History Main / NobleSavage

* In ''Comicbook/DCRebirth'' Comicbook/WonderWoman's birth tribe of amazons on Themyscira and The Esquecida tribe of amazons in Akahim both view each other as ignorant but noble savages. To Themyscira, The Esquecida are tragically lost cave dwellers ignorant to the traditions, responsibilities and priveleages that come with being an amazon, as well as the medical, military and [[DireBeast animal husbandry]] advances of Themyscira, but their desires to defend the natural world and even protect the world of men are admirable. To the Esquecida, Themyscira are tragically deluded and abused worshipers of [[GodOfEvil evil gods]] and took isolation a step too far, knowing nothing of modern utilities, festivities or the joy of a casual fling with a man, but they do admire Themyscira's strong society and generous hospitality. Both tribes also tend to view the Bana-Mighdall as savages, and often without the "noble" part, The Esquecida tending to view them with caution, Themyscira with contempt. It's the challenge of Wonder Woman, Hyppolyta, Nubia and Donna Troy to help the three tribes peacefully coexist, but Themyscira and Esquecida mostly do just fine when Bana-Mighdall's not involved.

%%* In ''Film/DeadLands'' Lawrence Makaore's character is a combination of this trope and the MagicalNativeAmerican.

-->-- Creator/DannyKaye and Music/TheAndrewsSisters, "Civilization".

* ''Literature/DeathsEnd'': In the final book of Cixin Liu's [[Literature/RemembranceOfEarthsPast Remembrance Of Earth's Past]] trilogy, Fraisse, an Australian Aboriginal man, is barely characterised beyond his connection with nature, his tendency to offer Cheng Xin kindly words of reassurance, and his fondness for [[GoodOldWays playing the digeridoo]]. Although apparently having worked as a dentist in the big city before [[RediscoveringRootsTrip moving back to the outback for a simpler life]], Fraisse is very much depicted as the archetypal traditional custodian of the land, not a fully-actualised person.

Compare with MagicNegro and LuddWasRight. Contrast with the HollywoodNatives, MightyWhitey (although the modern form of Mighty Whitey often co-exists with this trope) and LowCultureHighTech. Occasionally refers to being "OfThePeople".

* ''WesternAnimation/Tarzan'': The titular wild man may be rather uncivilized, but he is very kind and gentle to his friends and family, both adopted and marital.

%%* Many of the less advanced tribes from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' fall under this trope. The [[EskimoLand Water Tribes]] (the home of the hero's best friends) and the Sun Warriors come to mind.
%%** The Foggy Swamp Water Tribe are a bit of an aversion, as they're played for humor as the embarrassing redneck cousins, but the 'live in harmony with nature' thing comes up here, albeit from a shaman who specializes in controlling plants by bending the contents of their vascular systems. In addition to some wise zen-like advice about the interconnected nature of all life, he also mentions that "Pants are an illusion"
* There was actually a character named Noble/Savage in the ''WesternAnimation/BeastMachines'' Transformers series.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': Subverted with the native Martians--they talk a good game about loving nature and respecting their native lands and all, but, once they discover that the "bead" their ancestors traded away their land for is actually a giant diamond, they have no problem at all leaving their "sacred lands" behind.

** Also includes a parody of the Iron Eyes Cody commerical listed above: when someone casually tosses an empty Slurm can on the ground, one of the Martians cries... because "Cynthia used to drink Slurm."
* Spear from ''WesternAnimation/Primal2019'' is a Neanderthal living on a [[DeathWorld hostile continent]] populated with [[OneMillionBC dinosaurs]] and the occasional PrehistoricMonster. He is a killer and a hunter, one who HadToBeSharp to survive such a dangerous landscape. However, he's also shown to be intelligent, compassionate, and caring towards those he holds dear. He despises those that kill wantonly and refrains from unnessacery cruelty.

** There's also the issue of slavery. The watcher mentioned above who despairs is of African descent and wishes above all else to find a way to eliminate slavery from history. Then along comes a Turkish meteorologist claiming that slavery was a ''good thing'', considering that it replaced human sacrifice. According to him, it was Noah himself who advocated slavery, along with a nomadic lifestyle, after his homeland of Atlantis (ItMakesSenseInContext) was destroyed by a flood at the end of the last Ice Age. He points to the Americas as an example of societies where human sacrifice was common due to the lack of this transition from human sacrifice to slavery. This is a case of CriticalResearchFailure, though, as Pre-Columbian civilizations did practice slavery, although the slaves were more like indentured servants rather than property and earned their freedom after paying off their debts. Prisoners of war (those who weren't sacrificed) were also treated as slaves.

* In "The Burns and the Bees", an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Lisa assumes Muck Mu is a Noble Savage, but he actually enjoys killing whales for fun.

* Spear from ''WesternAnimation/Primal2019'' is a Neanderthal living on a [[DeathWorld hostile continent]] populated with [[1MillionBC dinosaurs]] and the occasional PrehistoricMonster. He is a killer and a hunter, one who HadToBeSharp to survive such a dangerous landscape. However, he's also shown to be intelligent, compassionate, and caring towards those he holds dear. He despises those that kill wantonly and refrains from unnessacery cruelty.

* The Quentians of ''Anime/ArmoredTrooperVotoms'', especially [[GentleGiant Ru Shako]].

* Creator/{{Disney}}'s ''WesternAnimation/{{Pocahontas}}''. Historically, Chief Powhatan was very much like the Native American version of UsefulNotes/{{Napoleon|Bonaparte}} before the English arrived.
** He ''is'' introduced as returning from a triumphant conquest, which ends up seeming out of character.
** Heck, you can still hear about "the spirit of Pocahontas" as you pass through the remains of the Indian village at [[Ride/DisneyThemeParks Disneyland]].

* The members of the first tribe to appear in ''Film/{{Apocalypto}}'', later subverted with the appearance of the fierce Mayans, slavers and practitioners of human sacrifice.
* ''Film/{{Avatar}}''. The Na'vi are pure exemplars of the Noble Savage. Their way of life is depicted in the film as far nobler than anything on Earth.
* Richard and Emmeline of ''Film/TheBlueLagoon'', and Richard (son of the couple from the first movie) and Lilli in the sequel.
** Although the original inhabitants of the island practice human sacrifice.
** In the books, a savage state is portrayed as better in many ways, and the author shows the locals from neighboring islands as human, not better or worse.
* Mani from ''Film/BrotherhoodOfTheWolf''.

* Just about every Lakota in ''Film/DancesWithWolves''.
** Averted with the [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Pawnee tribes, which are depicted as truly savage killers]].
*** The Pawnee are {{Always Chaotic|Evil}} StupidEvil; they attack white settlements, even though they're allied with the United States.
* In ''Film/DeadLands'' Lawrence Makaore's character is a combination of this trope and the MagicalNativeAmerican.
* Xi from ''Film/TheGodsMustBeCrazy'' (along with his whole tribe).
* The Creator/MarxBrothers film ''Film/GoWest'', being a send-up of Westerns, features an inevitable Native American village complete with a medicine man, but more or less avoids this trope. When Groucho tries to impress a comely girl with a necklace, she tells him she wants a Cadillac sedan instead. Meanwhile, the Chief and Harpo end up performing a musical number.

* Pretty much every main character in ''Film/JeremiahJohnson''.
* Totally subverted in ''Film/LastOfTheMohicans'' (1992) with [[AntiVillain Magua]]. Played horribly straight in [[TheFilmOfTheBook every other adaptation]].

* Averted in ''Film/{{Maverick}}'' by Joseph, who, although he's one of the more decent characters in the film, is still a talented con artist who's just playing up the NobleSavage idea to bilk money out of a wealthy Russian hunter.

* The Togrutas from ''Franchise/StarWars''. [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ahsoka_Tano Some]] [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ashla_(Jedi) of]] [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Shaak_Ti them]] even become Jedi. Ewoks are a cutesier, but no less badass, example (at least after Leia convinces them not to [[CannibalTribe eat her friends]]).

* The Aboriginal boy in Nicolas Roeg's ''Film/{{Walkabout}}''.

* The Osu in David Wingrove's ''Literature/ChungKuo'' series.

* ''Literature/{{Nation}}'': To an extent, Mau, as contrasted to the "trousermen". But the book makes it clear that being a noble savage is a dirty job.
* Tik, indigenous queen of the indeterminate tropical island where Filipino leading man Carlos is shipwrecked, in ''{{Literature/Ninay}}''.

* Friday in ''Literature/RobinsonCrusoe''.
* Avoided in ''The Saga of the Bordenlands'', by the Argentine writer Liliana Bodoc. The inhabitants of The Fertile Lands are a FantasyCounterpartCulture of the various pre-Columbian indigenous peoples of America, and the Husihuilkes, for example, are portrayed as a noble race, but they are fierce warriors who take no prisoners and mercilessly execute traitors and liars, while the [[MayIncAtec Lords of the Sun]] practice slavery and human sacrifice. The noblest people would be the Zitzahay, who do not participate in wars or have slaves, but they are also an advanced civilization ruled by wise astronomers.

* The poem ''Totenklage'' by [[UsefulNotes/DichterAndDenker Friedrich Schiller]], an attempt at creating a eulogy for an Indian warrior.

* ''UsefulNotes/DavyCrockett'': This is how Indians were portrayed in Creator/{{Disney}}'s mini-series.
* Leela from ''Series/DoctorWho''.
* Two Rivers in ''Series/TheForestRangers''.
* ''Series/GameOfThrones'': While initially a wildling, Osha later tidies up a bit and settles down, though she's just as badass as ever.
* ''Series/TheLoneRanger'': Classic example: Tonto, faithful sidekick of the Lone Ranger.

* ''Series/ShakaZulu'': Subverted. King Shaka Zulu is a driven, cunning, and at times even sympathetic character, but he's not portrayed to be "closer to nature" or somehow innately wiser than the Europeans. He's unambiguously a tribal warlord who carved out an empire through massive bloodshed.

*** The Erabenimsun avert it with their current leadership, which consists of mostly war-like and highly aggressive elders. They're known to raid nearby settlements and kidnap or kill most outlanders on sight. To complete the main quest, you'll need to get them to name you Nerevarine, but the current leadership won't do it. The Wise Woman concocts a plan to have you kill the warlike leaders and convince the peace-loving son of the former Ashkhan to take up the title.
*** Rogue Ashlanders absolutely avert it. They attack travelers on sight and generally behave no better than standard bandits.

* The Clan of the Hawk from ''Webcomic/WanderingOnes'' fits this one to a T. They attempted to invoke this with William Ghostraven, but before the plague, he was a casino worker.

* Many of the less advanced tribes from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' fall under this trope. The [[EskimoLand Water Tribes]] (the home of the hero's best friends) and the Sun Warriors come to mind.
** The Foggy Swamp Water Tribe are a bit of an aversion, as they're played for humor as the embarrassing redneck cousins, but the 'live in harmony with nature' thing comes up here, albeit from a shaman who specializes in controlling plants by bending the contents of their vascular systems. In addition to some wise zen-like advice about the interconnected nature of all life, he also mentions that "Pants are an illusion"
** Also Averted with the Northern Water Tribe who are a massive city-state on par with most Earth Kingdom cities.

* The Serenwilde Commune of ''VideoGame/{{Lusternia}}''. It was Seren druids who helped heal the ruined earth after the Vernal Wars, Seren wiccans who travelled to the Ethereal Realm to heal [[OurFairiesAreDifferent the fae]]... and years later, when [[TheFederation Celest]] was on the brink of releasing [[TheCorruption The Taint]], it was Serenwilde (and the other communes, who did not survive the resultant cataclysm) who advised against it. In the modern era, they're more flawed, nuanced, and interesting, but in the histories, they were practically a MarySuetopia.

Compare with MagicNegro and LuddWasRight. Contrast with the HollywoodNatives, CorruptHick, MightyWhitey (although the modern form of Mighty Whitey often co-exists with this trope) and LowCultureHighTech. Occasionally refers to being "OfThePeople".

Civilization! I'll stay right here!"''

Frequently overlaps with the ProudWarriorRaceGuy, in which case the questions of ''who'' these "noble warriors" actually went to war ''with'' before the white people came along and ''why'' they fought will usually be left conveniently unanswered. Easily leads to UnfortunateImplications, a major one being that any problems a Noble Savage faces is a problem of not living up to an idealized character rather than the simple social implications of the world they live in. Another is that taking this view also tends to distort the actual reality of the Noble Savage in favor of the idealized image.

Examples of this trope that are OlderThanFeudalism exist outside the Americas: Tacitus wrote of the noble Germanic and Caledonian tribes to contrast with his view of Roman society as decadent and corrupt, and even [[HistoricalHeroUpgrade wrote eloquent Roman-style speeches about liberty and honor for "his versions" of Calgacus and Arminius]]. The trope has gone in and out of fashion over time, usually contrasting a decadent distrustful "city life" that a thinker feels has tarnished the essentially good nature of humanity. At different times, and in different hands, it has appeared in two main forms. One is that the life is strenuous and therefore the savage is nobly brave, hard-working, and honorable. The other is that the savage is not {{greed}}y and does not have a taste for luxury and is content when he has what he actually ''needs'', and so the life is ultimately easy and pleasant, without all the striving after more. (Still, [[BewareTheNiceOnes do not get on their bad side]].) As such, expect the NobleSavage to treat materials traditionally considered valuable by greedy outsiders, usually gold, as {{worthless|YellowRocks}}.

* Creator/{{Disney}}'s ''WesternAnimation/{{Pocahontas}}''. Historically, Chief Powhatan was very much like the Native American version of [[UsefulNotes/NapoleonBonaparte Napoleon]] before the English arrived.

*** The Pawnee are [[AlwaysChaoticEvil Always Chaotic]] StupidEvil; they attack white settlements, even though they're allied with the United States.

* In Lee Lightner's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} Literature/SpaceWolf novel ''Sons of Fenris'', after Ragnor expresses a blunt opinion, Torin says one day he will teach him not to act like a barbarian. Ragnor retorts that you can trust a barbarian.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'':

* The Sacae in ''VideoGame/FireEmblemElibe'' comes across to be this at times. They are tribal nomadic people who are more honest and honorable than everyone else.

* VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas ZigZags between deconstruction and reconstruction of this trope on numerous fronts in the Honest Hearts dlc, to the point of being one of its main thematic focuses.

* ''WesternAnimation/UltimateSpiderman'' has an example in the form of ComicBook/KaZar. He is a resident of the Savage Land who speaks in broken English considers himself brothers with a sabertooth tiger and is pretty much the only thing in the setting that won't outright try to kill you. Bonus points for fitting the MightyWhitey trope as well...

** In the series in general, more often than not {{Averted|Trope}} with the [[OurElvesAreDifferent Bosmer (Wood Elves)]], or at least the majority of ones who live outside [[LostWoods Valenwood]]. Most Bosmer in Tamriel live in cities and work everyday jobs. The ones who do live in Valenwood, on the other hand, live according to the Green Pact, a deal their ancestors struck with the forest's patron deity which prevents them from harming any of the forest's plant life, leading to some... [[ImAHumanitarian unconventional]] dietary choices, or forming any kind of industry as we know it--they can't cut down trees to build houses, so they use magic to reshape the trees into homes, and they can't mine iron or steel so [[RockBeatsLaser they fashion their bows and blades out of bone and horn, and their armor out of leather or fur]] ([[ArmorIsUseless when they bother to wear it at all]]). Despite this, most Valenwood Bosmer are rather light-hearted and approachable, and more likely to invite you to dinner than [[ToServeMan make you dinner]].

* ''Franchise/StarTrek'' has a long history of using the Space Savage, although typically in a cautionary role that makes a statement about people with power abusing those who are less fortunate or advanced than themselves.

* The Togrutas from ''Franchise/StarWars''. [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ahsoka_Tano Some]] [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Ashla_(Jedi) of]] [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Shaak_Ti them]] even become Jedi.