as a candidate for the [[Trope Namer]]. It takes an extraordinary man to snark at someone who regularly makes others wet their pants in fear. He's also somewhat unique among examples of this trope in that his snarkiness, at heart, comes out of love for the man he snarks against. It's made abundantly clear that, despite his support, he really would rather Bruce Wayne ''not'' be Batman, and he's not shy about taking advantage of the fact that he's one of the only people who can dress Batman down and actually be listened to.
** [[Newer Than They Think]]: Alfred started out as a [[Bumbling Sidekick]] and didn't become the Servile Snarker we know and love until much later, especially after Frank Miller's depiction of him in ''[[The Dark Knight Returns]]''.
* The incarnation of Jarvis, [[Iron Man|Tony Stark's]] butler found in ''[[Ultimate Marvel]]'' is very sarcastic towards his master, unlike the traditional Earth 616 Jarvis. He's also drawn to resemble Michael Gough, the Alfred of the Burton/Schumacher movies.
* Wong, faithful manservant and friend to [[Doctor Strange]], is normally a straitlaced and serious character, but in the issues of ''[[The Avengers (Comic Book)|The New Avengers]]'' when he's had to serve the title characters he gets very... ''snippy'' with them.
{{quote|
* [[Nodwick]] is a henchman rather than a butler, but still fits in here because he's, well, a henchman. If you were employed by two [[Jerkass
* [[X-Men]] villain Mojo has an android assistant/accountant named Major Domo, who often trolls his boss using snarky [[Stealth Insult]]s that Mojo never seems to notice.
* Eve Sisulu, the Black maid in the South-African strip ''[http://www.madamandeve.co.za/ Madam & Eve]''.▼
* The eponymous maid from Ted Key's ''Hazel''. Later adapted as a TV sitcom starring Shirley Booth.▼
==
* Hobson in the original version of ''[[Arthur (film)|Arthur]]'':
{{quote|
'''Hobson:''' I'll alert the media.
'''Arthur:''' Do you want to run my bath for me?
'''Hobson:''' It's what I live for. ''(waits for Arthur to leave)'' Perhaps you would like me to come in there and wash your dick for you, you little shit. }}
* Some of the same guys from the Comics section get bonus points for their movie versions. For instance, we have [[Iron Man (film)|the A.I. version of Jarvis]]:
{{quote|
'''Jarvis:''' What was I thinking? You're usually so discreet.
'''Tony:''' Tell you what. Throw a little hot rod red in there.
'''Jarvis:''' Yes, that should help you keep a low profile. }}
* The butler from ''[[The Ruling Class]]'', who makes sarcastic (though not particularly witty) and derogatory comments behind his employers' backs.
* Riff-Raff from ''[[The Rocky Horror Picture Show]]'' displays barely concealed contempt for his master throughout the film in their interactions.
* Vincenzo from the [[Olsen Twins]] film
* Annie, the family maid in ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'' isn't afraid to speak her mind - after George has a heart-to-heart talk with his dad and tells him how great he is:
{{quote|
'''Annie''' [behind door]: I ''heard'' it; it's about time one'a you lunkheads ''said'' it! }}
* Both Martin, Elizabeth's butler, and Chessy, Nick's housekeeper, in [[The Parent Trap (1998 film)|the 1998 ''Parent Trap'']]. Naturally, they [[Love At First Sight|fall in love at first sight]] and end up the film's [[Beta Couple]].
== [[Literature]] ==▼
▲== Literature ==
* [[Terry Pratchett]]'s ''[[Discworld]]''
** The Igors. "[[The Igor|Oh no, thur. The Igorth would never think to point out their marthterth' mithtaketh. It'th in the Code.]]"
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** Many of the servants in Wodehouse, in fact. Beach from the ''[[Blandings Castle]]'' series is another good example.
* Lewis's valet George from ''[[Darkness Visible]]'' is genuinely fond of his employer, but that doesn't stop him putting in the odd dig:
{{quote|
'''George:''' Mr Marsh is not to be foolish without your supervision. I understand, sir. }}
* Lynn Belvedere, in Gwen Davenport's ''Belvedere''. Later portrayed by Clifton Webb in a series of films, and by Christopher Hewett in the TV sitcom ''Mr. Belvedere''.
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* In John Zakour's series ''Zachary Nixon Johnson'', the last freelance P.I. on Earth, HARV the super A.I. assistant is made of this trope.
* Magnus in the ''[[Codex Alera]]'' is like this all the time.
{{quote|
* ''[[The Dresden Files]]'': Bob the Skull.
* Sebastian from ''[[Heidi]]'', specially in regards to Mrs. Rottenmeier.
* This character has been a staple of [[Gothic Literature]] since its inception, whose purpose is to provide a comic relief breather in the midst of all the darkness, angst, and tragedy in the rest of the plot:
** Bianca in ''[[The Castle of Otranto]]''
** Peter in ''The Romance of the Forest''.
** Annette in ''[[The Mysteries of Udolpho]]''.
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** Nellie Dean of ''[[Wuthering Heights (novel)|Wuthering Heights]]'' (who [[Alternate Character Interpretation|some interpret as the heroine]]).
* [[Jane Austen]] includes a [[Silent Snarker|Silent]] Servile Snarker in ''[[Mansfield Park]]'':
{{quote|
'''Mrs. Norris:''' Stay, stay, Fanny! What are you about? Where are you going? Don't be in such a hurry. Depend upon it, it is not you who are wanted; depend upon it, it is me, but you are so very eager to put yourself forward. What should Sir Thomas want you for? It is me, Baddeley, you mean; I am coming this moment. You mean me, Baddeley, I am sure; Sir Thomas wants me, not Miss Price.
But Baddeley was stout. "No, ma'am, it is Miss Price; I am certain of it's being Miss Price." And there was a half-smile with the words, which meant, "I do not think ''you'' would answer the purpose at all." }}
* Bazzard from ''[[The Mystery of Edwin Drood]]'' is incredibly snarky and rude at all times. His employer is such a nice guy that he lets him get away with it, since he feels that Bazzard's going through a lot of trouble just working for him.
* ''[[Land of Oz]]''
** Kaliko, Chief Steward to the Nome King in the ''Oz'' books, is quite willing to let his monarch know when he's being an idiot. The Nome King, despite being a [[Bad Boss]] and quite willing to kill off his generals when they annoyed him, kept him
** Jellia Jamb, head of the Palace maids in the Emerald city, also displays traces of this from time to time, having a mischievous sense of humor that occasionally raises its
* ''[[In Death]]'': Summerset, who regularly trades insults with Eve.
* Higgins in the [[Bloody Jack]] series sometimes resorts to sarcasm to show what he thinks of Jacky and her ways.
* [[Don Quixote]]: [[Deconstructed Trope|Deconstructed by]] Sancho Panza: What happens in [[Real Life]] to the employee that cannot say anything about his master without being sarcastic? Why, Sancho is beaten by Don Quixote at chapters XX and XXX of Part I, and gives him a hurricane of insults at chapter XLVI:
{{quote|
''"Do you think," he said to him after a pause, "you scurvy clown, that you are to be always interfering with me, and that you are to be always offending and I always pardoning? Don't fancy it, impious scoundrel,...'' }}
** And the only murder that is explicitly shown in this novel is the [[Too Dumb to Live|bandit who dared to snark to his leader]].
{{quote|
The unlucky wight did not speak so low but that [[Not So Harmless|Roque overheard him, and drawing his sword almost split his head in two]], saying, "That is the way I punish impudent saucy fellows." They were all taken aback, and not one of them dared to utter a word, such deference did they pay him. }}
== [[Live-Action TV]] ==
* Edmund Blackadder from ''[[Blackadder|Blackadder the Third]]'' is made of this trope.
{{quote|
'''Blackadder:''' I cannot conceive, sir. }}
* Geoffrey from ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]'', who was this trope's original title.
* Rochester Van Jones, of ''[[The Jack Benny Program]]''.
* Jeeves of ''[[Jeeves and Wooster (TV series)|Jeeves and Wooster]]'', even more so than in the original stories. [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] by Bertie:
{{quote|
* Dennis Finch from ''[[Just Shoot Me]]''.
* Niles from ''[[The Nanny]]'', especially around C.C. Babcock.
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* Benson from ''[[Soap]]''. When he got a spinoff show of his own he started out as one of these before climbing his way up to the lieutenant governor position (while still maintaining his snarkiness).
* Sir [[Humphrey]] Appleby of ''[[Yes Minister]]'' is the Permanent Undersecretary of the Department of Administrative Affairs, and later Cabinet Secretary, and never misses an opportunity to subtly mock his political masters while insisting he is only there to serve them. As such a senior civil servant, he can get away with this level of snark even when it is caught.
{{quote|
'''Hacker:''' Even if you think it's wrong?
'''Humphrey:''' Well, practically all government policy is wrong. But frightfully well carried out.
'''Hacker:''' Humphrey! Do you see it as part of your job to help ministers make fools of themselves?
'''Humphrey:''' Well, I've never met one who needed any help. }}
* Posca, Julius Caesar's personal secretary/slave in ''[[Rome]]''. Posca is
{{quote|
'''Posca:''' I sincerely hope not, because if this is the afterlife it is very disappointing! }}
* ''[[Two and A Half Men]]'' has Berta (Conchata Ferrell), the housekeeper.
{{quote|
'''Berta:''' Charlie, you'd have to pay me not to.
'''Berta:''' ''(to Evelyn, who has just gotten her lips plumped)'' Man, the last time I saw a mouth like that, it was trying to eat [[Jacques Cousteau]]. }}
* Holly, the ship's computer, is like this in early episodes of ''[[Red Dwarf]]'', when he's more servile and less of a full-fledged crew member.
{{quote|
'''Holly:''' Yes, God? }}
* Ianto from ''[[Torchwood]]''.
{{quote|
'''Ianto''': Remember what happened last time you used it?
'''Jack''': That was different. And that species has extremely high blood pressure.
'''Ianto''': Oh, right, their heads must explode all the time. }}
* Rosario, Karen's maid on ''[[Will and Grace]]''.
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* The title character from ''[[Merlin (TV series)|Merlin]]'' has this in spades.
* ''[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]'' had Hirsch, Mrs. Carlson's butler. She rings for him and he shows up in mere seconds:
{{quote|
'''Hirsch:''' Mardi Gras, ma'am. }}
* Lieutenant, later Captain, Miklo Braca sometimes functions as this for Scorpius and Grayza in ''[[Farscape]]''. Of course, with Grayza in particular it's wise to be heavier on the servile than the snark, but he lets it out full-strength in one wonderful speech at the end of the "We're So Screwed" trilogy...
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* ''[[Power Rangers Operation Overdrive]]'' has Spencer, the Hartford family's butler.
▲* Eve Sisulu, the Black maid in the South-African strip ''[http://www.madamandeve.co.za/ Madam & Eve]''.
▲* The eponymous maid from Ted Key's ''Hazel''. Later adapted as a TV sitcom starring Shirley Booth.
== [[Radio]] ==
* Julius the grocery boy in ''[[The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show]]''.
* Humphrey Lyttelton has twice played a butler in ''[[I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue]]'' specials: the Laird's butler in ''Hamish & Dougal Hogmanay Special'' and Barry Cryer's butler in ''In Search of Mornington Crescent''. In both, he continued to be [[Gentleman Snarker|Humphrey Lyttelton]].
== [[Theater]] ==▼
▲== Theater ==
* Trope is [[Older Than They Think]]: the smart and snarky servant was a Roman stock character.
** The Roman Playwright [[Plautus]] created the Ur-Example with the title character in ''Pseudolus'', though he is somewhat different in that he actually chooses the life of a slave, feeling that it (paradoxically) gives him more freedom.
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* Liza from ''[[Peter Pan]]''. She doesn't necessarily start out as this, but once Mr. Darling starts living in a dog kennel and riding it to work, well.
== [[Video Games]] ==▼
▲== Video Games ==
* [[Only Sane Man|Haskill]] from ''The Shivering Isles'' [[Expansion Pack]] for ''[[The Elder Scrolls|Oblivion]]'' is the Chamberlain of Sheogorath (the Daedric Prince of Madness) and a [[Deadpan Snarker]] without peer.
* Lawrence from the third ''[[Ratchet and Clank]]'' game.
{{quote|
'''Lawrence:''' Even drooling imbeciles can achieve success in certain fields, sir. Mad Science for example.
'''Lawrence:''' If anyone can beat a moron at his own game, it's you sir. }}
* ''[[Mana-Khemia 2: Fall of Alchemy]]''
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* [[Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep"|The butler]] in ''[[Discworld Noir]]''. Although his snark is directed at Lewton, not his employer. (He doesn't actually have any ''scenes'' with his employer.) He's a lot less polite about it as a result. He'd raise obstruction to an art form if not for the fact that you have business with both his bosses, neither of whom appreciate being kept waiting.
* Alfred, of course. For example, this little gem from the ''[[Batman Begins]]'' video game:
{{quote|
'''Alfred:''' Might I suggest donning a pair of tights and pretending you're a bat, sir?
'''Batman:''' ''Cute''. }}
* Aschen of ''[[Endless Frontier]]'' is Haken's android servant, and seems to consider it her duty to act as [[The Foil]] to his [[Lovable Sex Maniac]] personality. She sometimes fuels his jokes, sometimes insults them, but it's always with a [[Deadpan Snarker]] attitude. Of course, he considers her more like a sidekick than a servant, {{spoiler|and has no problem with calling her "sister".}}
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* In [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic's]] [[Sonic Unleashed|recent]] [[Sonic Colors|endeavors]], Dr. Eggman got himself Orbot. In his first appearance, Orbot snarked at Eggman to no end, but recently, he still snarked at him, but it was toned down a bit.
* Joker in ''[[Mass Effect]]'', '''especially''' in ''[[Mass Effect 2]]''. Every time you finish an important mission (recruitment or loyalty), he will comment on it.
{{quote|
'''Joker:''' Glad we figured out Jack is crazy. Because that was really up in the air, just hanging there.
'''Joker:''' Thane seems like the strong, sensitive, murdering type. You know those are always great to have around. A real cuddler. }}
* [[The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim|Lydia the Housecarl]] is sworn to carry your burdens...
* In ''[[Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten]]'', while Fenrich may be [[Undying Loyalty|obsessively loyal]] to his master Valvatorez, he isn't afraid to admit that he can at times be a total moron, and usually expresses these opinions through underhanded compliments.
== [[Visual Novels]] ==▼
▲== Visual Novels ==
* ''[[Umineko no Naku Koro ni]]'': Beatrice's butler Ronove keeps his job because he keeps his mistress from getting bored.
* ''[[Fate/stay night
== [[Web Comics]] ==
▲== Web Comics ==
* ''[[Drowtales]]''
** Liriel can get away with some [https://web.archive.org/web/20100106062742/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?sid=4731 pretty daring things].
** To a lesser extent, Chrys' "protector twin", Shinae, [https://web.archive.org/web/20130728234201/http://www.drowtales.com/mainarchive.php?id=1311 as seen here].
* Erwin in ''[[Irregular Webcomic]]'' serves in the German Army under [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] Colonel Haken, yet often makes snarky comments about Nazi policies.
* Ardsley Wooster, Gil's manservant in ''[[Girl Genius]]'', isn't above a well-timed eye roll or directing the girl his master's trying to impress to one of master's "[[Erotic Literature|favorite novels]]" in the library. Slight subversion, as Wooster {{spoiler|isn't really a manservant but a spy, and Gil, unbeknownst to him, is fully aware of this.}}
* ''[[Impure Blood]]''
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20120713031720/http://www.impurebloodwebcomic.com/Pages/Chapter003/ib016.html Elnor can be this, to Caspian].
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20110819053812/http://www.impurebloodwebcomic.com/Pages/Issue3/ib055.html And Dara positively encourages it in Roan].
* Mr Kornada's robotic assistant Clippy in ''[[Freefall]]'' isn't above sarcastically commenting on his master's profoundly limited intelligence.
{{quote|
'''Clippy''': A part I'm sure you shall play excellently, sir. }}
== [[Western Animation]] ==▼
▲== Western Animation ==
* Hovis from Doug TenNapel's ''[[Catscratch]]''.
* Norm the Genie from ''[[The Fairly
{{quote|
* Consuela, the Griffin's maid for one episode on ''[[Family Guy]]''. Could count in her recurring bits, if one applies [[Alternate Character Interpretation]] and sees her as using the language barrier as [[Obfuscating Stupidity]].
* Evangelyne from ''[[Wakfu]]'' is technically Princess Amalia's follower and bodyguard, but in truth they've grown together and are very much like a pair of sisters. As such, the older Eva rarely has qualms against putting down the little spoiled princess.
{{quote|
'''Evangelyne:''' You mean, the chamberlain of the kingdom that's some ten thousand leagues from here? No problem. I'll go, I'll explain how you ran away, and I'm back in two months with the royal guard. }}
* Alfred is just as snarky in ''[[Batman: The Animated Series|Batman the Animated Series]]'' as he is in the comics.
{{quote|
{{quote|
* Luxor is often this to Tut in ''[[Tutenstein]]''.
* Norm from ''[[Phineas and Ferb]]''. The episode "Nerdy Dancin'" gives us this (the look on Perry's when he heard those words is priceless):
{{quote|
'''Dr. Doofenshmirtz''' ''(after an awkward silence)'': Wow. Cuttin' deep, man. }}
* ''[[My Little Pony:
** Spike from often veers this when having to deal with Twilight Sparkle, on top of his usual snarkiness.
** According to "Hearth-Warming Eve", Smart Cookie and Clover the Clever were this to Chancellor Puddinghead and Princess Platinum, respectively.
** Angel also veers into this when [[Shrinking Violet|his owner]] gets into a situation that might require a backbone.
* Maurice from ''[[The Penguins of Madagascar]]'', but I guess anyone would if they're right-hand man to someone like [[Cloudcuckoolander|Julien]].
* [[Man-Eating Plant| Frank the Plant]] in ''[[Harley Quinn (TV series)|Harley Quinn]]''; he may owe his sentience to Ivy, but that doesn't stop him from being rude or snarky towards her, often showing [[Brutal Honesty| a brutally honest]] opinion with a foul mouth. Both Harley and Ivy telling him to clam it is a [[Running Gag]].
== [[Real Life]] ==
* Jourdon Anderson, a former slave, dictated this letter to his former master. http://civilliberty.about.com/od/raceequalopportunity/a/jourdonanderson.htm'{{Dead link}}
* Siri, the iPhone 4S's speech recognition software, has literally hundreds of easter eggs, including [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krI8wXmx9fs some rather humorous responses to certain requests].
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[[Category:The Trickster]]
[[Category:Oh Great a Snark Index]]
[[Category:
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