History Main / DeterminedWidow

* In the second {{Terminator}} movie Sarah Connor was a fighter who would do anything to protect her son from the machines.

* In the second {{Terminator}} movie Sara was a fighter who would do anything to protect her son from the machines.

Compare HouseWife which is what they could be like before being widowed. HerHeartWillGoOn for the widow's strength in dealing with the loss. Do NOT confuse with YamatoNadeshiko which is an aspect of japanese culture; all they have in common is the inner core of iron will.

Compare YamatoNadeshiko, HerHeartWillGoOn.

* Judith from the book Judith of the Bible: when her village is under siege, she puts on some make-up, goes to Holofernes, the enemy general, takes him to his tent, makes him drunk, cuts of his head, sneaks out of the enemy camp and goes back into her village, with the head of Holofernes in her bag.

* Emily Pollifax from the Mrs. Pollifax novels by Dorothy Gilman becomes a spy for the CIA when she's a widow.

* Scarlett O'Hara in ''GoneWithTheWind'', however she ''is'' the (anti)hero.

* LifeImitatesArt: Lillian Moller Gilbreth continued the time/motion and efficiency studies of her husband, Frank, after his death in the 1930s. While raising ''eleven children'' (all of whom eventually graduated college). The story is recounted in ''Belles On Their Toes'', and was fictionalized in the 1950 film ''Cheaper By the Dozen''.

* Catalyn Stark from ASongOfIceAndFire series by George RR Martin becomes this when her husband is killed, mostly as a result of HonorBeforeReason, she is determined to get her revenge by [[spoiler: waging war against the Lannister family and supporting her son as King of the North.]]
** Goes further after the [[spoiler: Red Wedding where many of the surviving Starks, including Catalyn, are killed. She CameBackWrong as a KnightTemplar and moves closer to a Determinator LadyOfWar in her revenge.]]

* LifeImitatesArt: Lillian Moller Gilbreth continued the time/motion and efficiency studies of her husband, Frank, after his death. Their story was fictionalized in the 1950 film ''Cheaper By the Dozen''.

* The entire point of the ''Planescape'' module for ''NeverwinterNights 2'' is for the PC (who must be female) to find a way into the Abyss and get her husband back.

* In RogerCorman's film ''{{Gunslinger}}'' (as seen on ''{{MST3K}}''), Beverly Garland's heroine is the widow of a {{US Marshal}} who takes up her husband's badge to keep hunting down the ones responsible for having her husband murdered.

** Side note: The 2003 film of the same name bears no resemblance to the original story, and this troper, despite some fannish affection for Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt, [[SobadItsHorrible believes all copies of it should be incinerated.]]

* Mary Breydon in ''The Cherokee Trail'' by [[LouisLAmour Louis L'Amour]].

* Ashelia B'Nargin Dalmasca of FinalFantasyXII is a widow while still in her teens and determined to ensure [[TheEmpire Archadia]] feels her wrath of justice.

* The entire point of the ''Planescape'' module for ''NeverwinterNights 2'' is for the PC (who must be female) to find a way into the Abyss and get her husband back.

* Abigail Primrose in ''TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob'' is an elderly example who can defend herself quite well (she owns a suit of PoweredArmor), but still needs some help now and again.

* Catalyn Stark from ASongOfIceAndFire series by George RR Martin becomes this when her husband is killed, mostly as a result of HonorBeforeReason, she is determined to get her revenge by [[spoiler: waging war against the Lannister family and supporting her son as King of the North.]]
** Goes further after the [[spoiler: Red Wedding where many of the surviving Starks, including Catalyn, are killed. She CameBackWrong as a KnightTemplar and moves closer to a Determinator LadyOfWar in her revenge.]]
* Mary Breydon in ''The Cherokee Trail'' by [[LouisLAmour Louis L'Amour]].

* In RogerCorman's film ''{{Gunslinger}}'' (as seen on ''{{MST3K}}''), Beverly Garland's heroine is the widow of a {{US Marshal}} who takes up her husband's badge to keep hunting down the ones responsible for having her husband murdered.

* Scarlett O'Hara in ''GoneWithTheWind'', however she ''is'' the (anti)hero.

* In ''{{Supernatural}}'', they meet the widow of a [[TheHunter hunter]] who is running a bar for hunters. She is an adviser to the boys.

* ''Hannie Caulder.''

* In RogerCorman's film ''{{Gunslinger}}'' (as seen on ''{{MST3K}}''), Beverly Garland's heroine is the widow of a {{US Marshal}} who takes up her husband's badge to keep hunting down the ones responsible for having her husband murdered.

* Male version: Faust VIII from ShamanKing, a {{Necromantic}} whose goal in life is to revive his dead wife and Spirit partner Eliza.

* There was one of these in ''KyoKaraMaoh''!.
* Shun Mitaka seemed intent on viewing [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Maison_Ikkoku_characters Kyoko]] of ''MaisonIkkoku'' as one, (and himself as the hero of course).

* LifeImitatesArt: Lillian Moller Gilbreth continued the time/motion and efficiency studies of her husband, Frank, after his death. Their story was fictionalized in the 1950 film ''Cheaper By the Dozen''.
** Side note: The 2003 film of the same name bears no resemblance to the original story, and this troper, despite some fannish affection for Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt, [[SobadItsHorrible believes all copies of it should be incinerated.]]

Particularly common in TheWestern, this is often the widow's version of the DamselInDistress. However, due to more life experience, the Determined Widow is usually more assertive and less passive in combating her foes. She might even tell the Hero that she doesn't need his help, even though, unlike the Damsel, she often has children dependent on her and therefore also in danger. Usually a young widow if she is in distress, as older widows are more likely to be depicted as competent enough not to need saving.

** Side note: The 2003 film of the same name bears no resemblance to the original story, and this troper, despite some fannish affection for Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt, believes all copies of it should be incinerated.

* Susan McSween, who after her husband and friends were murdered during the Lincoln County War, went on to become a prominent cattlewoman in New Mexico.

Older {{Determined Widow}}s are more likely to appear as advisers to the Heroes.

{{Determined Widow}}s also often insist on achieving their dead husband's dream. If their husband was a warrior and he fell in battle they might even [[TakeUpMySword "take up his sword"]] and become an ActionGirl or LadyOfWar and continue his fight.