History Main / TheIngenue

* Eliza Schuyler Hamilton from ''Theatre/{{Hamilton}}'' starts off as this trope; she's wealthy, lovestruck, and naive. This changes after Hamilton slights her and [[spoiler: she loses her eldest son]].

* Natasha Rostova from ''Theatre/NatashaPierreAndTheGreatCometOf1812'' is a prime example of this: young, in love, and very naive. Deconstructed a bit as her naivete lands her in trouble when she is manipulated by and almost runs off with a man other than her fiance. (Funnily enough, both Natasha and the above Eliza from ''Hamilton'' were originally played by the same actress, Phillipa Soo.)

* Deconstructed with animal tamer Regina Berry from ''VisualNovel/PhoenixWrightAceAttorneyJusticeForAll'', who was so InnocentlyInsensitive about Acro's brother's (near) death that [[spoiler:he plots to kill her.]]

Contrast TheVamp, FemmeFatale, HeroicSeductress, InnocentBigot, SeeminglyWholesomeFiftiesGirl, StepfordSmiler, WideEyedIdealist, CovertPervert, CoyGirlishFlirtPose, OldFashionedRowboatDate, PsychopathicManchild, {{Yandere}}, TheHecateSisters, and the "Wife" and "Seductress" archetypes of TheThreeFacesOfEve.

* ''Literature/InvisibleMan'': Sybil is a deconstruction of this. Not just in the sense of being a SeeminglyWholesomeFiftiesGirl (which she technically is), but in the sense of having herself more than a few issues relating to how she's been sexually stifled. She feels she will be liberated if she's raped by a black man, and when the main character gets her drunk enough to convince her that he did the deed (without actually having done it), he remarks that she was "raped by Santa Claus," as he was to her just as much of a fantasy gift-giver.

* Krista Renz from ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'' actively cultivates this kind of image, as part of her overall issues with herself. She desperately wants to be thought of as a virtuous, innocent, and gentle girl to the extent she puts [[DeathSeeker herself]] (and others) into harm's way. She ''is'' a kind person, but not nearly as innocent or virtuous as most people are lead to believe.

* Averted with Christine Daaé in ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'', where she may be a daydreamer (and GenreSavvy victim of StockholmSyndrome) but also a WellExcuseMePrincess whose pluck and stubbornness unnerve Raoul several times before he realizes how wrongly he's misjudged her just because she ''isn't'' a meek little ingenue-type. Played straighter in many of the adaptations.

* Invoked in ''Literature/{{Replica|Series}}'': the protagonist, Nadia, and all other women in the Executive class are expected to behave like demure, innocent ingenues.

* ''Manga/AhMyGoddess'': Belldandy. Her pastimes include cleaning, talking about how much she loves cleaning, and coddling various inanimate objects because [[PowerOfLove love makes machines work better]]. She'll give any and every stranger on the street a hug, but [[ChasteHero hasn't gotten past second base with the boyfriend she's lived with for years]]. There are occasions where she is shown as being aware of the situation, but these are typically the exceptions rather than the rule.

** When they were at the hot Springs and Keiichi was trying to cover up his nakedness. Belldandy was totally unaware of Keiichi's embarrassment at being nude in front of a group of girls and thought that Marller had hurt him. Both Marller and Urd considered her complete obliviousness to be scary.

* ''Manga/KimiNiTodoke'': Sawako Kuronuma of fits this as a modern-day reinterpretation. Academically, she's very bright but has almost no social skills. She falls for a guy who became incredibly popular at school due to his penchant for being nice to people. While she does get into "distress" from time to time, it's usually high school issues that pose the threat, and her friends encourage her to solve the problems herself.

** Yamame Yasashiki is Shizuka's opposite in a lot of ways, she's large, outgoing, and able to handle large animals. One of the things she likes about Rentaro is the fact that he will step in danger to protect her, even though she's strong enough to do the protecting herself. However, like Shizuka she has a purity to her that is so strong it upsets Hakari's attempts to teach her how to be sexy. Hakari's attempts to make sexy glamour shots all turn out wholesome and Hakari's ideas for Yamame to seduce Rentaro keep being mistaken for more innocuous acts, such as pretending to trip so Rentaro can catch her making him fear she's unwell.

** Dawn Summers takes over this role in the later seasons, Glory even commenting that her beloved Key must be pure.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheOwlHouse'': Luz is a kindhearted, empathetic, innocent and optimistic girl who is prone to bouts of naivete and childishness. This is in sharp contrast to the [[WorldOfJerkass world]] she finds herself in, though because Luz is ''so'' pure and good natured she slowly starts to morph the world around her into a better and more hopeful place.

* In the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon: