History Main / EmbodimentOfVirtue

* In ''WesternAnimation/QuestForCamelot'', the introduction to Camelot itself is accompanied by [[SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic a chorus of all]] of the [[KnightInShiningArmor Knights of the Round Table]] singing about unity of purpose. They go on to take their places at the table, each lifting their shield to honor their king, and then lowering it as they declare the virtue they most embody. There are far more than seven virtues listed, but 'liberty', 'justice', 'trust' , 'freedom', 'peace', 'honor', 'goodness', 'strength', and 'valor' are listed, among others. Note that the main character's father laid down his shield on 'valor', and the villain laid his down with a shout of 'ME!'.

* Literature/HarryPotter: The four houses of Hogwarts Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardry represent and base their student selection on moral qualities.

* [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]: The "[[{{Pun}} Mane]] Six", where one pony each represents one of the "Elements of Harmony": Fluttershy (Kindness), Rainbow Dash (Loyalty), Rarity (Generosity), Applejack (Honesty), Pinkie Pie (Laughter), and Twilight Sparkle (Friendship, which in the local lore happens to also be the Element of Magic).

* In ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'', personifications of the four cardinal virtues are used as antagonists. They represent Courage, Temperance, Justice, and Prudence. Their actual behavior is opposite to their respective virtue: Fortitudo (Courage) prefers to avoid confrontation and has to have Bayonetta follow him and shoot at him twice to get him to fight her, Iustidia (Justice) attacks without warning and before even saying anything, and so on.

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]

* The titular character of ''Art/CharityBouguereau'' is a young woman willing to take care of a whole bunch of active children who are naked on the street. Either this is their mother and she portrays the motherly love best known in families or a stranger aiding starving orphans, another great, if unorthodox, example of love.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theological_virtues Hope, Love, and Faith]], the Three Theological Virtues]]

In some works of fiction, {{virtue|ViceCodification}} is a central theme. Virtues usually constitute parts in a system, where the individual virtues are regarded as aspects of goodness, and no virtue alone is enough to form a good character. While they complement each other, they may also come into conflict with each other, leading to moral conundrums.

* The titular protagonist of ''WesternAnimation/HeyArnold '' demonstrates three virtues:

* [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic]]: The "[[IncrediblyLamePun Mane]] Six", where one pony each represents one of the "Elements of Harmony": Fluttershy (Kindness), Rainbow Dash (Loyalty), Rarity (Generosity), Applejack (Honesty), Pinkie Pie (Laughter), and Twilight Sparkle (Friendship, which in the local lore happens to also be the Element of Magic).

* [[http://pat7.deviantart.com/art/The-Seven-Virtues-192127336 This web illustration]] shows each of the Seven Virtues depicted by a Franchise/DisneyPrincess. In order; [[Film/{{Enchanted}} Giselle]] is Charity, WesternAnimation/{{Pocahontas}} is Chastity, [[WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog Tiana]] is Dilligence, WesternAnimation/{{Mulan}} is Humility, [[WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame Esmeralda]] is Kindness, [[WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}} Rapunzel]] is Patience, and [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast Belle]] is Temperance.

*** In the first book, Hagrid mentions that Hufflepuffs had a reputation for being a "load o' duffers". So it could also be the misconception that GoodIsDumb.
*** Hufflepuffs, at least from my memory, seem to be more naive, and they often jump to conclusions quickly (particular Ernie and Justin Finch-Fletchley re: the petrifications and Harry's role in them). At least, this is of the Hufflepuffs we saw.

The inversion of this trope is EmbodimentOfVice. One notable difference between the two tropes is that in the case of characters, the people involved usually are aware of their virtues, and strive to actively cultivate them. Characters that personify vices are usually either [[ObliviouslyEvil unaware of them]] or somehow [[ChronicVillainy unable to overcome them]]. For example, characters that actively strive to be honorable and courageous are extremely commonplace in fiction, but how many characters have you encountered that strive to be as greedy as possible, for the sake of greed in and of itself? [[(SpaceJews well, it does happen occasionally)]]. Vice is nearly always motivated by something other than the desire to be vicious, unlike virtue. In the (at least in real life) rare cases where this is not the case, we are dealing with a villain who does evil simply ForTheEvulz. Compare the SevenHeavenlyVirtues.

The inversion of this trope is EmbodimentOfVice. One notable difference between the two tropes is that in the case of characters, the people involved usually are aware of their virtues, and strive to actively cultivate them. Characters that personify vices are usually either [[ObliviouslyEvil unaware of them]] or somehow [[ChronicVillainy unable to overcome them]]. For example, characters that actively strive to be honorable and courageous are extremely commonplace in fiction, but how many characters have you encountered that strive to be as greedy as possible, for the sake of greed in and of itself? Vice is nearly always motivated by something other than the desire to be vicious, unlike virtue. In the (at least in real life) rare cases where this is not the case, we are dealing with a villain who does evil simply ForTheEvulz. Compare the SevenHeavenlyVirtues.

[[caption-width-right:350:[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theological_virtues Hope, Love, and Faith]]]]

* In ''Discworld/ThiefOfTime'', Wen the Eternally Surprised claims Susan Sto Helit is "helpfulness personified". ReluctantHero Susan is less than happy about this.

* [[http://pat7.deviantart.com/art/The-Seven-Virtues-192127336 This web illustration]] shows each of the Seven Virtues depicted by a Franchise/DisneyPrincess. In order; [[Film/{{Enchanted}} Giselle]] is Charity, Disney/{{Pocahontas}} is Chastity, [[Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog Tiana]] is Dilligence, Disney/{{Mulan}} is Humility, [[Disney/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame Esmeralda]] is Kindness, [[Disney/{{Tangled}} Rapunzel]] is Patience, and [[Disney/BeautyAndTheBeast Belle]] is Temperance.

* In ''VideoGame/{{Bayonetta}}'', personifications of the four cardinal virtues are used as antagonists. They represent Courage, Temperance, Justice, and Prudence.