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Author: BlueIceTea

Sep 30th 2013 at 11:43:03 AM

Good question!  The answer is, I'm not really sure.  I wanted this to be more about telling a third party as a ''substitute'' for telling the beloved -- rather than telling the third party because he/she has coerced it out of you.  But I can see how it could be a tough distinction to draw.

Here are a couple of examples I ''didn't'' think fit the trope:

* In ''Disney/TheLittleMermaid'', the first time Ariel openly states her feelings for Eric is in an argument with her father.  Triton is angry that she has saved the life of a human.  Ariel retorts that she had to because she loves him.
::The confession isn't necessary to clarify Ariel's feelings; they're pretty obvious already.  Nor does it provide Ariel with catharsis.  In terms of the plot, its main purpose is to inflame her father's wrath and lead to the fight that precipitates Ariel's visit to Urusula.
* In ''Film/MrDeedsGoesToTown'', Jean Arthur's character confesses her love for he hero while being cross-examined at his trial.  The lawyer argues that any testimony she might give in support of Deeds is suspect because she is obviously in love with him.  He badgers her until she admits her feelings.
::Although the confession is technically made to the attorney, Deeds is right there listening to it, and it obviously matters much more to him than to the lawyer.

If I could get some more examples, maybe we could talk about which ones do/don't fit and why, and I could write a better definition.