Trope Talk: Pure Of Heart

Welcome to the new year! Let's kick off the 2022 Trope Talks by unpacking a surprisingly complicated trope that may or may not be meaningless depending on who you ask and how consistent the writers decided to be that week!

Who's your favorite pure of heart character and what's your favorite case of "how the heck is THAT guy pure of heart?!" Drop a comment and discuss!

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[HelloFutureMe]

did somebody say "morality is complicated"

[jonsku]

Trolley problem: *Exists*

Pure of heart character: "Just stop the trolley. Derail it or something!"

[bompmon]

This trope caused 10 year old me to question my own morality.

I wanted to be pure of heart so I could go on an adventure and be a hero some day.

But then I wondered, if I want to be pure of heart to be a hero am I really pure of heart?

If I want to be pure for selfish reasons can I be pure?

That realization still haunts me 17 years later.

[Shovelchicken]

I really wish innocence/pure of heart could escape “childlike innocence”

It shouldn’t just be children and idiots that are allowed to be hopeful and good. I’ve seen so many people tell someone else to “grow up” whenever they’ve expressed hope about something, and it’s honestly heartbreaking.

[timothymclean]

Things get even more complicated when you realize "pure-hearted" doesn't have to mean pure *good.*
"My heart _is_ pure...pure, unadulterated badass."
"Yeah, more like pure, unadulterated ego."

[peterstorm]

Personal favorite version of the Pure of Heart trolley problem is Trigun. As the end message of the anime is not "You should never strive to not kill" or "There is always a third option". But rather "Even if we will not be able to always uphold these ideals, that does not mean they not worth pursuing and striving for".

[matthewnorton-baker]

You saying that being “Pure of Heart” often boils down to having good vibes made me realize that worthiness tests like Thor’s Hammer are basically just a vibe check.

[tzisorey]

OSP: "We might have some trouble concisely defining Pure Of Heart"
DBZAVegita: "My heart *_is_* pure. Pure, unadulterated, badass"

[constipatedwonka]

"Kids are cruel Jack... and I'm very in touch with my inner child"

Always loved that subversion from mgrr

[weirdo]

The pure of heart trope really reminds me of the old saying: The path to hell is paved with good intentions.

[angelaphsiao]

It would be so cool to see a “pure of heart” villain who is being deliberately kept in ignorance so they genuinely believe they are doing the right thing as they commit atrocities

[hylash]

Red: "It is interesting that people equate childhood with innocence as if children aren't capable of incredible malice and cruelty"

I think a good example of this is Hunter x Hunter's main character Gon, in which the creator purposely made all of his psychological traits as of the child that he is. This meaning that although he's innocent and kind, he is also very selfish, a huge hypocrite, completely apathetic of the people that he doesn't care about and surprisingly cruel to the people he holds animosity against.

[sallyladeroute]

Young Justice’s “They never said I had to be pure good” is probably one of my favourite twists

[heemjefee]

"I love peace. I don't care how many men women and children I have to kill to get it." - Peacemaker, The Suicide Squad 2021 has to be one of my favorite "pure of heart" villains.

[nyalan]

Perfect example: Luffy. He's extremely selfish and will do anything he wants at any cost, it just so happens that everything he wants are what the audience would consider to be morally correct.

[michaelwellen]

This reminds me of a CS Lewis quote. “Of all tyrannies, a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It would be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end for they do so with the approval of their own conscience. They may be more likely to go to Heaven yet at the same time likelier to make a Hell of earth. This very kindness stings with intolerable insult. To be "cured" against one's will and cured of states which we may not regard as disease is to be put on a level of those who have not yet reached the age of reason or those who never will; to be classed with infants, imbeciles, and domestic animals.”

[Truck-kun]

You know a topic that would make a cool video: "Sentient Weapons", I've always liked this concept in fiction. The character always has someone to interact with, and when the two have good chemistry, the relationship is always fun to watch.

[justalonelyblobfish]

“Today I learned morality is relative.” - Mabel Pines, after punching a Unicorn in the face.

[TheAustronaut]

"maybe the prison just needed some better f*cking locks, how about that?"
really underrated and an angle more people should consider
maybe a shit prison shouldnt be an excuse to just commit murder

[Canido]

It troubles me that stories with scanners for "Pure of Heart" never take advantage of "Pure" not needing to be "Pure *Good"* and that "Pure *Evil"* can also pass the test; no questions asked.