Bearer of Bad News: Difference between revisions

== [[Literature]] ==

* In [[Dan Abnett]]'s [[Gaunt's Ghosts]] novel ''Only In Death'', when Ludd and Beltayn had just managed to secure the water they desperately needed, Rawne had had to break the bad news from the battle.

* In [[J. R. R. Tolkien|JRR Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Grima Wormtongue dubs Gandalf "Lathspell" -- ill news -- because of his way of arriving with bad news.

** He's also nicknamed "Stormcrow" due to his reputation for showing up just as things are about to get very bad.

*** Denethor also professes his dislike of Gandalf for the same reasons, though less aggressively

* There's also a true [[Bearer of Bad News]] in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'': Frodo himself. The Ring itself is a harbinger of the upcoming war, but even if Frodo succeeds, many of the people he meets will be killed or dispossessed by the consequences.

* In [[James Swallow]]'s [[Warhammer 40000]] [[Horus Heresy]] novel ''The Flight of the Eisenstein'', {{spoiler|Dorn}} [[Talk to the Fist|strikes]] Garro for the news he brought. {{spoiler|Then, as Qruze [[With Due Respect|pointed out]], Dorn had clearly held the blow, which could have killed Garro, because he wanted to hear it all. He listens to the rest, and accuses him of insanity. When Garro accuses him of blindness, he decides to execute him. Only Keller's intervention saves him.}}

* In [[The Bible]], David gets word from his military that his rebellious son is dead, and goes into a [[Heroic Blue Screen of Death]]. The messengers repeatedly try to avoid the issue, afraid they'll be killed, but David just goes into mourning.

* In ''[[X Wing Series|Wraith Squadron]]'', Wedge Antilles has to compose and send a letter to Admiral Ackbar explaining that {{spoiler|his niece Jesmin Ackbar}} died in combat. He's shown agonizing over the phrasing of the opening line; among other things he rejects "I'm afraid this letter comes as the bearer of bad news". In the end Wedge spends the entire night on the letter, thinking with a faint pride that at least [[It Never Gets Any Easier]], because he [[The Chains of Commanding|never gets deadened to or glib about the deaths of his people]].

** Later in the series, [[The Dragon|General Melvar]] has to bring [[Big Bad|Zsinj]] some very bad news: not only has a deathtrap failed to kill Wraith Squadron (or even any of its members), but they have managed to take one of his key personnel alive. In a subversion of [[You Have Failed Me]] (and an inversion of [[Shoot the Messenger]]), Zsinj has an epic [[Villainous Breakdown]] where he destroys practically everything in his office ''but'' the person who brought him the bad news.

* In [[Wen Spencer]]'s ''Endless Blue'', Mikhail recognizes the bearers of bad news by their expressions. {{spoiler|They confirm that Turk was murdered, rather than dying in an accident.}}

* In [[Ben Counter]]'s [[Warhammer 40000]] novel ''[[Soul Drinkers|Hell-Forged]]'', despite Lygris's [[Frozen Face]], Sarpedon can tell he brought bad news.

* In Andy Hoare's [[White Scars]] novel ''Hunt for Voldorius'', Skall is desperate to avoid this.

* From [[The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]]:

* Toward the end of the [[Elenium]] trilogy, Sparhawk dreads having to deliver the news of {{spoiler|his squire Kurik's death to his wife}}. He reaches the house only to find that she already knows, having received the information from another [[Bearer of Bad News]].

* In the ballad ''Gorm Grymme'' by the German writer Theodor Fontane, king Gorm of Denmark loves his son Harald dearly and one yule day he tells his vassals that anyone who brought him the news of his son's death would die within an hour. So when Harald is killed in battle, nobody wants to inform the king. Queen Thyra then manages to convey the message to Gorm without words, by taking off her jewelry, dressing in black, lighting twelve candles and covering the great hall and throne with black drapes.

** Happens also when {{spoiler|Director Jenny Sheppard is killed}} and Ducky is told by phone, and then has to tell Abby and McGee. And again in season six, when Gibbs has to tell {{spoiler|Michelle Lee's daughter that Lee is dead}}.

* From ''[[The Goodies]]'' episode "[[The End of the World as We Know It|Earthanasia]]":

'''Graeme''': You might have broken it to him gently. }}

* On ''[[The West Wing]]'', Bartlet's best friend and chief of staff Leo has to bring him two of the worst pieces of news of his life: once that Mrs. Landingham, his beloved secretary, has been killed in a car accident, and the other time that his youngest daughter Zoey has been kidnapped. Notably, there is no sound in either of these scenes. In the final season, it's C.J. who has to tell him that Leo has died of a heart attack. Another moment, featuring severe [[Mood Whiplash]], is in a flashback to the Bartlet campaign's first big victory at the Illinois primary, when Donna (who's only recently started working for Josh) has to interrupt his celebrating to tell him his father died.

* Averted in ''[[Blackadder]]'' (first season), as the King (Brian Blessed) recieves a messenger who tells him that "Lord Wessex is dead."

'''King''' Aha! This news I like better!! }}

* Radar, in the ''[[M*A*S*H|Mash]]'' episode "Abyssinia, Henry".

* This is actually part of JJ's ''job description'' in ''[[Criminal Minds]]''.

* ''[[Dexter]]'', not normally known for his tact, botches this horribly when he has to tell his stepkids, Astor and Cody {{spoiler|that their mother has been murdered}}. While wearing Mickey Mouse ears.

== Music ==

* "Bad News and Bad Breaks" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones:

He's got an ugly job to do! }}

 

* Watch [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9Ei_hTwjAo=related this] (from 2:21) for some insight into the role of messengers in Elizabethan theatre. According to Rowan Atkinson.

* Subverted in George Bernard Shaw's ''Caesar and Cleopatra'', where the garrison of a border post receives a bearer of evil tidings with much fuss and honour. A Persian mercenary expresses surprise at this, and his commander explains:

* A slightly bizarre example occurs in Goethe's ''Faust'', where Mephisto informs a widow: "Ihr Mann ist tot, und läßt Sie grüßen" (your husband is dead and sends his regards).