Trope Talk: Pure Of Heart

did somebody say "morality is complicated"

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

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.

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

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

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."

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.

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

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

one of the coolest uses of the "pure of heart" trope is in my opinion the "terrifyingly innocent" character, which doubles down on the idea that kids can do some pretty messed up stuff. If an extremely naive character perceives killing as fun, you can create a perfectly normal-looking child who will torture his victims to death while technically remaining "pure".

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.

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.

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

I’m reminded of a TFS quote: “There you stand, the good man doing nothing. And while Evil triumphs, and your rigid pacifism crumbles into bloodstained dust, the only victory afforded to you is that you stuck true to your guns”

"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

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.”

Pure of heart: I won’t kill you that goes against everything I stand for, instead I will imprison you in this solitary prison of torture for 1,000 years. Audience: wait isn’t that worse??

"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.

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.

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.