Line #93 Main/BarefootSage


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5	[[quoteright:333:[[WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/guru_pathik11.jpg]]]]
6	[[caption-width-right:333:[[IceCreamKoan Death is but an illusion... and so are shoes.]]]]
7	->Maia could never get over how quiet the Xanti were, how careful of the land. They treated every clump of trees or trickle of water as though they were old friends. They could walk barefoot over thorns and through swamps and piles of leaves which might easily have concealed a snake, but somehow they knew that it didn't.\
8	"They have wise feet," the professor said.
9	-->-- ''Literature/JourneyToTheRiverSea''
10
11	The archetypal character of a sage, a mentor, an oracle, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wise_Old_Man_and_Wise_Old_Woman a wise person]] is sometimes given an unusual additional trait: [[PrefersGoingBarefoot an aversion to shoes]]. It may be because of [[HermitGuru religious asceticism]], [[EarthyBarefootCharacter special connection to nature]], or just [[EccentricMentor general eccentricity]]. Whatever the cause is, the lack of footwear (especially in public places) makes the character look singular and different from everyone else, and therefore may serve to emphasize that they know and see more than an ordinary person does, and is just too wise to care about social conventions. The religious connotations (like the said asceticism, or "bare feet on holy ground") may also come in handy.
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13	There is also a seemingly practical thought regarding one particular issue; if the character has a hermit-like mentality and is depicted as never really moving from one spot (like meditating in one particular spot), then the need for having shoes is kinda moot and they'd might as well air out their feet. This logic however is fairly FridgeLogic-inducing since it implies that they are so far into their religious or academic pursuit that they never need to move around even to satisfy the most basic of human needs such as eating, sleeping, or [[NobodyPoops pooping]]. This can arguably be seen as a weird combination of ConservationOfDetail and EstablishingCharacterMoment, since if we'd only see these isolated characters as they interact with other people who sought them out, then it would be easier and quicker to establish their devotion to the particular lifestyle by catching them exactly in the act of the aforementioned lifestyle that makes them stand out to the rest of society.
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15	See also BarefootPoverty and MagicalHomelessPerson; compare and contrast with BarefootLoon. Very often overlaps with MagicalBarefooter; may also overlap with GranolaGirl or NewAgeRetroHippie, if the character's wisdom is of "New Agey" type. Compare BaldMystic and PosthumanNudism.
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17	----
18	!!Examples
19
20	[[foldercontrol]]
21
22	[[folder:Comic Books]]
23	* The Oracle of Kandrakar, from the ''ComicBook/{{WITCH}}'' franchise.
24	* Tia Dalma from ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'' comics matches this to a certain extent (it is unclear whether she wears any shoes in the movies).
25	** ''Literature/TheKingdomKeepers'' series also describe her as perpetually barefoot.
26	* ComicBook/XMen:
27	** [[Characters/MarvelComicsXMan Nate Grey]] became this during [[ComicBook/XManCounterX his "Prophet" phase]]. As was shown during his membership of the ComicBook/NewMutants, this worked out rather better before his {{depower}}, when he was a nigh-omnipotent telekinetic who could levitate over convenient obstacles and, well. Dirt.
28	** Australian ally Gateway is an Aboriginal shaman who is only ever seen in a loincloth and bare feet.
29	[[/folder]]
30
31	[[folder:Film -- Animated]]
32	* Mama Odie, the good voodoo priestess in ''WesternAnimation/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', is constantly barefoot. This is partly this trope, partly EarthyBarefootCharacter given her connection to nature, and partly practicality since she lives in a swamp.
33	[[/folder]]
34
35	[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
36	* Hypatia from ''{{Film/Agora}}'' is an unusual example: she's not always barefoot, but she seems to have a habit of taking off her footwear when indoors (in particular, teaching her students barefoot).
37	* Yoda from the ''Franchise/StarWars'' franchise. Wise, he is. Wear shoes, he does not.
38	[[/folder]]
39
40	[[folder:Fanfiction]]
41	* Terra Caldwell, from ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5330983/1/Convergent_Paths Convergent Paths]]'' (a ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' fanfic). Almost never wears shoes [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5330983/63/Convergent_Paths (lampshaded at one point),]] is very spiritual and into meditation, and "[[ProverbialWisdom speaks like a wise elder of a village]]" when in meditative state.
42	* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/7140785/11/The-Little-Prince The Little Prince,]]'' the [[EccentricMentor eccentric]] magician Coriakin from ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia'' was the mentor for young Dumbledore and Grindelwald from ''Literature/HarryPotter'', and Grindelwald, being the arrogant jerk he is, criticized his mentor for going barefoot... [[InsultBackfire which just made Coriakin want to laugh]].
43	[[/folder]]
44
45	[[folder:Literature]]
46	* Maura Sargent, the main character's mother from ''Literature/TheRavenCycle'', has a penchant for going barefoot, and her sagacity comes with the territory of being psychic and doing [[TarotMotifs Tarot card readings]].
47	* Coriakin, Ramandu, and the Hermit of the Southern March from ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfNarnia''.
48	* The eccentric artist Honora Menapace, from ''Literature/SkinDeep'' by E. M. Crane, serves as a source of wisdom for the main character Andrea. She is very New Agey and tends to go barefoot a lot.
49	* In ''Literature/TheWiseMansFear'', the HermitGuru Jax encounters in Hespe's story.
50	* Oonagh from ''Literature/TheProphecyOfTheStones'', emphasizing her combination of wisdom and childlike innocence.
51	* Medwyn from ''Literature/TheChroniclesOfPrydain''.
52	* Wizard Whitebeard from ''Literature/WheresWally'' is always barefoot.
53	* ''The Barefoot Indian: The Making of a Messiahress'' by Julia Heywood has the titular Barefoot Indian, a mysterious woman who guides the main character to enlightenment.
54	* Downplayed in ''Literature/AliceGirlFromTheFuture'': the wise Chinese professor Lu Fu from ''The Kindness Ray'' wears only light sandals even in cold weather, probably as a way to show asceticism and/or [[EccentricMentor nonconformism]].
55	* Greylock, the sage/mentor figure from ''Literature/DemonsOfTheDeep'', is depicted barefoot in an illustration.
56	* Likewise, ''Sword Quest'' from the ''Usborne Fantasy Adventure'' series by Andy Dixon has Muddle the Magician, a quirky absent-minded sorcerer [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/muddle.jpg who is depicted barefoot in an illustration]], probably to emphasize his eccentricity.
57	[[/folder]]
58
59	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
60	* Dojjen, the desert-dwelling HermitGuru in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' story "Snakedance", is noticeably barefoot.
61	* Cody from ''Series/DualSurvival'' regularly displayed a vast understanding of both survival skills and scientific knowledge. He was also barefoot in nearly every survival scenario, only wearing shoes when necessary to protect his feet.
62	[[/folder]]
63
64	[[folder:Mythology]]
65	* The wise wizard Myth/{{Merlin}} from the Arthurian lore is frequently depicted barefoot in illustrations.
66	[[/folder]]
67
68	[[folder:Theatre]]
69	* Friar Laurence from ''Theatre/RomeoAndJuliet'' is very often portrayed barefoot. However, as "sagey" as he is, he still makes a fatal mistake.
70	[[/folder]]
71
72	[[folder:Video Games]]
73	* The mentor of the main character in ''VideoGame/AvencastRiseOfTheMage'' is shown barefoot. The rest of the mages of the setting seem to have a penchant for sandals and unconventional footwear.
74	* In ''VideoGame/DiabloII'', the [[EccentricMentor eccentric sage]] Ormus [[https://wow.zamimg.com/uploads/screenshots/normal/1034878-diablo-2-resurrected-new-models-build-65890.jpg does not wear]] [[https://diablo2.io/download/file.php?id=18980 any shoes]].
75	* Shy-Ann from ''VideoGame/GirlDetectiveSweetSixties'' has shades of this. She's a spiritual Native American hippie, who always seems to be in meditation and doesn't wear shoes. She is also a time traveler like the main character and gives her hints on the gameplay.
76	* Stella from ''VideoGame/GoodbyeVolcanoHigh'' is a mystic who provides Tarot readings throughout the game to give Fang clarity and direction for their future decisions, and she's always barefoot.
77	* Voodoo Lady in the two first ''VideoGame/MonkeyIsland'' installments.
78	* ''VideoGame/PinkPantherHokusPokusPink'': [[spoiler: Strangeblood, who is originally considered an evil warlock, but turns out to be a good and wise magician.]] He is always seen without shoes.
79	* Dahlia Gillespie from ''VideoGame/SilentHill1'' seems to be a mixture of this, BarefootLoon, and MadOracle with her cryptic/prophetic speeches and her seeming willingness to help the protagonist. [[spoiler: A very dark subversion actually. She is the BigBad who deliberately played up this image (including cryptic predictions, etc.) in order to make Harry her unwitting accomplice.]]
80	* ''VideoGame/SpellingJungle'': Yobi, the village wise man. Wali, his apprentice, also goes barefoot. (Averted in the sequel ''Spelling Blizzard'' though.)
81	* ''Franchise/StreetFighter''
82	** Dhalsim is a master yogi who's wisened by years of self-mastery and curbing conflict, hence why he goes everywhere barefoot (also because he can freely levitate and teleport, so he doesn't need to ever touch the ground).
83	** Oro is a 140-year-old hermit and candidate for one of the most powerful fighters in ''Street Fighter'' canon. He tends to keep to his training and meditation, hence his preference for going barefoot.
84	* The Wiseman from ''VideoGame/TheTraderOfStories''.
85	[[/folder]]
86
87	[[folder:Western Animation]]
88	* In ''WesternAnimation/AtlantisTheLostEmpire'', there was to be an Indian mystic and medium called Zoltan the Magnificent who claimed to be able to communicate [[{{Telepathy}} telepathically]] with the Atlanteans ([[DummiedOut he was cut from the final version of the movie]]). [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/atlantis__page_083.jpg Judging by the character sketches]], he doesn't wear any shoes, which ties into his hermit-like persona.
89	* In ''WesternAnimation/Castlevania2017'', the Speakers are a tribe of nomadic scholars with magical powers whose clothing is similar to that of monastic orders: namely, they wear long robes with hoods and open-toed sandals. And they keep on wearing sandals even in the cold Romanian winter.
90	* Aum, from ''Omer and the Starchild'' animated series.
91	* The Wise Warlock from "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?" episode in ''WesternAnimation/SabrinaTheAnimatedSeries''.
92	* In the ''WesternAnimation/ThunderCats2011'' episode "The Duelist and the Drifter", the Drifter is a BarefootCartoonAnimal (specifically, a RighteousRabbit) who becomes Lion-O's EccentricMentor.
93	* [[Characters/AvatarTheLastAirbenderTophBeifong Toph Beifong]] from ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' eventually became one of these in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'', after growing old and retiring to the swamps. (She'd always been [[EarthyBarefootCharacter barefoot]], it was the "sage" part that was a change from her [[TheLadette youthful personality]].)
94	** Guru Pathik, even earlier than her.
95	* Chikara, the kooky fortune teller from ''WesternAnimation/ScoobyDooAndKissRockAndRollMystery'', is always barefoot. It's unclear whether she is this trope, or BarefootLoon, or (most likely) both.
96	* An ''Literature/AesopsFables'' cartoon produced by Creator/{{Filmation}} depicts Aesop (played by Creator/BillCosby) like this in the live-action/animated FramingDevice. He also requires his visitors to remove their shoes, as his guard (a talking tree) explains:
97	-->Removing the shoes encourages circulation, instills a sense of freedom, and stimulates thought.
98	* The "Working Through Pain" segment of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanGothamKnight'' has a beautiful Indian mystic named Cassandra who becomes a mentor to Bruce. She is perpetually barefoot.
99	* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDragonJakeLong'': Lao Shi.
100	* Chava the Wise from ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'' follows in Yoda's (bare) footsteps.
101	[[/folder]]
102
103	[[folder:Real Life]]
104	* Bodhidharma is depicted in art as being barefoot. The Daruma doll is an aversion -- his arms and legs are gone from nine years of meditation.
105	* Creator/{{Socrates}}, probably the UrExample. The most famous depiction of his life is actually called ''Barefoot in Athens''.
106	* Many saints and blessed ones, of both Christianity and Eastern religions like UsefulNotes/{{Hinduism}}.
107	* The Muslim saint Bishr ibn Hareth, nicknamed Bishr al-Hafi (Bishr the Barefoot).
108	* The Latvian EccentricArtist [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voldemars_Irbe Voldemārs Irbe]] combined this with BarefootLoon. He was known for his disheveled appearance and going barefoot all year round, and was also deeply religious and enjoyed holding philosophical conversations about God and the meaning of life with random bypassers.
109	* {{Invoked\|Trope}} with [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_hermit the 18th century garden hermits]]. Rich landowners actually paid people who would agree to live in a hermitage in their garden, dressing like druids and giving sage advice to guests. Not wearing shoes was often required by the contract.
110	* Some Christian religious orders go barefoot or wear only sandals as an ascetic practice. They are referred to in Catholicism as "discalced", which is an elaborate pseudo-Latin translation for "shoeless".
111	* Some hippies/New Age practitioners. Many of them are just pretenders, but a few really possess some sort of spiritual insight.
112	* There is a story that John Chapman, a.k.a. "UsefulNotes/JohnnyAppleseed", once came across a frontier sermon where the preacher asked "what happened to the old Christians who went barefoot to do the work of Christ?", to which Chapman picked up his foot and said "here he is".
113	[[/folder]]

Context Main / BarefootSage