History Main / DeathAndTheMaiden

* In the cover of Dark Road of the ''Literature/VampireHunterD'' novels, and other official Amano's art for the franchise.

* Countless examples in medieval "Totentanz" series, since that dance is a very democratic thing and Death makes no exception for girls either. [[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%BCbecker_Totentanz Here he gets a queen.]]

* In the UpdatedReRelease of ‘’VideoGame/Persona3'', [[spoiler: Ryoji]] is immediately smitten with the female protagonist, and he’s the only male character that isn’t a party member to be PromotedToLoveInterest. [[spoiler: Not only do his feelings come from the crush on her he developed while under the identity of Death Social Link Pharos, but he’s also an avatar for Nyx, the embodiment of death itself.]] His Social Link also implies a gay version of this trope, as he tells the female protagonist that [[SingleTargetSexuality he’d fall in love with her even if she was a boy]], heavily implying he also had feelings for the male protagonist despite his lack of a Social Link in the male route.

* ''Webcomic/DeathAndTheMaiden'': The Girl had a NearDeathExperience and is thus aware of how Death works (he needs to be called by a name). So when she picks him accidentally up as [[ItMakesSenseInContext he hitchhikes across the country]], she decides to run, causing him to be alarmed and dedicated to reap what he couldn't in the past. What sounds terrifying is actually a hilarious comedy, not only because Death tries to cheat wherever he can and regularily runs amok, the girl is also a brilliant DeadpanSnarker. BelligerentSexualTension ensues. [[spoiler: They actually begin to fall in love towards the end, [[NoKillLikeOverkill causing Death to commit a mass murder]] [[BreakHisHeartToSaveHim to drive her away]]]].

* ''WebVideo/PushingUpRoses'' tries to woo Death in ''VideoGame/TheSims'' but it's not possible to make him to sleep with you without cheating

A rather infamous artistic motif that has lasted since the [[UsefulNotes/TheRenaissance Renaissance]] and maybe before that, ''Death and the Maiden'' has been a popular motif in mediums ranging from visual art to plays, music and even film.

The details are simple: feature the personification of [[DeathTropes Death]] with a beautiful, nubile human woman. Easy peasy. How this formula differs depending on the medium. Death is often presented as a [[DemBones skeleton]] with wings or [[TheGrimReaper a cloak and scythe]] or maybe just a [[OurZombiesAreDifferent wilting corpse]]. The woman is often [[OurNudityIsDifferent nude]] or at least [[ModestyBedsheet partially so]]. How their interactions vary as well, the maiden reacting with fear or arousal at Death's touch, while Death caresses, kills and/or whatever else the woman in question. It is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin.

This motif is commonly seen as an erotic one, two lovers making a connection in a way that even the viewer can only have limited comprehension of. Others can see it as a [[RuleOfSymbolism symbolic]] one, Death representing mortality and... well... you know, while the woman representing life and how the two [[TheDeadCanDance dance]] [[BalanceOfPower in a delicate balance]], being equal and opposites to one another.

* ''Webcomic/DeathAndTheMaiden'': The Girl had a NearDeathExperience and is thus aware of how Death works (he needs to be called by a name). So when she picks him accidentaly up as [[ItMakesSenseInContext he hitchhikes across the country]], she decides to run, causing him to be alarmed and dedicated to reap what he couldn't in the past. What sounds terrifying is actually a hilarious comedy, not only because Death tries to cheat wherever he can and regularily runs amok, the girl is also a brilliant DeadpanSnarker. BelligerentSexualTension ensues. [[spoiler: They actually begin to fall in love towards the end, [[NoKillLikeOverkill causing Death to commit a mass murder]] [[BreakHisHeartToSaveHim to drive her away]]]].

* Deconstructed in ''Webcomic/{{Homestuck}}'': Lord English, the monsterous skeletal being who is known as the apocalypse-bringer and lord of the angels of death, always has a beautiful woman as his [[TheDragon dragon]]. It's made clear however, that both of the ones we see loath him and what he uses them for, and it's implied that the reason he chooses beautiful women to serve him in destroying reality is because an incestious complex stemming from his murder of his sister.

* [[GenderFlip Gender-Flipped]] in the song ''She Was So Beautiful'' by the Russian rock-band ''Splean'', in which the narrator (supposedly male) meets a [[DontFearTheReaper personification of Death who happens to be the very beautiful woman]]. Narrator wants to date her, but she says to him who she really is, and then leaves, saying "see you later" and "until the better days". [[note In Slavic culture, Death is female due to grammar gender.]]

* [[GenderFlip Gender-Flipped]] in the song ''She Was So Beautiful'' by the Russian rock-band ''Splean'', in which the narrator (supposedly male) meets a [[DontFearTheReaper personification of Death who happens to be the very beautiful woman]]. Narrator wants to date her, but she says to him who she really is, and then leaves, saying "see you later" and "until the better days".

* Webcomic/DeathAndTheMaiden. The girl had a NearDeathExperience and is thus aware of how Death works (he needs to be called by a name). So when she picks him accidentaly up as [[ItMakesSenseInContext he hitchhikes across the country]], she decides to run, causing him to be alarmed and dedicated to reap what he couldn't in the past. What sounds terrifying is actually a hilarious comedy, not only because Death tries to cheat wherever he can and regularily runs amok, the girl is also a brilliant DeadpanSnarker. [[spoiler: They actually begin to fall in love towards the end, [[NoKillLikeOverkill causing Death to commit a mass murder]] [[BreakHisHeartToSaveHim to drive her away]]]].

* The webcomic ''Webcomic/DeathAndTheMaiden'' is about the Grim Reaper hunting down a woman who nearly died with an attempt to reap her soul. BelligerentSexualTension ensues.

* In Main/HinduMythology, this trope is the reason Daksha didn't understand why his daughter wanted to marry Shiva, the god of the dead. Turns out Shiva's actually a pretty nice guy, in the sense that death is just natural and a necessary part of the karmic system.

* Webcomic/DeathAndTheMaiden. The girl had a NearDeathExperience and is thus aware of how Death works (he needs to be called by a name). So when she picks him accidentaly up as [[ItMakesSenseInContext he hitchhikes across the country]], she decides to run, causing him to be alarmed and dedicated to reap what he couldn't in the past. What sounds terrifying is actually a hilarious comedy, not only because Death tries to cheat wherever he can and regularily runs amok, the girl is also a brilliant DeadpanSnarker. [[spoiler: They actually begin to fall in love towards the end, [[NoKillLikeOverkill causing Death to commit a mass murder]] [[HurtThemToSaveThem to drive her away]]]].

* ''Death and the Maiden (Der Tod und das Mädchen)'' by Creator/AdolfHering (as seen from [[ImageSource the image above]]).

In ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'', Buffy's relationship with [[RomanticVampireBoy Angel]] has overtones of this, especially given that being with 'death' isolates Buffy from her (human) friends and even her moral code. Both she and Angel note that their relationship is dangerous and hurtful to both of them.
->'''Angel:''' This isn't some fairy tale. When I kiss you, you don't wake up from a deep sleep and live happily ever after.\