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The Black Swan
- 604 statements
- 119 feature instances
- 16 referencing feature instances
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The Black Swan | |
The Black Swan | page |
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The Black Swan | comment |
A fantasy novel by Mercedes Lackey, also known as the author of the Heralds of Valdemar and Elemental Masters series.Once upon a time there was a princess named Odette who was kidnapped by the evil sorcerer Eric von Rothbart and subjected to an unusual curse: she is human only at night under moonlight; by day she is a beautiful white swan.This novel is not about her. This is about the other swan.Odile von Rothbart is the dutiful daughter of her father and a rising sorceress in her own right. She keeps his palace without complaint, though she longs for more of her father's approval. Like the Baron, she believes the swan maidens are fickle, faithless creatures who deserve their situation because they have been untrue to their men. But then one day, Odette defies the sorcerer to give her a chance to prove her rehabilitation...Perhaps the two swans are not so different after all.Not to be confused with 2010's Black Swan film by Darren Aronofsky, or the 1942 swashbuckler movie by Tyrone Power. Also not related to the Dark Swan novel series by Richelle Mead. | |
The Black Swan | fetched |
2023-12-04T03:46:22Z | |
The Black Swan | parsed |
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The Black Swan | processingComment |
Dropped link to RomeoAndJuliet: Not a Feature - ITEM | |
The Black Swan | isPartOf |
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The Black Swan / int_117c6f30 | type |
Old Man Marrying a Child | |
The Black Swan / int_117c6f30 | comment |
Old Man Marrying a Child: One of the "little swans" was taken from an arranged marriage to an older man. However, the problem was his cruelty (he was known to beat his wives), not his age. She later marries Siegfried's elderly tutor, who likes her but never dared to hope that a young girl like her would want him. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_117c6f30 | |
The Black Swan / int_129749df | type |
All Men Are Perverts | |
The Black Swan / int_129749df | comment |
All Men Are Perverts: Yup. From the selfish prince to the priests. The heroes grow out of it and become sympathetic characters. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_129749df | |
The Black Swan / int_12dd1d4c | type |
Rape as Drama | |
The Black Swan / int_12dd1d4c | comment |
Rape as Drama: Siegfried chases, catches, and has sex with a gypsy girl in the woods. It's not until some time later that he realizes it wasn't consensual... and it takes him a bit longer yet to accept the actual harm he did. When he finally does, it leads to a moment of genuine contrition and a Heel–Face Turn. | |
The Black Swan / int_12dd1d4c | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_12dd1d4c | |
The Black Swan / int_14a8974a | type |
Love Potion | |
The Black Swan / int_14a8974a | comment |
Love Potion: Clothilde used one to marry the King. She contemplates using the same formula on Siegfried or his new bride to keep them infatuated with each other (and thus extend her reign). | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_14a8974a | |
The Black Swan / int_174ea6a7 | type |
The Dutiful Son | |
The Black Swan / int_174ea6a7 | comment |
The Dutiful Daughter: Odile to her father; too bad for him he does not appreciate it. | |
The Black Swan / int_174ea6a7 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_174ea6a7 | |
The Black Swan / int_1779f10e | type |
"Well Done, Son" Guy | |
The Black Swan / int_1779f10e | comment |
"Well Done, Daughter" Girl: Odile, so very much. She could easily have become Daddy's Little Villain except that Baron von Rothbart either 1) didn't think of it or 2) was unwilling to share power... least of all with a woman. | |
The Black Swan / int_1779f10e | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_1779f10e | |
The Black Swan / int_18d15922 | type |
Title Drop | |
The Black Swan / int_18d15922 | comment |
Title Drop: Three times is Odile referred to as the titular Black Swan, once spoken by one of the swan maidens. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_18d15922 | |
The Black Swan / int_1b465242 | type |
Conditioned to Accept Horror | |
The Black Swan / int_1b465242 | comment |
Conditioned to Accept Horror: Odile accepts what her father does without question, believing he acts in her best interests. When she considers, for example, that he might have magically changed her appearance or hair color, she takes it as a reasonable precaution — it never even occurs to her to be outraged or disturbed. She eventually realizes that her father only thinks about himself. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_1b465242 | |
The Black Swan / int_1b8cef9c | type |
The High Queen | |
The Black Swan / int_1b8cef9c | comment |
The High Queen: Likely Odette's mother. Once she becomes married to Siegfried and both are crowned king and queen Odette likely will emulate this. On another note, Clothilde presents the world an image of it, but deep down she is anything but. | |
The Black Swan / int_1b8cef9c | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_1b8cef9c | |
The Black Swan / int_1dfbbf31 | type |
Heterosexual Life-Partners | |
The Black Swan / int_1dfbbf31 | comment |
Heterosexual Life-Partners: Siegfried and Benno, Odile and Odette in the end. | |
The Black Swan / int_1dfbbf31 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_1dfbbf31 | |
The Black Swan / int_20f689e9 | type |
Adaptational Villainy | |
The Black Swan / int_20f689e9 | comment |
Adaptational Villainy: Queen Clothilde, and initially Siegfried as well. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_20f689e9 | |
The Black Swan / int_22cf536c | type |
Chekhov's Gun | |
The Black Swan / int_22cf536c | comment |
Chekhov's Gun: Odile casually mentions at one point that wizards are generally warded against ordinary weapons but not gold or silver, and that she and her father carry little silver daggers for spells that require Blood Magic. | |
The Black Swan / int_22cf536c | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_22cf536c | |
The Black Swan / int_237569e4 | type |
Ironic Hell | |
The Black Swan / int_237569e4 | comment |
Ironic Hell: Averted for Clothilde, she gets the real thing, Fire and Brimstone Hell if the religious beliefs shown throughout the book are any indication. | |
The Black Swan / int_237569e4 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_237569e4 | |
The Black Swan / int_25208c30 | type |
Go Through Me | |
The Black Swan / int_25208c30 | comment |
Go Through Me: Three different occasions — Odette for the flock, Siegfried for Odette, and (awesomely) the flock for Odette and Siegfried. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_25208c30 | |
The Black Swan / int_275773bd | type |
Curse Escape Clause | |
The Black Swan / int_275773bd | comment |
Curse Escape Clause: If Odette can get a man to swear fidelity to her and remain true for a month, the curse will be broken. This is evidently a convenient lie by Von Rothbart — the swan 'curse' is simply a spell, and it ultimately dies with its caster. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_275773bd | |
The Black Swan / int_27ab0123 | type |
Offing the Offspring | |
The Black Swan / int_27ab0123 | comment |
On Siegfried's end of things, Queen Clothilde deliberately raised him so that he wouldn't be fit for the throne. She wants to continue her reign as regent, even if it means having him killed. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_27ab0123 | |
The Black Swan / int_28c1d543 | type |
Defrosting Ice Queen | |
The Black Swan / int_28c1d543 | comment |
Defrosting Ice Queen: Odile, though in terms of friendship, not love. She'd known the flock for years but had never bothered trying to get to know them (and had assumed they wouldn't have anything interesting to say anyway). | |
The Black Swan / int_28c1d543 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_28c1d543 | |
The Black Swan / int_2ae277ab | type |
Mauve Shirt | |
The Black Swan / int_2ae277ab | comment |
Mauve Shirt: A few of the "flock" get some characterization beyond Odette and Odile. The most prominent are the four "little swans" and Jeanette, one of the black swans. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_2ae277ab | |
The Black Swan / int_2fa6b075 | type |
God Save Us from the Queen! | |
The Black Swan / int_2fa6b075 | comment |
God Save Us from the Queen!: Clothilde. She wants to murder her son to keep the throne; unusually for this trope, she's otherwise a good ruler. This fits with the theme of the book which brings up the Madonna-Whore Complex (tastefully at that) and shows that things are never gonna be that clear cut. | |
The Black Swan / int_2fa6b075 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan / int_2fa6b075 | featureConfidence |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_2fa6b075 | |
The Black Swan / int_3126c34a | type |
Insufferable Genius | |
The Black Swan / int_3126c34a | comment |
Insufferable Genius: Siegfried (at his mother's careful encouragement), likes to lord his prowess in academic and athletic pursuits over others, leading him to alienate both old and young nobles. He grows out of it. | |
The Black Swan / int_3126c34a | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan / int_3126c34a | featureConfidence |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_3126c34a | |
The Black Swan / int_3517000d | type |
Mad Scientist | |
The Black Swan / int_3517000d | comment |
Mad Scientist: Von Rothbart is a fantasy example, making Odile the Mad Scientist's Beautiful Daughter. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_3517000d | |
The Black Swan / int_3545b7df | type |
Proper Lady | |
The Black Swan / int_3545b7df | comment |
Proper Lady: Von Rothbart demands it from his daughter. Lady Adelaide in Clothilde's court definitely is one. | |
The Black Swan / int_3545b7df | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_3545b7df | |
The Black Swan / int_35e2fb78 | type |
The Mirror Shows Your True Self | |
The Black Swan / int_35e2fb78 | comment |
The Mirror Shows Your True Self: Von Rothbart has no mirrors in his home because "mirrors show the truth." Used literally on Siegfried in his nightmares; though it was more the mirror shows what you can become if you don't shape up NOW. | |
The Black Swan / int_35e2fb78 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_35e2fb78 | |
The Black Swan / int_38047858 | type |
Squishy Wizard | |
The Black Swan / int_38047858 | comment |
Squishy Wizard: Averted by Von Rothbart, who according to Odile specifically disdains sorcerers who rely on their magic at the expense of mundane strength and combat skill. To that end, he's kept his body quite fit, is very adept with a sword, and has warded himself against most metals used in weapons although the one he neglects to does him in eventually. | |
The Black Swan / int_38047858 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_38047858 | |
The Black Swan / int_3974efe4 | type |
Requisite Royal Regalia | |
The Black Swan / int_3974efe4 | comment |
Requisite Royal Regalia: Odette always wears a coronet. As a swan, she wears a crown-shaped pendant. | |
The Black Swan / int_3974efe4 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_3974efe4 | |
The Black Swan / int_3aec9e5e | type |
Properly Paranoid | |
The Black Swan / int_3aec9e5e | comment |
It could quite possibly be a mixture of not liking competition and being Properly Paranoid on his part, as well as his general misogyny. | |
The Black Swan / int_3aec9e5e | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_3aec9e5e | |
The Black Swan / int_3ec27f76 | type |
Costume Porn | |
The Black Swan / int_3ec27f76 | comment |
Costume Porn: Though it's prevalent throughout the book (including for weapons!), Odile's ballgown is the moment. Think Pimped-Out Dress plus Domino Mask plus black swan wings plus jewels all over. (It's the page image). Odile is embarrassed at how over-the-top it is and notes that the only reason it's wearable at all is because it's magic. | |
The Black Swan / int_3ec27f76 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_3ec27f76 | |
The Black Swan / int_3f45f1e6 | type |
Adaptational Heroism | |
The Black Swan / int_3f45f1e6 | comment |
Adaptational Heroism: While the ballet can vary on how evil Odile is supposed to be, in this story she is unambiguously Odette's friend and ally by the time Rothbart uses her to spring the trap on Siegfried at the ball. She is ultimately the one who makes sure the good characters get a happy ending. | |
The Black Swan / int_3f45f1e6 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_3f45f1e6 | |
The Black Swan / int_40c57041 | type |
Manipulative Bastard | |
The Black Swan / int_40c57041 | comment |
Manipulative Bastard: Von Rothbart, Queen Clothilde, and Uwe. | |
The Black Swan / int_40c57041 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_40c57041 | |
The Black Swan / int_45e7465 | type |
Beautiful Tears | |
The Black Swan / int_45e7465 | comment |
Beautiful Tears: One of the freshly-caught swan maidens at the beginning of the book. Odile's inner monologue is full of acid comments about how it looks nice by moonlight but would be hideous in the full light of day. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_45e7465 | |
The Black Swan / int_4781adbb | type |
Jerk with a Heart of Gold | |
The Black Swan / int_4781adbb | comment |
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Siegfried after quite a bit of character development and a Heel Realization - he later graduates to a truly good guy, after meeting Odette. Benno at times hits this, mostly around Odile, whom he ends up falling for. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_4781adbb | |
The Black Swan / int_4814d132 | type |
Big Fancy House | |
The Black Swan / int_4814d132 | comment |
Big Fancy House: The Von Rothbart manor is rather luxurious, boasts a very large pond and extensive manicured gardens and also invisible and highly efficient serving spirits, that are implied to be demonic in nature and bound into servitude by Von Rothbart. They also spy on the inhabitants of the house. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_4814d132 | |
The Black Swan / int_486f44a1 | type |
Swans A-Swimming | |
The Black Swan / int_486f44a1 | comment |
Swans A-Swimming: Nearly every mention of the flock as swans includes a note about how lovely they are. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_486f44a1 | |
The Black Swan / int_4ef92d0b | type |
The Atoner | |
The Black Swan / int_4ef92d0b | comment |
The Atoner: Siegfried, after a nightmare makes him understand how badly he's acted — in general, not just to the gypsy girl, although she is the catalyst. He begins acting much more kindly towards men in the court and a commoner lover of his, worrying his mother who hoped he would never mature into a potential King. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_4ef92d0b | |
The Black Swan / int_50b05d30 | type |
Disproportionate Retribution | |
The Black Swan / int_50b05d30 | comment |
Disproportionate Retribution: As Odette herself points out, betrayal of a man doesn't warrant imprisonment for life. Not only is it excessive, it gives the swans no reason to repent and change their ways, as Von Rothbart ostensibly intends that they should. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_50b05d30 | |
The Black Swan / int_55d33017 | type |
Sheltered Aristocrat | |
The Black Swan / int_55d33017 | comment |
Sheltered Aristocrat: Siegfried in the beginning is very selfish and self-centered, largely through the efforts of his mother, who wants to make him unfit to rule. Later he starts to become a better person, much to the relief of the royal advisers and the others around him. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_55d33017 | |
The Black Swan / int_57df9056 | type |
Glamour | |
The Black Swan / int_57df9056 | comment |
Glamour: Siegfried sees Odile as Odette at the ball. She is unable to tell him otherwise. | |
The Black Swan / int_57df9056 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_57df9056 | |
The Black Swan / int_58204b95 | type |
Magic Knight | |
The Black Swan / int_58204b95 | comment |
Magic Knight: Von Rothbart can skillfully use both magic and his sword. He is aware of the squishy wizard trope, and consciously acted to avert it this way, along with warding himself against any damage from normal weapons. However, he remains unwarded against gold or silver, so he can use a small silver dagger for blood magic. It's what does him in at the end. | |
The Black Swan / int_58204b95 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan / int_58204b95 | featureConfidence |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_58204b95 | |
The Black Swan / int_60194b82 | type |
Spanner in the Works | |
The Black Swan / int_60194b82 | comment |
Spanner in the Works: The gypsy girl. Just think — if Seigfried hadn't encountered her, he truly wouldn't have been suitable for Odette...and thus Rothbart would have won simply because Seigfried wouldn't have truly loved Odette. | |
The Black Swan / int_60194b82 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_60194b82 | |
The Black Swan / int_615cad18 | type |
Outdoor Bath Peeping | |
The Black Swan / int_615cad18 | comment |
Outdoor Bath Peeping: Siegfried spies a gypsy girl bathing in a river. It doesn't end well. | |
The Black Swan / int_615cad18 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan / int_615cad18 | featureConfidence |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_615cad18 | |
The Black Swan / int_617f0563 | type |
Heel–Face Turn | |
The Black Swan / int_617f0563 | comment |
Heel–Face Turn: Both Odile and Siegfried. | |
The Black Swan / int_617f0563 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_617f0563 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_617f0563 | |
The Black Swan / int_6205f4e5 | type |
Courtly Love | |
The Black Swan / int_6205f4e5 | comment |
Courtly Love: Discussed between Siegfried, Benno, and Wolfgang. Benno is particularly convinced that high-class women are to be adored but not touched; neither he nor Siegfried hold lower-class girls in such esteem. They get better. | |
The Black Swan / int_6205f4e5 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan / int_6205f4e5 | featureConfidence |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_6205f4e5 | |
The Black Swan / int_63be4131 | type |
Pretty Boy | |
The Black Swan / int_63be4131 | comment |
Pretty Boy: Siegfried is very handsome, taking after his beautiful mother. Even after he stops actively pursuing women, plenty of them throw themselves at him. | |
The Black Swan / int_63be4131 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_63be4131 | |
The Black Swan / int_66dfe36a | type |
Missing Mom | |
The Black Swan / int_66dfe36a | comment |
Missing Mom: Odile has only a father. Losing his wife is hinted to be the Baron's Start of Darkness. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_66dfe36a | |
The Black Swan / int_6bda9a30 | type |
Meaningful Name | |
The Black Swan / int_6bda9a30 | comment |
Meaningful Name: Siegfried's best friend is called Benno and brings to mind Benvolio from Romeo and Juliet. Odette and Odile are variants of the same name. | |
The Black Swan / int_6bda9a30 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan / int_6bda9a30 | featureConfidence |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_6bda9a30 | |
The Black Swan / int_6d332aea | type |
Driven to Suicide | |
The Black Swan / int_6d332aea | comment |
Driven to Suicide: The gypsy girl. This has a lot of Fridge Brilliance to it, as the Roma have a strong culture around purity and for a Roma girl to lose her virginity — especially to an outsider — before marriage makes her "dirty" and "unclean" by their culture, not to mention an automatic outcast. Medieval culture in general frowned on this too of course. Odette and Siegfried attempt suicide near the climax when it appears that Von Rothbart will separate them. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_6d332aea | |
The Black Swan / int_733e007a | type |
Unwitting Pawn | |
The Black Swan / int_733e007a | comment |
Unwitting Pawn: Odile to her father, as she realizes tragically late in the story. Worse for her is the realization that she would have been a witting pawn if he'd asked because she was that desperate for her father's approval. | |
The Black Swan / int_733e007a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_733e007a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_733e007a | |
The Black Swan / int_7503483d | type |
Original Position Fallacy | |
The Black Swan / int_7503483d | comment |
Original Position Fallacy: Odile doesn't have any problem with her father keeping a 'flock' of captive women, thinking they deserve it for being disloyal to their fathers or husbands. She doesn't realize until the ball that her father thinks of her as just another swan: someone he can use and steal magic from as needed. | |
The Black Swan / int_7503483d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_7503483d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_7503483d | |
The Black Swan / int_75898be8 | type |
Tomboy Princess | |
The Black Swan / int_75898be8 | comment |
Tomboy Princess: Princess Honoria is an avid and expert hawker and hunter, though she also keeps up a front of being feminine and proper. | |
The Black Swan / int_75898be8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_75898be8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_75898be8 | |
The Black Swan / int_75d6bf40 | type |
Belligerent Sexual Tension | |
The Black Swan / int_75d6bf40 | comment |
Belligerent Sexual Tension: Odile and Benno have a lighter version of this, mostly thanks to their first meeting being... interesting. | |
The Black Swan / int_75d6bf40 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_75d6bf40 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_75d6bf40 | |
The Black Swan / int_767f84ea | type |
Does Not Like Men | |
The Black Swan / int_767f84ea | comment |
Does Not Like Men: Odile initially. At one point she feels a pang of utter hatred at men and all the wrongs they can do. She has good reasons for it. | |
The Black Swan / int_767f84ea | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_767f84ea | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_767f84ea | |
The Black Swan / int_780a078e | type |
Self-Made Orphan | |
The Black Swan / int_780a078e | comment |
Self-Made Orphan: Odile literally stabs Von Rothbart in the back, though he more than has it coming. | |
The Black Swan / int_780a078e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_780a078e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_780a078e | |
The Black Swan / int_78da8795 | type |
Dowry Dilemma | |
The Black Swan / int_78da8795 | comment |
Dowry Dilemma: Once the curse is broken, Odile realizes the former swan maidens will have difficulty finding husbands without any dower. She provides for their futures by dividing her father's fortune among them. | |
The Black Swan / int_78da8795 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_78da8795 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_78da8795 | |
The Black Swan / int_796a7bfc | type |
Twice-Told Tale | |
The Black Swan / int_796a7bfc | comment |
Twice-Told Tale: The base story is Swan Lake, told from the perspective of a character who is usually a minor villain. | |
The Black Swan / int_796a7bfc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_796a7bfc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_796a7bfc | |
The Black Swan / int_7ef728b1 | type |
Tsundere | |
The Black Swan / int_7ef728b1 | comment |
Tsundere: Odile has dere dere as her default mode, but Benno seems to bring out her tsun side. | |
The Black Swan / int_7ef728b1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_7ef728b1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_7ef728b1 | |
The Black Swan / int_80621707 | type |
Arranged Marriage | |
The Black Swan / int_80621707 | comment |
Arranged Marriage: Common, given that the time period is Renaissance...ish. Most of the characters are resigned to the idea as a fact of life, provided their intended mate isn't unbearable: the ones who most strenuously object are Odette (her father promised her mother on her deathbed that Odette could marry for love) and one of the Little Swans, who was going to be sent to an abusive older man. | |
The Black Swan / int_80621707 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_80621707 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_80621707 | |
The Black Swan / int_81ae2774 | type |
Evil Matriarch | |
The Black Swan / int_81ae2774 | comment |
Evil Matriarch: Clothilde full stop. She plans to kill Siegfried after he produces a heir and a spare so she can keep on ruling. | |
The Black Swan / int_81ae2774 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_81ae2774 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_81ae2774 | |
The Black Swan / int_8288929a | type |
Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves | |
The Black Swan / int_8288929a | comment |
Rewarded as a Traitor Deserves: The Baron's view of his magical punishments. It doesn't particularly matter to him whether it's real betrayal, treachery which he enticed or tricked the other person into, or just something that is betrayal from a certain point of view. | |
The Black Swan / int_8288929a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_8288929a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_8288929a | |
The Black Swan / int_82a4fadc | type |
Our Liches Are Different | |
The Black Swan / int_82a4fadc | comment |
Our Liches Are Different: Siegfried seems to think that the gypsy girl has come back from the dead as a lich to torment him even though he ordered that her corpse be staked and buried at a crossroads to prevent such a thing. | |
The Black Swan / int_82a4fadc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_82a4fadc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_82a4fadc | |
The Black Swan / int_8a9eb844 | type |
Perspective Flip | |
The Black Swan / int_8a9eb844 | comment |
Perspective Flip: This is Swan Lake from Odile's point of view. | |
The Black Swan / int_8a9eb844 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_8a9eb844 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_8a9eb844 | |
The Black Swan / int_8e04fdd7 | type |
Dragon with an Agenda | |
The Black Swan / int_8e04fdd7 | comment |
Dragon with an Agenda: Uwe secretly resents Queen Clothilde and has his eyes on the throne for himself. He doesn't get very far with this. | |
The Black Swan / int_8e04fdd7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_8e04fdd7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_8e04fdd7 | |
The Black Swan / int_8ed5c6e4 | type |
Asshole Victim | |
The Black Swan / int_8ed5c6e4 | comment |
Asshole Victim: The secondary villains of the book end up being killed by Baron von Rothbart's magic and few mourn once they realize what they were plotting. Nobody really mourns for Von Rothbart after Odile kills him either. | |
The Black Swan / int_8ed5c6e4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_8ed5c6e4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_8ed5c6e4 | |
The Black Swan / int_903e9dc9 | type |
Regent for Life | |
The Black Swan / int_903e9dc9 | comment |
Regent for Life: Clothilde's intentions. She'd prefer to be reigning queen, but time and custom won't allow it. | |
The Black Swan / int_903e9dc9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_903e9dc9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_903e9dc9 | |
The Black Swan / int_9053903 | type |
Ignored Epiphany | |
The Black Swan / int_9053903 | comment |
Ignored Epiphany: Odile begins to suspect early on that her father only cares about himself, but she dismisses it because she's been trained from an early age not to question him. She also believes it's not right for a daughter to think such things of her own father. | |
The Black Swan / int_9053903 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_9053903 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_9053903 | |
The Black Swan / int_9245d989 | type |
Sinister Minister | |
The Black Swan / int_9245d989 | comment |
Sinister Minister: Siegfried's priest, upon hearing that he accidentally raped a commoner and possibly drove her to suicide, assigns him a trivial penance and hints that she was asking for it. He is replaced near the end of the book by a Good Shepherd. | |
The Black Swan / int_9245d989 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_9245d989 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_9245d989 | |
The Black Swan / int_9521acf7 | type |
The Scourge of God | |
The Black Swan / int_9521acf7 | comment |
The Scourge of God: Baron von Rothbart sees himself as this, particularly to the swan maidens and Clothilde. | |
The Black Swan / int_9521acf7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_9521acf7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_9521acf7 | |
The Black Swan / int_952e4e06 | type |
Utility Magic | |
The Black Swan / int_952e4e06 | comment |
Utility Magic: Odile creates several spells which do nothing but basic housekeeping. This meets with the approval of her father, who himself uses enslaved spirits/demons as his household staff. | |
The Black Swan / int_952e4e06 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_952e4e06 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_952e4e06 | |
The Black Swan / int_9591377d | type |
Heel Realization | |
The Black Swan / int_9591377d | comment |
Heel Realization: Siegfried again. | |
The Black Swan / int_9591377d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_9591377d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_9591377d | |
The Black Swan / int_96144372 | type |
Aristocrats Are Evil | |
The Black Swan / int_96144372 | comment |
Aristocrats Are Evil: Baron von Rothbart. Unsurprisingly, Odile herself begs not to be called "Baroness" at the end. | |
The Black Swan / int_96144372 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_96144372 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_96144372 | |
The Black Swan / int_9830549e | type |
He-Man Woman Hater | |
The Black Swan / int_9830549e | comment |
He-Man Woman Hater: Von Rothbart. He believes all women (and most men) are naturally faithless. | |
The Black Swan / int_9830549e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_9830549e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_9830549e | |
The Black Swan / int_9858c391 | type |
Chick Magnet | |
The Black Swan / int_9858c391 | comment |
Chick Magnet: Siegfried, even after he stops actively pursuing women. | |
The Black Swan / int_9858c391 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_9858c391 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_9858c391 | |
The Black Swan / int_99298c71 | type |
Better to Die than Be Killed | |
The Black Swan / int_99298c71 | comment |
Better to Die than Be Killed: Odette and Siegfried attempt suicide rather than let Von Rothbart separate them. Odile killing Rothbart and then saving them allows them to have their happy ending. | |
The Black Swan / int_99298c71 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_99298c71 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_99298c71 | |
The Black Swan / int_99404851 | type |
Ladykiller in Love | |
The Black Swan / int_99404851 | comment |
Ladykiller in Love: Siegfried is quite the skirt chaser before he wises up (and even after he reforms, he still has no trouble attracting the ladies), but once he meets Odette, he has zero interest in anyone but her. | |
The Black Swan / int_99404851 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_99404851 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_99404851 | |
The Black Swan / int_9c8701b5 | type |
A Day in the Limelight | |
The Black Swan / int_9c8701b5 | comment |
It's unclear if Lackey intended it at the time, but the hawk-princess (also an enthusiastic falconer) is also Foreshadowing. Some time after the book (both in-universe and real time) Honoria received A Day in the Limelight in the short story "Wide Wings", where she body-swaps with a magical hawk (who did an earlier Body Swap herself, and states that she was the latest in a long line of girls to do so) in order to escape her arranged marriage. | |
The Black Swan / int_9c8701b5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_9c8701b5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_9c8701b5 | |
The Black Swan / int_9cbf01d6 | type |
Stay in the Kitchen | |
The Black Swan / int_9cbf01d6 | comment |
Stay in the Kitchen: Von Rothbart's attitude toward his daughter. He is always scornful when Odile attempts to master higher magics but praises her when she applies her magic to domestic pursuits. She is not amused when she realizes this. It could quite possibly be a mixture of not liking competition and being Properly Paranoid on his part, as well as his general misogyny. | |
The Black Swan / int_9cbf01d6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_9cbf01d6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_9cbf01d6 | |
The Black Swan / int_9de7a5d0 | type |
Fix Fic | |
The Black Swan / int_9de7a5d0 | comment |
Fix Fic: For Swan Lake. | |
The Black Swan / int_9de7a5d0 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_9de7a5d0 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_9de7a5d0 | |
The Black Swan / int_a1e2cedd | type |
Hooked Up Afterwards | |
The Black Swan / int_a1e2cedd | comment |
Hooked Up Afterwards: Broadly hinted for Odile and Benno. | |
The Black Swan / int_a1e2cedd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_a1e2cedd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_a1e2cedd | |
The Black Swan / int_a52f8fdf | type |
Bolt of Divine Retribution | |
The Black Swan / int_a52f8fdf | comment |
Bolt of Divine Retribution: This is how von Rothbart puts an end to Clothilde's wickedness. Her fellow plotter Uwe is caught in it as well but survives long enough to make a full confession and reveal everything. Had Clothilde survived, she would have been humiliated and lost everything she had worked for. Soon after that Odile does the same to him. | |
The Black Swan / int_a52f8fdf | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_a52f8fdf | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_a52f8fdf | |
The Black Swan / int_a7016efe | type |
Lonely Rich Kid | |
The Black Swan / int_a7016efe | comment |
Lonely Rich Kid: Odile before she starts befriending the swans. Siegfried is a subversion, he has a very good friend in Benno. Double subverted in that no one else really likes him until he shapes up. | |
The Black Swan / int_a7016efe | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
The Black Swan / int_a7016efe | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_a7016efe | |
The Black Swan / int_a70223 | type |
Karma Houdini | |
The Black Swan / int_a70223 | comment |
Karma Houdini: Arguably Siegfried; yes, he was haunted by guilt and shame for a while, but his victim killed herself, with only his priest knowing, so he gets no punishment (not that he likely would anyway, as a noble.) However, considering that it seems the gypsy girl got to become an angel and he was redeemed and made a point of becoming a better person, it's justified. | |
The Black Swan / int_a70223 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_a70223 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_a70223 | |
The Black Swan / int_a82ff02f | type |
Meet Cute | |
The Black Swan / int_a82ff02f | comment |
Meet Cute: Odile and Benno's first meeting Crosses the Line Twice into this. | |
The Black Swan / int_a82ff02f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_a82ff02f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_a82ff02f | |
The Black Swan / int_a8357dc2 | type |
No Woman's Land | |
The Black Swan / int_a8357dc2 | comment |
No Woman's Land: While high born women are treated with respect, they are still considered pawns and chattel by their fathers. Lower class women on the other hand are constantly disrespected and mistreated. Even Clothilde's scheming is largely prompted by her frustration that she would not be allowed to rule in her own right. The finale with Odile being brought onto the council suggests that Siegfried is working on fixing this, if only a little. | |
The Black Swan / int_a8357dc2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_a8357dc2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_a8357dc2 | |
The Black Swan / int_a8dcb1d7 | type |
Love at First Sight | |
The Black Swan / int_a8dcb1d7 | comment |
Love at First Sight: Siegfried for Odette, and Odette quickly follows him. Interestingly, one mostly sees this happening from Odile's (an outsider's) view, which actually enhances the heartwarming aspects of it. | |
The Black Swan / int_a8dcb1d7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_a8dcb1d7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_a8dcb1d7 | |
The Black Swan / int_aabe2fb | type |
Deliberate Values Dissonance | |
The Black Swan / int_aabe2fb | comment |
Deliberate Values Dissonance: The misogyny of the times is a key theme, Roma people are so insignificant that even a priest doesn't care if one is raped and later kills herself, and old men marrying young women isn't considered odd if the parties involved like each other. | |
The Black Swan / int_aabe2fb | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_aabe2fb | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_aabe2fb | |
The Black Swan / int_ac9cac61 | type |
Scare 'Em Straight | |
The Black Swan / int_ac9cac61 | comment |
Scare 'Em Straight: Siegfried's recurring nightmare about the gypsy girl. | |
The Black Swan / int_ac9cac61 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_ac9cac61 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_ac9cac61 | |
The Black Swan / int_acecb17d | type |
Chekhov's Skill | |
The Black Swan / int_acecb17d | comment |
Chekhov's Skill: Odile mentions learning how to swim early in the book, and how nobles rarely cultivate the skill. In the climax when Siegfried and Odette are drowning, Odile jumps in to save them with the aid of the peasant girls in the flock. | |
The Black Swan / int_acecb17d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_acecb17d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_acecb17d | |
The Black Swan / int_b04fdcc4 | type |
Loners Are Freaks | |
The Black Swan / int_b04fdcc4 | comment |
Loners Are Freaks: As Odile starts to spend more time enjoying the company of others and revels in what an incredible pleasure it is she starts to wonder why her father isolates himself from others. | |
The Black Swan / int_b04fdcc4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_b04fdcc4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_b04fdcc4 | |
The Black Swan / int_b097493c | type |
Madonna-Whore Complex | |
The Black Swan / int_b097493c | comment |
Madonna-Whore Complex: How most men in the story view women, especially Von Rothbart. The finale suggests people are working on fixing this, especially Siegfried due to his character development revolving around him learning respect for women. | |
The Black Swan / int_b097493c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_b097493c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_b097493c | |
The Black Swan / int_b0cd3349 | type |
Fridge Brilliance | |
The Black Swan / int_b0cd3349 | comment |
The gypsy girl. This has a lot of Fridge Brilliance to it, as the Roma have a strong culture around purity and for a Roma girl to lose her virginity — especially to an outsider — before marriage makes her "dirty" and "unclean" by their culture, not to mention an automatic outcast. Medieval culture in general frowned on this too of course. | |
The Black Swan / int_b0cd3349 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_b0cd3349 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_b0cd3349 | |
The Black Swan / int_b11ac9f5 | type |
Abusive Parents | |
The Black Swan / int_b11ac9f5 | comment |
Abusive Parents: Odile's father has been neglecting his daughter and undermining her self esteem all her life. He also steals her magical energy regularly and uses People Puppets magic on her to further his plans. Few people can blame Odile for killing him. On Siegfried's end of things, Queen Clothilde deliberately raised him so that he wouldn't be fit for the throne. She wants to continue her reign as regent, even if it means having him killed. | |
The Black Swan / int_b11ac9f5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_b11ac9f5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_b11ac9f5 | |
The Black Swan / int_b136ed26 | type |
Big Fancy Castle | |
The Black Swan / int_b136ed26 | comment |
Big Fancy Castle: Siegfried's castle is a few times larger than the large Von Rothbart manor. | |
The Black Swan / int_b136ed26 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_b136ed26 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_b136ed26 | |
The Black Swan / int_b42b7e7b | type |
Moral Myopia | |
The Black Swan / int_b42b7e7b | comment |
Moral Myopia: Just about everyone. The sympathetic characters eventually grow out of it as part of their Character Development. | |
The Black Swan / int_b42b7e7b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_b42b7e7b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_b42b7e7b | |
The Black Swan / int_b5fb096b | type |
People Puppets | |
The Black Swan / int_b5fb096b | comment |
People Puppets: Von Rothbart uses magic to take control of Odile at the ball so that she can seduce and distract Siegfried — or at least, not warn him. | |
The Black Swan / int_b5fb096b | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_b5fb096b | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_b5fb096b | |
The Black Swan / int_b8e3f20a | type |
Demoted to Extra | |
The Black Swan / int_b8e3f20a | comment |
Demoted to Extra: Played With. Odette is still an important character, but her own POV is never given. | |
The Black Swan / int_b8e3f20a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_b8e3f20a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_b8e3f20a | |
The Black Swan / int_b97a2fa7 | type |
Forced Transformation | |
The Black Swan / int_b97a2fa7 | comment |
Forced Transformation: Odette and the rest of the flock turn into swans due to a spell cast by Baron von Rothbart, in contrast to the voluntary shapeshifting of Von Rothbart and Odile. | |
The Black Swan / int_b97a2fa7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan / int_b97a2fa7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_b97a2fa7 | |
The Black Swan / int_bbfaa837 | type |
Knight Templar | |
The Black Swan / int_bbfaa837 | comment |
Knight Templar: Von Rothbart presents himself as the self-appointed punisher of faithless women, though in reality it's an excuse to amass power for himself and occasionally indulge his desire to Pay Evil unto Evil. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
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The Black Swan / int_bce728ca | type |
Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal | |
The Black Swan / int_bce728ca | comment |
Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal: At their fateful appearance at Clothide's ball, Von Rothbart puts his loving and obedient daughter under his direct control with magic, making her dance like a puppet to deceive Siegfried. She is shocked and traumatized, to say the least. At the end, when his true colors are out, he still tries to force her to aid him instead of just asking for help, and she severs their father-daughter bond for good. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_bce728ca | |
The Black Swan / int_c3478f1d | type |
Badass Bookworm | |
The Black Swan / int_c3478f1d | comment |
Badass Bookworm: Siegfried is an accomplished rider, hunter, and fighter, but he also knows enough Greek to read Aristophanes and other classical authors in the original. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_c3478f1d | |
The Black Swan / int_d148b019 | type |
Mundane Made Awesome | |
The Black Swan / int_d148b019 | comment |
Mundane Made Awesome: Early in the book, Odile decides to impress her father by cleaning the Great Hall. Since she does it with magic, it's a really cool scene. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_d148b019 | |
The Black Swan / int_d53d0080 | type |
Vampiric Draining | |
The Black Swan / int_d53d0080 | comment |
Vampiric Draining: Mages can steal energy from other people to power their spells. Von Rothbart has been doing it to his flock (without their consent) for years. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_d53d0080 | |
The Black Swan / int_da512040 | type |
Fantasy Contraception | |
The Black Swan / int_da512040 | comment |
Fantasy Contraception: At the end, Odile gives Odette two magical necklaces. One is a fertility charm, and the other is "the opposite." | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_da512040 | |
The Black Swan / int_dae3844e | type |
Hidden Disdain Reveal | |
The Black Swan / int_dae3844e | comment |
Hidden Disdain Reveal: Clothilde secretly despises her accomplice Uwe and plans to be rid of him once Siegfried is out of the way. At the ball, Odile has a chance to observe that Uwe hates Clothilde too. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_dae3844e | |
The Black Swan / int_db361e64 | type |
Princess Classic | |
The Black Swan / int_db361e64 | comment |
Princess Classic: Odette, with a touch of Rebellious Princess. | |
The Black Swan / int_db361e64 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan / int_db361e64 | featureConfidence |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_db361e64 | |
The Black Swan / int_dd6749e1 | type |
The Von Trope Family | |
The Black Swan / int_dd6749e1 | comment |
The Von Trope Family: Baron von Rothbart and his daughter, as in the original story. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_dd6749e1 | |
The Black Swan / int_e2ccee25 | type |
Animal Motifs | |
The Black Swan / int_e2ccee25 | comment |
Animal Motifs: The swan for Odette and Odile, an eagle-owl for Baron von Rothbart, and Princess Honoria (one of Siegfried's potential brides at the ball) is garbed as a hawk. It's unclear if Lackey intended it at the time, but the hawk-princess (also an enthusiastic falconer) is also Foreshadowing. Some time after the book (both in-universe and real time) Honoria received A Day in the Limelight in the short story "Wide Wings", where she body-swaps with a magical hawk (who did an earlier Body Swap herself, and states that she was the latest in a long line of girls to do so) in order to escape her arranged marriage. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_e2ccee25 | |
The Black Swan / int_e407c172 | type |
Silk Hiding Steel | |
The Black Swan / int_e407c172 | comment |
Silk Hiding Steel: Odette, Odile and a few of the princesses (Honoria and Evangeline in particular) that Siegfried is to choose from. In fact Clothilde considers Honoria too strong-willed to make a proper and biddable daughter-in-law. Also Clothilde herself is a darker aspect of it. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_e407c172 | |
The Black Swan / int_e44da6cc | type |
Makeup Is Evil | |
The Black Swan / int_e44da6cc | comment |
Makeup Is Evil: Downplayed. Clothilde's first scene shows all the makeup she uses to hide her aging face, and she is one of the main antagonists. However, this isn't a sign of vanity or deception, just the grim necessity of being an aging woman in a world where women are only valued for their beauty. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_e44da6cc | |
The Black Swan / int_e45ce099 | type |
The Wise Prince | |
The Black Swan / int_e45ce099 | comment |
The Wise Prince: By the end of the book Siegfried can be considered this. | |
The Black Swan / int_e45ce099 | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_e45ce099 | |
The Black Swan / int_e596f27b | type |
Star-Crossed Lovers | |
The Black Swan / int_e596f27b | comment |
Star-Crossed Lovers: It's only thanks to Odile's intervention that Siegfried and Odette manage to avert this trope and get their happy ending. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_e596f27b | |
The Black Swan / int_e9e35e8f | type |
Exact Words | |
The Black Swan / int_e9e35e8f | comment |
Exact Words: Siegfried swears to marry the woman who is standing next to him and in specific Rothbart's daughter. Whoops. | |
The Black Swan / int_e9e35e8f | featureApplicability |
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The Black Swan / int_e9e35e8f | |
The Black Swan / int_eb002293 | type |
Shrinking Violet | |
The Black Swan / int_eb002293 | comment |
Shrinking Violet: While Odile is quite composed and witty, when she goes to the fete that Clothilde throws she feels very embarrassed and self-conscious because she has grown up in isolation with just her father and the flock as company, and is not used to having so much attention on her. Her over-the-top costume did not help either. This is also Von Rothbart's paper-thin excuse to have all the mirrors covered at the fete. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_eb002293 | |
The Black Swan / int_eca6c7f9 | type |
Gratuitous Princess | |
The Black Swan / int_eca6c7f9 | comment |
Gratuitous Princess: Not only Odette, but six other princesses as bridal candidates for Siegfried. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_eca6c7f9 | |
The Black Swan / int_ed43de19 | type |
Hunting "Accident" | |
The Black Swan / int_ed43de19 | comment |
Hunting "Accident": Subverted with Clothilde's husband, who had one of these genuinely, although she is far from unhappy about it. She tries to encourage her son's hunting pursuits in the hopes that he'll have one too, being aware that any attempt to arrange one would look suspicious. | |
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The Black Swan / int_ed43de19 | |
The Black Swan / int_efe04722 | type |
Dances and Balls | |
The Black Swan / int_efe04722 | comment |
Dances and Balls: The climax begins at one of these. | |
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The Black Swan / int_efe04722 | |
The Black Swan / int_eff83d77 | type |
Mundane Utility | |
The Black Swan / int_eff83d77 | comment |
Mundane Utility: Odile frequently uses her magic to make life more comfortable and convenient, if only because it's the one use of her talents that seems to please her father. Aside from the aforementioned cleaning of the Great Hall, she keeps the floors clean, the clothing washed, and repeatedly uses small magics to great effect to make everyone comfortable as she and the flock travel to Siegfried's kingdom. Her father does the same on a larger scale, enslaving the Silent Ones (the invisible servants) just so they can make his life easier. Of course, he never has to worry about running low on magical energy since he can take it from his daughter and the flock. | |
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The Black Swan / int_eff83d77 | |
The Black Swan / int_f10d3363 | type |
Distracted by the Sexy | |
The Black Swan / int_f10d3363 | comment |
Distracted by the Sexy: Even after character development, Siegfried's good sense can be hijacked by a beautiful woman. Clothilde employs this to great effect when she announces that he's about to turn 18 and needs to get married, which distracts him so much that he never considers that it's time for her to get off the throne so he can be King. | |
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The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Black Swan / int_f10d3363 | |
The Black Swan / int_f1ac9897 | type |
Female Misogynist | |
The Black Swan / int_f1ac9897 | comment |
Female Misogynist: Odile, as you'd expect for a woman who so closely identifies with her heavily misogynistic father. She firmly believes that women are treacherous and fickle by nature (and she's the rare exception to the rule). It takes her quite a while to grow out of it. Clothilde is the same, often sneering and looking down at other women. Unlike Odile, Clothilde never changes her stance. | |
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The Black Swan / int_f1ac9897 | |
The Black Swan / int_f9671119 | type |
Death Equals Redemption | |
The Black Swan / int_f9671119 | comment |
Death Equals Redemption: Uwe uses his dying breaths to confess to everything he and Queen Clothilde did. Justified given the times: Uwe knew he was dying and wanted to avoid punishment in the afterlife with a Deathbed Confession. | |
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The Black Swan / int_name | type |
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The Black Swan / int_name | comment |
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The Black Swan |
The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
Beautiful Tears / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
Dowry Dilemma / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
Female Misogynist / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
Hunting "Accident" / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
Mundangerous / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
Not Like Other Girls / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
Outdoor Bath Peeping / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
People Puppets / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
Real Women Don't Wear Dresses / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
Straw Misogynist / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
Swans A-Swimming / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Scourge of God / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
The Wrongful Heir to the Throne / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
Twice-Told Tale / int_8d26774c | |
The Black Swan | hasFeature |
Utility Magic / int_8d26774c |
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