History DamselInDistress / Literature

* [[spoiler: Ginny Weasley]] in ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheChamberOfSecrets'', although no one realizes it until near the end. [[spoiler:And she did attempt to save herself by throwing the diary away first, stealing it back only because she was afraid of being outed]].

* In Creator/PoulAnderson's "A World Called Maanerek", Sonna is captured with Torrek. While Torrek is turned back to Wanen by removing his new memories and restoring his old ones, the ship decides to use Sonna as a "tension release" by lobomotizing her and letting the men rape her. [[spoiler:Wanen, his memories not so gone as they thought, rescues her before his own escape.]]

* At least as old as Literature/TheBible itself, as shown by the case of Sarah, daughter of Raguel, saved by Tobias with Raphael's help.

* Defied way back in ''1495'' in Matteo Boiardo's epic ''Orlando innamorato''. Princess Angelica of Cathay (China) is distressed by the Muslim Tartars at the city of Albracca. Riding to her rescue are the French, the Indians, and several other Muslim armies including King [[ChewToy Sacripante]] of Circassia. She thinks all this isn't good enough and escapes to find the missing Christian champion Orlando before returning to be rescued.
* Constance Bonacieux in ''Literature/TheThreeMusketeers''.
* Wendy Darling, Tinker Bell and Tiger Lily (who is an interesting case, as she is also PrettyPrincessPowerhouse) to ''Literature/PeterPan''.

* Dimity Plumleigh-Teinmort in Literature/TheFinishingSchoolSeries often ends in this role due to being AfraidOfBlood and {{Fainting}} tendencies. Despite being in training to become a spy.
* ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'': Bella Swan is ineffectual against a group of rapists and Edward must swoop in to save her. Prior to this, Edward had to save her from a careening truck. Later in the book, she is ineffectual against a vampire, and Edward and his family must swoop in to save her. Subsequent books have the same formula, right down to warring factions -- werewolves and vampires -- putting aside their differences to save Bella. Bella herself is absolutely useless in a fight until she herself gets cool powers.
** Like [[Literature/TheSookieStackhouseMysteries Sookie Stackhouse]] Bella is actually the only human with enough bad luck to attract both werewolves and vampires (and various deadly situations) that are impossible to kill or harm unless by other supernatural creatures. One of the reasons of her insistence to become a vampire (aside from spending eternity with her beloved Edward) is to avert this trope. Like she says in the first book: "I can't always be Lois Lane. I want to be Superman, too."
** In the movie at least, Bella attempts to fight back against the rapists and maces the vampire before running for it. While neither is winning a battle, it's at least some form of self-preservation.
** Let's just say that it's realistic insofar as, a lot of the time, Bella could not realistically be expected to fight off vampires and so on. Everyone else's willingness to sacrifice themselves for her, on the other hand . . .
* Though reasonably competent, actor Lee Nicholas (in Tanya Huff's ''Literature/SmokeAndShadows'' series) seems to have an attraction for evil forces that want to possess his body, hold him hostage, and otherwise put him in peril--perhaps because the series protagonist has a crush on him. At one point, Lee [[LampshadeHanging actually says]] that he's "getting tired of being the designated damsel in distress".
* Buttercup in ''Literature/ThePrincessBride'' spends almost the entire story waiting for her true love to come save her. She's in this mess because she gave herself up to save him -- and he ''did'' promise he'd always come for her. Of course, ''The Princess Bride'' is an AffectionateParody of swashbuckling adventure stories.
* In ''Literature/HouseOfLeaves'', Pelafina writes in her letters that she is this character, and that her son has to save her from being locked up in the mental institution.
* Esmeralda in ''Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame''. Her mere presence is the catalyst for all the action in the book. Victor Hugo kind of rips into this trope by having Esmeralda pine for her knight in shining armor, who eventually does nothing to save her from execution. Had Esmeralda been a little more proactive about her own fate, maybe things would have worked out better for her.
* Christine in ''Phantom of the Opera''... sorta kinda.
** It's complicated, involving a StalkerWithACrush and a ScarpiaUltimatum.
* In ''Literature/ThePhantomTollbooth'', Milo's quest rapidly turns into one to rescue the princesses Rhyme and Reason from the Castle in the Air. Once Milo reached them, there was a huge group of very PO'd monsters racing towards them, so running was the only option any of them had.
* In ''Literature/TheMoomins'', Snork Maiden, and being so pathetic has made her the least popular character.
** She often does it on purpose, since she fancies herself as a romantic heroine. She can be quite undistressed when she ''wants'' to.
* In John Barnes's ''Literature/OneForTheMorningGlory'', Sylvie the goblin's prisoner.
* Elayne, Egwene and Nynaeve from the earlier books of ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime''. They have a strange ability to get shielded, tied up and locked away only to be rescued by someone, though they did manage to get themselves away from the Seanchan in Book 2. Plus the time they actually berated Mat for saving them. They do get called on that later on by Birgitte however, who tore each of them a verbal new one and forced them to apologize. They'd also broken themselves out of there when Mat showed up.
* In Creator/JamesThurber's ''Literature/The13Clocks'', the Princess Saralinda is kept in her EvilUncle's castle. [[spoiler:In fact, she is [[ChangelingFantasy not his niece]], and he intends to force her to marry him once he is free of a curse.]]
* Although Creator/TerryPratchett insists he's unable to write characters like this, Ginger in ''Discworld/MovingPictures'' spends her short-lived Holy Wood film career ''playing the role'' of one Distressed Damsel after another.
** He's clearly forgotten Violet Botell in ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}''. Susan does lampshade it by berating her in her mind for her intentionally helpless behaviour.
* ''Literature/TheSilmarillion'':
** Played straight with both Turin's loves in "The Children of Hurin", Finduilas, killed by the orcs, and Niënor Níniel (when Glaurung wipes her memories). Sadly things end badly for her, as she only realizes who she is after [[BrotherSisterIncest Turin]] has [[SurpriseIncest impregnated her]], at which she kills herself.
** Zigzagged by Lúthien: when imprisoned by her father, she frees herself. Although she is then captured a second time and needs some help to escape, she then proceeds to almost single-handedly free her lover Beren (and a number of other prisoners) from Sauron -- yes, that [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Sauron]]. Later in Angband [[GodOfEvil Morgoth]] possibly intends to rape her, but she sends him to sleep. When the forces of Angband come after her and Beren, they are saved by eagles.
** Idril, during the Fall of Gondolin, as her treacherous cousin Maeglin, who is in [[KissingCousins love with her]] despite first-cousin marriages being illegal among Elves, tries to take her (it is implied he intends to basically rape her) and murder her son Earendil. However Idril's husband Tuor throws Maeglin off the walls of Gondolin.
** Celebrían, the wife of Elrond, is captured and possibly raped by the orcs. She was rescued by her sons, but left Middle-Earth.
** Played with by Eowyn in "The Lord of the Rings". She shows herself to be very capable, disguising herself as a man and avenging her uncle's death by defeating the Witch-King of Angmar, one of the main villains of the Legendarium. However his breath leaves her dying, and it takes Aragorn to heal her.

* Literature/JudgeDee's cases often include at least one of these young ladies; ranging from vagabond thieves, to reluctant prostitutes to innocent young ladies of gentle birth. However they are seldom ''quite'' helpless or useless.
* Wilkie Collins' Victorian novel ''[[WomanInWhite The Woman in White]]'' (1860) features the character Laura Glyde (nee Fairlie), who is the embodiment of this trope. She's got the emotional strength of a Kleenex.
** The interesting part is that [[PluckyGirl Marian Halcombe]], her half sister, is an amazingly strong character for a [[VictorianLondon Victorian]] novel, almost an ExtraordinarilyEmpoweredGirl by the standards of the time. While Laura is the epitome of blushing Victorian beauty and fragility, Marian is described as "ugly", even having a slight mustache on her upper lip. Maybe this is a case of an Ugly TomboyAndGirlyGirl.

* Diana Mayo, heroine of ''Literature/TheSheik''. She's kidnapped by a rival Sheik, forcing the titular character to rescue her, during which he realizes he's fallen in love with her.
* In the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' series, Laurana becomes this after being captured by her ArchEnemy Kitiara and having her love interest Tanis Half-Elven try to rescue her. Played with in that [[spoiler: Laurana no longer trusts Tanis as he has been DatingCatwoman, refuses his help and ends up breaking free on her own. Though she does end up needing Tanis's help to complete her escape.]]

* [[spoiler: Jez]] is kidnapped at the beginning of the second ''Literature/KingdomKeepers'' book, setting the plot in motion.
* Inverted in ''Literature/JourneyToTheWest'' where Sanzang, the only human of the group, and a man to boot, is often kidnapped by the newly introduced BigBad of each chapter.
* In Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip's ''Literature/TheBookOfAtrixWolfe'', Saro is trapped in a spell, rendered TheSpeechless, and [[FallenPrincess ends up]] a SculleryMaid in CinderellaCircumstances.
* In Andy Hoare's Literature/WhiteScars novel ''Hunt for Voldorius'', the Bloodtide tells the White Scars and Raven Guard that Malya is being subjected to being made a new Bloodtide, and begs them to rescue her.

* Literature/ConanTheBarbarian. Very often
** The queen in "Literature/AWitchShallBeBorn"
** Yasmina In "Literature/ThePeopleOfTheBlackCircle"
** Sancha in "Literature/ThePoolOfTheBlackOne". ([[MenAreTheExpendableGender The captured male is drowned to show Conan what they are up to]].)
** Octavia in "Literature/TheDevilInIron". She escapes slavery on her own account, but she stumbles into worse.
** Natala in "Literature/TheSlitheringShadow"
** Livia in "Literature/TheValeOfLostWomen"
** Muriela in "Literature/JewelsOfGwahlur"
** Olivia in "Literature/ShadowsInTheMoonlight"
* In ''Black Beauty'', Lady Anne.
* Averted in ''Literature/{{Komarr}}'', by Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold. Ekaterin Vorsoisson [[spoiler:destroys the villains' secret weapon.]]
* Tenar to Ged in ''Literature/TheTombsOfAtuan''. (It can be argued that Ged is also a DistressedDude to her.)
* In the first book of the Literature/TimeScout series, Margo ends up in a 16th century Portuguese prison. In the third, Birgitta is saved by Skeeter from a beating. In the fourth, Birgitta is saved from gang rape and murder. In the third and fourth, Ianira is in the hands of UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper.
* Lampshaded in Literature/SoonIWillBeInvincible, where it is noted the Corefire has the requisite "reporter girlfriend who always needed rescuing."
* Averted most of the time by Jenna Heap in ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'', as she usually manages to get safe by herself.
* In Creator/LMMontgomery's ''Literature/TheBlueCastle'', Valancy foolishly goes to a dance where drunken men start to harrass her. Barney Snaith arrives in time. The main character in ''Literature/AnneOfGreenGables'' is saved by [[spoiler:her future husband]] from a catastrophe resulting from her attempt at impersonating Elaine the Lily of Astolat from Tennyson's poem. HilarityEnsues.

* Amy Goodenough in the ''Literature/YoungBond'' novel ''Literature/BloodFever'', who is kidnapped by pirates for ransom. She ends being taken from them by the novel's BigBad, who plans to make her his wife.
* Agnes and Antonia both get their chance to fill this roll in ''Literature/TheMonk''. One will live to be rescued, one will not.
* In Creator/PoulAnderson's "A World Called Maanerek", Sonna is captured with Torrek. While Torrek is turned back to Wanen by removing his new memories and restoring his old ones, the ship decides to use Sonna as a "tension release" by lobomotizing her and letting the men rape her. [[spoiler:Wanen, his memories not so gone as they thought, rescues her before his own escape.]]
* Christine becomes one in ''Literature/BrideOfTheRatGod'' after she wears an ArtifactOfDeath that is used as a prop in one of her films.
* In ''Literature/{{Tinker}}'', Tinker realizes why this is more common than DistressedDude: there is no ''elegant'' way for a grown woman to lug about an injured man.
* Also by Wen Spencer, the cover to ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'' features a man carrying a limp woman. Said cover is [[CoversAlwaysLie misleading]]; that scene does happen, when Odelia passes out in a stream after being beaten by attackers and Jerin fishes her out, but the women of that universe, Odelia included, are anything but neutral, and that is really the only case in the book where a woman needs to be rescued. Unless you count the [[spoiler: fact that Jerin helps Cira escape by picking the locks of her handcuffs. She is only in trouble because she tried to rescue him, so it is not a straight example of distressed damsel]]
* In Creator/SarahAHoyt's ''Literature/DarkshipThieves'', Thena in the opening.
* Parodied in ''Literature/TheGoodTheBadAndTheMediochre'', where dragons are noted to have a tendency to kidnap virgin princesses. Just because.
* In Creator/AndreNorton's ''Literature/IceCrown'', Roane stumbles on the place where kidnappers bring Princess Ludorica.
* In Creator/AndreNorton's ''Literature/StormOverWarlock'', Shann leaps to the aid of a Wyvern when she loses control of the forktail.
** In ''Literature/OrdealInOtherwhere'', Charis poses as this, driven mad by the contact with the Wyverns, to infiltrate the Company men.

* Played with a few times in Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire.

* In ''Literature/FrostflowerAndThorn'' [[spoiler:Frostflower]] ends up needing rescue after being [[spoiler:hung up for execution, though without fatal injury since the farmer-priest Maldron still hoped she would recant and be his SexSlave.]]
* ''Literature/AMagesPower'': Princess Kasile is kidnapped during a joust, but this does not (immediately) provoke a RescueArc. The main characters are mercenaries, and their leader insists that this event doesn't concern them unless they are hired to rescue her. Eric decides to go on his own time, along with his fellow mercenary, Culmus, who is also the princess' [[CourtlyLove secret boyfriend]].
* Abby Badica when captured by Strigoi in ''Literature/VampireAcademy''. She is a cute, helpless, royal Moroi who breaks down in the face of danger. Every one of her rescuers is tempted to leave the battle and comfort it.
* ''Literature/{{Archvillain}}'': Maira needs to be rescued at least once per book.
* In the second [[Literature/TheBourneSeries Bourne novel]], the people manipulating Bourne [[IHaveYourWife have kidnapped his wife]] to force him to do their bidding. Only she's not Suzie Homemaker, she's a high level government official in her own right, accustomed to traveling the world and fighting communism with the power of economics on behalf of the Canadian government. She sows confusion among the enemy, then walks out the front door into the night.
* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Annie Cresta. [[spoiler:She's captured and held prisoner by the Capitol at the end of ''Catching Fire'', but she is rescued in ''Mockingjay.'']]
* In Literature/TheFlyingBoy, Amy Simpson was kidnapped by Dr. Paigne as bait for Jeremy Floeter.

* Wendy Darling, Tinker Bell and Tiger Lily (who is an interesting case, as she is also PrettyPrincessPowerhouse) to ''PeterPan''.

* In ''TheMoomins'', Snork Maiden, and being so pathetic has made her the least popular character.

* In Andy Hoare's WhiteScars novel ''Hunt for Voldorius'', the Bloodtide tells the White Scars and Raven Guard that Malya is being subjected to being made a new Bloodtide, and begs them to rescue her.

* In ''ThePhantomTollbooth'', Milo's quest rapidly turns into one to rescue the princesses Rhyme and Reason from the Castle in the Air. Once Milo reached them, there was a huge group of very PO'd monsters racing towards them, so running was the only option any of them had.

* Wendy Darling, Tinker Bell and Tiger Lily (who is an interesting case, as she is also BadassPrincess) to ''PeterPan''.

* In Creator/AndreNorton's ''Storm over Literature/{{Warlock}}'', Shann leaps to the aid of a Wyvern when she loses control of the forktail.
** In ''Ordeal In Otherwhere'', Charis poses as this, driven mad by the contact with the Wyverns, to infiltrate the Company men.

* In Creator/PatriciaAMcKillip's ''The Book of Atrix Wolfe'', Saro is trapped in a spell, rendered TheSpeechless, and [[FallenPrincess ends up]] a SculleryMaid in CinderellaCircumstances.

* Aouda in Verne's ''AroundTheWorldInEightyDays''. She then shows more than a glimpse of an ActionGirl, though.

* ConanTheBarbarian. Very often

* [[spoiler: Jez]] is kidnapped at the beginning of the second ''KingdomKeepers'' book, setting the plot in motion.

* Played with a few times in ASongOfIceAndFire.

* ''[[Literature/AMagesPower A Mage's Power]]'': Princess Kasile is kidnapped during a joust, but this does not (immediately) provoke a RescueArc. The main characters are mercenaries, and their leader insists that this event doesn't concern them unless they are hired to rescue her. Eric decides to go on his own time, along with his fellow mercenary, Culmus, who is also the princess' [[CourtlyLove secret boyfriend]].

* Averted in ''Komarr'', by LoisMcMasterBujold. Ekaterin Vorsoisson [[spoiler: destroys the villains' secret weapon.]]

* Tenar to Ged in ''Literature/EarthseaTrilogy''. (It can be argued that Ged is also a DistressedDude to her.)

* In AndreNorton's ''Literature/IceCrown'', Roane stumbles on the place where kidnappers bring Princess Ludorica.
* In AndreNorton's ''Storm over Literature/{{Warlock}}'', Shann leaps to the aid of a Wyvern when she loses control of the forktail.

** Played straight with Finduilas, killed by the orcs, Niënor Níniel (when Glaurung wipes her memories off).
** Zigzagged by Lúthien: when imprisoned by her father, she frees herself. Although she is then captured a second time and needs some help to escape, she then proceeds to almost single-handedly free her lover Beren (and a number of other prisoners) from Sauron -- yes, that [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings Sauron]].
** Celebrían, the wife of Elrond, is captured and possibly raped by the orcs.

** Like [[TheSookieStackhouseMysteries Sookie Stackhouse]] Bella is actually the only human with enough bad luck to attract both werewolves and vampires (and various deadly situations) that are impossible to kill or harm unless by other supernatural creatures. One of the reasons of her insistence to become a vampire (aside from spending eternity with her beloved Edward) is to avert this trope. Like she says in the first book: "I can't always be Lois Lane. I want to be Superman, too."

* In vWenSpencer's ''Endless Blue'', Paige is captured by Mary's Landing and Turk must come to her rescue. [[spoiler:Also Eraphie did not flee of her own will but was captured by Hardin; Mikhail comes to her rescue as soon as that becomes clear.]]

* In WenSpencer's ''Literature/{{Tinker}}'', Tinker realizes why this is more common than DistressedDude: there is no ''elegant'' way for a grown woman to lug about an injured man.

* JudgeDee's cases often include at least one of these young ladies; ranging from vagabond thieves, to reluctant prostitutes to innocent young ladies of gentle birth. However they are seldom ''quite'' helpless or useless.

* In WenSpencer's ''Endless Blue'', Paige is captured by Mary's Landing and Turk must come to her rescue. [[spoiler:Also Eraphie did not flee of her own will but was captured by Hardin; Mikhail comes to her rescue as soon as that becomes clear.]]

* In the ''{{Dragonlance}}'' series, Laurana becomes this after being captured by her ArchEnemy Kitiara and having her love interest Tanis Half-Elven try to rescue her. Played with in that [[spoiler: Laurana no longer trusts Tanis as he has been DatingCatwoman, refuses his help and ends up breaking free on her own. Though she does end up needing Tanis's help to complete her escape.]]

* In ''HouseOfLeaves'', Pelafina writes in her letters that she is this character, and that her son has to save her from being locked up in the mental institution.

* Esmeralda in ''Notre-Dame de Paris''. Her mere presence is the catalyst for all the action in the book. Victor Hugo kind of rips into this trope by having Esmeralda pine for her knight in shining armor, only to be hanged by him in the end. Had Esmeralda been a little more proactive about her own fate, maybe things would have worked out better for her.

* ''Literature/{{Archvillain}}: Maira needs to be rescued at least once per book.