Follow TV Tropes

Following

History Literature / TheDiscreetPrincess

Go To

OR

Added: 446

Changed: 495

Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


''L'Adroite Princesse ou les Aventures de Finette''(''[[https://archive.org/details/fisherchapbook724 The Discreet princess, or The adventures of Finetta]]'' - Finette in other translations) is a 1696 French fairy tale by Marie-Jeanne L'Héritier de Villandon (1664-1734), Creator/CharlesPerrault's niece. The story tells of a king who went to fight in [[UsefulNotes/TheCrusades a Crusade]], leaving behind his three daughters, locked in a tower.

to:

[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ladroite_princesse.jpg]]

''L'Adroite Princesse ou les Aventures de Finette''(''[[https://archive.Finette'' (''[[https://archive.org/details/fisherchapbook724 The Discreet princess, or The adventures of Finetta]]'' - Finette in other translations) is a 1696 French fairy tale by Marie-Jeanne L'Héritier de Villandon (1664-1734), Creator/CharlesPerrault's niece. The story tells of a king who went to fight in [[UsefulNotes/TheCrusades a Crusade]], leaving behind his three daughters, locked in a tower.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


* {{Bowdlerise}}: One variant of the tale has the prince beating up the two older princesses instead of seducing them.

to:

* {{Bowdlerise}}: One variant of the tale has the prince beating up the two older princesses instead of seducing them. This arguably makes the storyline so much worse, since while having a daughter effectively LockedAwayInAMonastery would still be somewhat understandable for a modern reader in case of seduction and pregnancy, doing the same for simply letting a man (dressed as a female beggar, no less) into the house would be too much even by 17th century standards.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None


The daughters are called (no real names are known) Nonchalante (Dronilla; the lazy one), Babillarde (The Babbler; or Pratilla), and Finette. Each one is given a glass distaff which is enchanted to break apart as soon as the princess acts dishonorably.

to:

The daughters are called (no real names are known) Nonchalante (Dronilla; the [[LazyBum lazy one), one]]), Babillarde (The Babbler; ([[MotorMouth The Babbler]]; or Pratilla), and Finette. Each one is given a glass distaff which is enchanted to break apart as soon as the princess acts dishonorably.



* FaceDeathWithDignity: Finette plays the part when Rich-Craft intends to kill her. [[spoiler:It makes so angry that he grows careless enough for her to turn the tables.]]

to:

* FaceDeathWithDignity: Finette plays the part when Rich-Craft intends to kill her. [[spoiler:It makes him so angry that he grows careless enough for her to turn the tables.]]
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None

Added DiffLines:

''L'Adroite Princesse ou les Aventures de Finette''(''[[https://archive.org/details/fisherchapbook724 The Discreet princess, or The adventures of Finetta]]'' - Finette in other translations) is a 1696 French fairy tale by Marie-Jeanne L'Héritier de Villandon (1664-1734), Creator/CharlesPerrault's niece. The story tells of a king who went to fight in [[UsefulNotes/TheCrusades a Crusade]], leaving behind his three daughters, locked in a tower.

The daughters are called (no real names are known) Nonchalante (Dronilla; the lazy one), Babillarde (The Babbler; or Pratilla), and Finette. Each one is given a glass distaff which is enchanted to break apart as soon as the princess acts dishonorably.

An evil prince from a neighboring country, called Riche-Cautèle (Rich-Craft), has a grudge against the royal family, so he decides to strike against them. And off he sets…

----
!! Tropes found in ''The Discreet Princess'' include:
* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: Nobody likes Rich-Craft except for his brother and father.
* AndThereWasMuchRejoicing: Once the people learn Rich-Craft is dying and Bel-à-Voir shall inherit the throne.
* BerserkButton: Rich-Craft seems to care less about his injuries, and more about being outdone by Finette.
*{{Bowdlerise}}: One variant of the tale has the prince beating up the two older princesses instead of seducing them.
* TheCasanova: Seducing two princesses in as many days.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: Rich-Craft attempts to kill Finette by putting her in a barrel filled with blades and rolling it down a mountain. [[spoiler:She manages to push him in instead.]]
* DisguisedInDrag: How Rich-Craft manages to get into the tower.
* DownTheDrain: How Finette gets rid of Rich-Craft the first time.
* TheEvilPrince: Rich-Craft.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: Finette plays the part when Rich-Craft intends to kill her. [[spoiler:It makes so angry that he grows careless enough for her to turn the tables.]]
* GirlInTheTower: For their own good, in this case. Doesn't help that much.
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: [[spoiler:Rich-Craft intends to roll Finette down a mountain in a barrel full of blades. She pushes him in instead.]]
* LastRequest: Rich-Craft asks his brother [[spoiler:to marry Finette and kill her]]
* LazyBum: Dronilla.
* TheManBehindTheMan: Rich-Craft is the one behind his father.
* MotorMouth: Pratilla.
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Bel-à-Voir, once he [[spoiler:stabs Finette’s SleepingDummy]].
* OnlyKnownByTheirNickname: Not a single character’s real name is known.
* PerfectlyArrangedMarriage: Arranged by the villain, no less.
* PrinceCharming: Bel-à-Voir.
* ProperlyParanoid: Finette. In fact, that’s one of the two explicitely stated Aesops in the story.
* SleepingDummy: Finette uses one [[spoiler:suspecting (correctly) that Bel-à-Voir might have ulterior motives in the marriage.]]
* SweetPollyOliver: Finette, when [[spoiler:smuggling her nephews to their father]]
* TooDumbToLive: The two older princesses. Rich-Craft turns out to be one as well in the end, when turning his back on Finette [[spoiler:while inspecting a barrel full of blades which he intended to use to kill her.]]
* WackyCravings: Rich-Craft draws Finette out of the tower by leaving some fruit under the windows and knowing her sisters will beg her to get it.
* YoungestChildWins: Finette and Bel-à-Voir are both the younger children.
----

Top