History Moe / Literature

* Creator/CharlesDickens also dipped into this territory on occasion; Tiny Tim is another excellent example of this trope (and, in a rare case, applied to a male - even in the 19th century this was usually done to girls). In fact, part of the narrative purpose of Tiny Tim was to be moe ''in-universe'' to help Scrooge feel bad about the fact that he'd inevitably die unless Scrooge changed his ways.
* Of course, Creator/CharlesDickens being, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Charles Dickens]], he then immediately set about ''subverting'' the trope. ''The Old Curiosity Shop'' featured the character of Little Nell Trent, who was moe turned UpToEleven. The craze surrounding this girl [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Curiosity_Shop#Literary_significance_and_criticism is legendary]]; Dickens essentially made entire countries feel protective about Nell. In the end, she dies in the most ridiculous, overwrought manner imaginable, and Dickens did this ''deliberately'' in order to parody the overly-objectified young females of the day in fiction. Yes, that's right, Dickens essentially deconstructed moe a hundred and fifty years prior to ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'' airing. [[OlderThanTheyThink How old do you think the trope is now?]]

** An even better deconstruction that he did was Dora from ''Literature/DavidCopperfield'', a vulnerable AdultChild ManicPixieDreamGirl barely able to take care of herself. David falls in love with her and marries her, but finds that she's completely useless at helping him around the house. It gets to the point where he's more of her caretaker than husband, and though he still loves her dearly, it takes an enormous mental toll on him.

* In ''Literature/DragonBones'' there is Oreg, who is technically [[Really700YearsOld older than everyone else]], but looks about seventeen. He was [[MadeASlave turned into the fuel]] for a PoweredByAForsakenChild castle at the age he seems to be, and has been a slave bound by magic ever since. His material body is described as being relatively small. He ''is'' a very powerful mage, but as he can only use his magic if his master approves, that doesn't change the fact that one just wants to give him a hug.

* In the ''Literature/HarryPotter'' books and movies, Luna "Loony" Lovegood is considered by some to be moe, even causing [[{{Imageboards}} Anonymous]] to have the unusual reaction of "I want to date her and meet her parents" rather than "I want to have [[{{Gorn}} violent]], {{squick}}y sex with her, then kill her"
** Luna is certainly {{Adorkable}} and innocent, but there's [[HiddenDepths much more to her]] than she lets on, and she ''does'' have an acute and realistic understanding of the world behind all that dreaminess, [[WiseBeyondTheirYears perhaps more acute than most people's]]. But she does get this treatment a lot from the fanbase, which unanimously adores her along with Neville.
*** Neville himself. Between his wimpy, bullied, but plucky {{Woobie}}-ness and {{ButtMonkey}}-ness, he's every ounce a "Male Moe"

* Victor Hugo really had a ''thing'' for this kind of character. [[Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame Esmeralda]] also fits this type, being an [[TheIngenue ingenue]] and [[TheWoobie woobie]] who goes through a horrendous BreakTheCutie process until [[spoiler: she dies.]]
* Prim from ''Literature/TheHungerGames''. Her sweetness and innocence is a little exaggerated by the main character, who is her older sister and would do anything to protect her. She becomes less of a {{Moe}} during the events of the second book, when she takes up to helping their mother treat starving and injured patients, and thus has to grow up too quickly. However, the second book also lampshades the trope; during the Games after one Gamemaker trick tricks Katniss into believing Prim had tortured, Johanna points out that Panem loves Prim so much that if it were real, the Capitol citizens (who regularly enjoy seeing children of the Games slaughtered) would riot.

** has Cosette. The {{Animated Adaptation}}s that have aired in Japan over the years seem like they might've cranked the "moe" meter for her up to 11... but, uh, nope, that's pretty much ''exactly'' how she was described and acted in the book. Especially once she starts getting abused by the Thenadiers, even the most stoic among us pretty much want to scoop her up and give her a big hug and tell her it'll all be okay. Valjean then ''does'' this, and you can't help but cheer. This fades a little when she gets older, but Victor Hugo still makes her seem quite vulnerable.

* Ilke from ''Literature/{{Phenomena}}'' is the most popular character in the series, being an [[BadassAdorable Adorable]] {{Tomboy}} with [[AnIcePerson Frost Powers]] and difficulties with [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny staying focused]] while having problems of being completely honest of her own feelings caused many to love her. Her being blue ([[MakesSenseInContext due to her powers]]) made a rise in how many had blue as their favorite color in Norway. [[spoiler: And then she [[TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth died]]]].
* Creator/GeorgeRRMartin's ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'':

* Ilke from ''Literature/{{Phenomena}}'' is the most popular character in the series, being an [[BadassAdorable Adorable]] {{Tomboy}} with [[AnIcePerson Frost Powers]] and difficulties with [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny staying focused]] while having problems of being completely honest of her own feelings caused many to love her. Her being blue ([[MakesSenseInContext due to her powers]]) made a rise in how many had blue as their favorite color in Norway. [[spoiler: And then she [[TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth died]]]].
* In ''Literature/DragonBones'' there is Oreg, who is technically [[Really700YearsOld older than everyone else]], but looks about seventeen. He was [[MadeASlave turned into the fuel]] for a PoweredByAForsakenChild castle at the age he seems to be, and has been a slave bound by magic ever since. His material body is described as being relatively small. He ''is'' a very powerful mage, but as he can only use his magic if his master approves, that doesn't change the fact that one just wants to give him a hug.
* ''Literature/LesMiserables'':
** has Cosette. The {{Animated Adaptation}}s that have aired in Japan over the years seem like they might've cranked the "moe" meter for her up to 11... but, uh, nope, that's pretty much ''exactly'' how she was described and acted in the book. Especially once she starts getting abused by the Thenadiers, even the most stoic among us pretty much want to scoop her up and give her a big hug and tell her it'll all be okay. Valjean then ''does'' this, and you can't help but cheer. This fades a little when she gets older, but Victor Hugo still makes her seem quite vulnerable.
** Cosette's ''mother'', Fantine. She gets knocked up and abandoned, debases herself in every way to help her daughter, and ends up [[TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth dying of several diseases]] ''at once''. Or how about Eponine in the second half, who ends up destitute, uneducated, and in love with Marius but with no way to really express it, complete with {{Verbal Tic}}s? (Not to mention shot dead pointlessly?) Really, the only major female character who ''doesn't'' have some of these elements is Madame Thenadier.
** Also, you'll note something about the above: "Anime Adaptation'''''s'''''". There have been four different adaptations of Les Mis produced in Japan, mostly from 1978-1979, and ''every single one'' featured a significant focus on Cosette (usually as a little girl, but sometimes going into the latter parts of the novel). The 1970s ones were widely watched, and a savvy reader can imagine how Cosette was portrayed in these shows (which is to say: close to her novel depiction). Even though it's easy to identify when the trope as described on the main page "coalesced", there is a very, ''very'' good argument to be made that Japanese moe trends all trace back to Cosette Fauchelevent, in a kind of century-spanning GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff situation.
* Victor Hugo really had a ''thing'' for this kind of character. [[Literature/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame Esmeralda]] also fits this type, being an [[TheIngenue ingenue]] and [[TheWoobie woobie]] who goes through a horrendous BreakTheCutie process until [[spoiler: she dies.]]

* Tess, the eponymous protagonist of ''Literature/TessOfTheDUrbervilles'' is another example. Put through so much pain that you just want to give her a hug, not to mention being chaste and pure (at first, anyway). Like a lot of examples from this time period, though, the end result [[BreakTheCutie ends up a bit tragic]].

* Elizabeth "Beth" March from ''Literature/LittleWomen'': a sweet, selfless but painfully shy and ProneToTears and KindheartedCatLover [[spoiler: who eventually becomes an IllGirl and dies. [[TearJerker Sniff]].]]
** Even more so in the [[Anime/AiNoWakakusaMonogatari 1987 anime]], where she is aged down from 12 to 10, which also makes her a bit of a LonelyDollGirl too, as if she couldn't be more adorable.

* ''Literature/{{Twilight}}'''s Renee Dwyer, mother of Bella. She's described as [[CompetenceZone helpless]] and [[AdultsAreUseless childlike]] ''by her own daughter'' and if she hadn't met her [[MealTicket baseball player boyfriend]] she'd be broke, starving, and [[NoSenseOfDirection wandering around Florida]].
** For that matter, Bella herself. [[ShrinkingViolet No self-esteem]], clumsy, [[StalkingIsLove likes being stalked]], has no other purpose in life than to serve her husband and kid? American Moe to the max.
*** Some commentators have described ''Twilight'' as the Western, heterosexual equivalent of yaoi manga in its relationship dynamics, and it's fairly common to give the {{Uke}} moe qualities.
* Bonnie [=McCullough=] from ''Literature/TheVampireDiaries'' book series is the absolute personification of this trope.
* Literature/BertieWooster frequently gets this treatment in fanfiction. He is entertainingly ditzy, goodhearted, and frequently in (temporary) distress due to the wacky ComedicSociopathy-fueled schemes of his friends, and many female fans find him rather huggable.
** Note that he has this quality ''in-universe'', which is why he's such a ChickMagnet.
---> ''"I once consulted a knowledgeable pal," I said, "and his theory was that the sight of me hanging about like a loony sheep awoke the maternal instinct in Woman. There may be something in this."''
* ''Literature/UnseenAcademicals'''s Mister Nutt isn't classically cute, but he is a good example of the "[[{{Adorkable}} adorably awkward]]" type of male moe character: shy, [[NoSocialSkills socially awkward]] in a polite, [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness erudite]] sort of way, a real sweetheart but seriously lacking in self-esteem and generally [[TheWoobie in dire need of a hug]]. All this is rather incongruous, considering what he [[BadassBookworm turns out]] [[SuperSoldier to be.]] [[spoiler: When Pratchett uses OurOrcsAreDifferent, he doesn't fool around. Also, despite the fact Nutt is gray-skinned and unattractive, [[InterspeciesRomance Glenda sees something in him]].]]
** Walter Plinge from ''Maskerade'' as well. He's just so ''earnest'' in his gawky misfit-ness. [[spoiler: Totally subverted by the end. You can call Ghost!Walter a lot of things, but Moe isn't one of them]].
* Veesey-koosey from Corwainer Smith's short story "Think blue, count two" is a passenger in suspended animation aboard an interstellar vessel who as been selected to be part of the emergency crew not because she was good at anything but because she has a daughter potential of 999,999, meaning that anyone older than her would accept her as a daughter after a few minutes of relationship and because of that that person would be extremely motivated to save her life and hence the ship.
* Creator/GeorgeRRMartin's ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'':
** Specifically invoked this with [[spoiler: Shae]] during [[spoiler: Tyrion's trial for murdering Joffrey]]; when she tells a (totally untrue) story of how he horribly abused her, the text says, "As the tears rolled down that pretty face, no doubt every man in the hall wanted to take [[spoiler: Shae]] in his arms and comfort her," which is practically the definition of Moe. The circumstances make it one of the most brutal subversions of this trope you're ever likely to encounter.
** To the people that like her, Sansa Stark. She is so sweet and in such a [[TraumaCongaLine bad situation]] you just can't help but want to take her away from King's Landing and bring her back home. Her sister Arya might count if she weren't so [[CreepyChild disturbing]].
** Tommen is the most adorable little boy in this side of the Narrow Sea. Too bad [[spoiler: a maegi prophesied his death.]]
* Prim from ''Literature/TheHungerGames''. Her sweetness and innocence is a little exaggerated by the main character, who is her older sister and would do anything to protect her. She becomes less of a {{Moe}} during the events of the second book, when she takes up to helping their mother treat starving and injured patients, and thus has to grow up too quickly. However, the second book also lampshades the trope; during the Games after one Gamemaker trick tricks Katniss into believing Prim had tortured, Johanna points out that Panem loves Prim so much that if it were real, the Capitol citizens (who regularly enjoy seeing children of the Games slaughtered) would riot.
** Katniss also sees her Hunger Games competitor Rue as this, as, aside from being black (whereas Prim has pale white skin) she reminds Katniss of Prim in every way, including being around the same age. [[spoiler:Rue gets killed in front of Katniss and dies in her arms, but remains a driving force behind some of Katniss' motivations throughout the rest of the series to fight against the Capitol]].

* Prim from ''Literature/TheHungerGames''. Her sweetness and innocence is a little exaggerated by the main character, who is her older sister and would do anything to protect her. She becomes less of a {{Moe}} during the events of the second book, when she takes up to helping their mother treat starving and injured patients, and thus has to grow up too quickly.

* In the Literature/RealRPG novel ''Literature/MindGames,'' [[CatGirl Danielle]]. Also, when she's being protective, Sally.

* ''Discworld/UnseenAcademicals'''s Mister Nutt isn't classically cute, but he is a good example of the "[[{{Adorkable}} adorably awkward]]" type of male moe character: shy, [[NoSocialSkills socially awkward]] in a polite, [[SesquipedalianLoquaciousness erudite]] sort of way, a real sweetheart but seriously lacking in self-esteem and generally [[TheWoobie in dire need of a hug]]. All this is rather incongruous, considering what he [[BadassBookworm turns out]] [[SuperSoldier to be.]] [[spoiler: When Pratchett uses OurOrcsAreDifferent, he doesn't fool around. Also, despite the fact Nutt is gray-skinned and unattractive, [[InterspeciesRomance Glenda sees something in him]].]]

** Also, you'll note something about the above: "Anime Adaptation'''''s'''''". There have been four different adaptations of Les Mis produced in Japan, mostly from 1978-1979, and ''every single one'' featured a significant focus on Cosette (usually as a little girl, but sometimes going into the latter parts of the novel). The 1970s ones were widely watched, and a savvy reader can imagine how Cosette was portrayed in these shows (which is to say: close to her novel depiction). Even though it's easy to identify when the trope as shown here "coalesced", there is a very, ''very'' good argument to be made that Japanese moe trends all trace back to Cosette Fauchelevent, in a kind of century-spanning GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff situation.

** Tommen is the most adorable little boy in this side of a Narrow Sea. Too bad [[spoiler: a maegi prophesied his death.]]

* Elizabeth "Beth" March from ''Literature/LittleWomen'': a sweet, selfless but painfully shy FragileFlower and KindheartedCatLover [[spoiler: who eventually becomes an IllGirl and dies. [[TearJerker Sniff]].]]

** Also, you'll note something about the above: "Anime Adaptation'''''s'''''". There have been four different adaptations of Les Mis produced in Japan, mostly from 1978-1979, and ''every single one'' featured a significant focus on Cosette (usually as a little girl, but sometimes going into the latter parts of the novel). The 1970s ones were widely watched, and a savvy reader can imagine how Cosette was portrayed in these shows (which is to say: close to her novel depiction). Even though it's easy to identify when the trope as shown here "coalesced", there is a very, ''very'' good argument to be made that the current Japanese moe wave and its idolization all traces back to Cosette Fauchelevent, in a kind of century-spanning GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff situation.

** An even better deconstruction that he did was Dora from DavidCopperfield, a vulnerable AdultChild ManicPixieDreamGirl barely able to take care of herself. David falls in love with her and marries her, but finds that she's completely useless at helping him around the house. It gets to the point where he's more of her caretaker than husband, and though he still loves her dearly, it takes an enormous mental toll on him.

* GeorgeRRMartin's ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'' specifically invokes this with [[spoiler: Shae]] during [[spoiler: Tyrion's trial for murdering Joffrey]]; when she tells a (totally untrue) story of how he horribly abused her, the text says, "As the tears rolled down that pretty face, no doubt every man in the hall wanted to take [[spoiler: Shae]] in his arms and comfort her," which is practically the definition of Moe. The circumstances make it one of the most brutal subversions of this trope you're ever likely to encounter.

* Of course, Creator/Charles Dickens being, well, [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Charles Dickens]], he then immediately set about ''subverting'' the trope. ''The Old Curiosity Shop'' featured the character of Little Nell Trent, who was moe turned UpToEleven. The craze surrounding this girl [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Curiosity_Shop#Literary_significance_and_criticism is legendary]]; Dickens essentially made entire countries feel protective about Nell. In the end, she dies in the most ridiculous, overwrought manner imaginable, and Dickens did this ''deliberately'' in order to parody the overly-objectified young females of the day in fiction. Yes, that's right, Dickens essentially deconstructed moe a hundred and fifty years prior to ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'' airing. [[OlderThanTheyThink How old do you think the trope is now?]]

* Of course, Charles Dickens being, well, Creator/CharlesDickens, he then immediately set about ''subverting'' the trope. ''The Old Curiosity Shop'' featured the character of Little Nell Trent, who was moe turned UpToEleven. The craze surrounding this girl [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Old_Curiosity_Shop#Literary_significance_and_criticism is legendary]]; Dickens essentially made entire countries feel protective about Nell. In the end, she dies in the most ridiculous, overwrought manner imaginable, and Dickens did this ''deliberately'' in order to parody the overly-objectified young females of the day in fiction. Yes, that's right, Dickens essentially deconstructed moe a hundred and fifty years prior to ''Manga/CardcaptorSakura'' airing. [[OlderThanTheyThink How old do you think the trope is now?]]

* Victor Hugo really had a ''thing'' for this kind of character. Esmeralda also fits this type, being an [[TheIngenue ingenue]] and [[TheWoobie woobie]] who goes through a horrendous BreakTheCutie process until [[spoiler: she dies.]]

* OHenry loved characters like this. Half his female characters match the trope almost exactly.

* Ilke from ''Literature/{{Phenomena}}'' is the most popular character in the series, being an [[BadassAdorable Adorable]] {{Tomboy}} with [[AnIcePerson Frost Powers]] and difficulties with [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny staying focused]] while having problems of being completely honest of her own feelings caused many to love her. Her being blue ([[MakesSenseInContext due to her powers]]) made a rise in how many had blue as their favorite color in Norway. [[spoiler: And then she [[TooGoodForThisSinfullEarth died]]]].

* Ilke from ''Literature/{{Phenomena}}'' is the most popular character in the series, being an [[BadassAdorable Adorable]] {{Tomboy}} with [[AnIcePerson Frost Powers]] and difficulties with [[AttentionDeficitOohShiny staying focused]] while having problems of being completely honest of her own feelings caused many to love her. Her being blue ([[MakesSenseInContext due to her powers]]) made a rise in how many had blue as their favorite color in Norway. [[spoiler: And then she [[TooGoodForThisSinfullEarth died]].

** Harry's daughter, Maggie, is another example. The poor kid has been through a lot, what with being kidnapped and almost used for a ritual that would annihilate her entire bloodline. Her dad also avoids her out of guilt. When Maggie finally does talk to Harry, her interactions with her dad are adorable and bring some much-needed heartwarming for the fans.

* [[spoiler: Invoked in ''Literature/TheHost'' by the choice of Wanda's final host, who is so petite and pretty that other people will naturally want to protect her and not suspect her of anything.]]

* Veesey-koosey from Corwainer Smith's short story "Think blue, count two" is a passenger in suspended animation aboard a interstellar vessel who as been selected to be part of the emergency crew not because she was good at anything but because she has a daughter potential of 999,999, meaning that anyone older than her would accept her as a daughter after a few minutes of relationship and because of that that person would be extremely motivated to save her life and hence the ship.

** In ''JohnDevil'', Gregoryi Temple's Daughter might qualify.

* The first ''[[TheDresdenFiles Dresden Files]]'' comic, ''Welcome to the Jungle'' features Willamena "Will" Rodgers. {{Meganekko}} glasses: check. Twin braids: check. Deer in the headlights look: check. Wants to be under the hero's protection: check.

* Elizabeth "Beth" March from ''LittleWomen'': a sweet, selfless but painfully shy FragileFlower and KindheartedCatLover [[spoiler: who eventually becomes an IllGirl and dies. [[TearJerker Sniff]].]]

* Bonnie [=McCullough=] from ''TheVampireDiaries'' book series is the absolute personification of this trope.

* Veesey-koosey from Corwainer Smith's short story ''Think blue, count two'' is a passenger in suspended animation aboard a interstellar vessel who as been selected to be part of the emergency crew not because she was good at anything but because she has a daughter potential of 999,999, meaning that anyone older than her would accept her as a daughter after a few minutes of relationship and because of that that person would be extremely motivated to save her life and hence the ship.
* GeorgeRRMartin's ''ASongOfIceAndFire'' specifically invokes this with [[spoiler: Shae]] during [[spoiler: Tyrion's trial for murdering Joffrey]]; when she tells a (totally untrue) story of how he horribly abused her, the text says, "As the tears rolled down that pretty face, no doubt every man in the hall wanted to take [[spoiler: Shae]] in his arms and comfort her," which is practically the definition of Moe. The circumstances make it one of the most brutal subversions of this trope you're ever likely to encounter.

* In the ''HarryPotter'' books and movies, Luna "Loony" Lovegood is considered by some to be moe, even causing [[{{Imageboards}} Anonymous]] to have the unusual reaction of "I want to date her and meet her parents" rather than "I want to have [[{{Gorn}} violent]], {{squick}}y sex with her, then kill her"