Line #17 PlayingWith/ThePollyanna


1	'''Basic Trope''': A character is irrepressibly sweet-natured and optimistic, whatever comes their way.
2	* '''Straight''': Polly is unappreciated at work and [[MaritalRapeLicense taken for granted by her husband]], but she always seems to look on the bright side.
3	* '''Exaggerated''': Even as buildings crumble around her and she gains an infectious, life-ending disease, Polly's happy optimistic spirit is never broken.
4	* '''Downplayed''': Polly is more optimistic than average, but has a breaking point.
5	* '''Justified''':
6	** Polly is a FisherKing, and knows that her getting into a bad mood will only make the world worse.
7	** Polly is TheFundamentalist, and believes that whatever befalls her on Earth will be compensated a thousandfold in the afterlife.
8	** Polly is a [[BreakTheCutie very broken girl]] and continues to be happy, no matter what happens, because she doesn't know anything else.
9	** She finds thinking positively a useful coping mechanism.
10	* '''Inverted''':
11	** TheEeyore
12	** Polly is loved by her peers and [[BornLucky is pretty lucky]], but she never thinks positive.
13	* '''Subverted''':
14	** Polly is revealed to be a StepfordSmiler.
15	** BewareTheNiceOnes - she might seem lovey-dovey, but she can kick ass if she needs to.
16	* '''Double Subverted''': Polly's cheery facade may have cracked, but her optimism is sincerely felt - everyone has their off days.
17	* '''Parodied''': Polly skips, smiling, through a CrapsackWorld, [[DisneyCreaturesOfTheFarce singing duets with turkey vultures]] and blowing kisses to DisasterScavengers.
18	* '''Zig Zagged''': The work veers all over the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism, while Polly's characterisation switches from PrincessClassic to Stepford Smiler DependingOnTheWriter.
19	* '''Averted''': Polly's fairly realistic in her worldview.
20	* '''Enforced''': "This is a kids show, but we've made it into a bit of a CrapsaccharineWorld. We need the hero to look on the bright side or the kids might start noticing the NightmareFuel"
21	* '''Lampshaded''':
22	** "Do you ''ever'' stop smiling?"
23	** "So [[LetMeGetThisStraight let me see if I get this straight;]] Your [[WithFriendsLikeThese friends]] [[{{ButtMonkey}} regularly use you as a human punching bag]] and [[CrapsackWorld wake up every day knowing you might just get executed]]...and yet, [[PerpetualSmiler you're always so chipper]]! [[AngstWhatAngst What's wrong with you?]]" "I just ThinkHappyThoughts!"
24	** "Someone so chipper, in spite of [[TraumaCongaLine all the crap she goes through?]] [[SomebodyElsesProblem Her problem, not mine.]]"
25	* '''Invoked''': Polly believes in karma - if she's nice to everyone else, they're more likely to be nice to her.
26	* '''Exploited''': Polly's optimism makes her lovable in-universe, and she's a surprisingly effective peacekeeper for that reason... She can talk people down from desperation, nobody wants to risk making her upset for any reason (not that it's easy to do), and even hardened villains [[HeelFaceTurn turn]] [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe Because She Was Nice To Them.]]
27	* '''Defied''': "Just because I'm a NiceGirl doesn't mean I'm going to keep all your spirits up! This place ''sucks!''"
28	* '''Discussed''': "Why couldn't my sidekick be one of those irrepressible happy little girl sidekicks? I'm sick of this DeadpanSnarker following me around."
29	* '''Conversed''': ???
30	* '''Deconstructed''':
31	** Polly tries her hardest to maintain an upbeat disposition despite going through the TraumaCongaLine, but the emotional and mental strain of her sufferings [[BreakTheCutie eventually take their toll on her]], and [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds the results are quite devastating]].
32	** Polly's insistence on staying upbeat no matter the situation isn't always appropriate and [[InnocentlyInsensitive her saccharine sweetness ends up making people that are going through a hard time emotionaly feel even worse.]]
33	* '''Reconstructed:''' Maybe the world isn't perfect. Maybe [[Literature/{{Candide}} all isn't for the best in the best of all possible worlds]]. But Polly sees no point in despairing or giving in to [[KnightInSourArmour cynicism]], and honestly finds comfort in looking on the bright side of whatever happens.
34	* '''Played For Laughs''': [[BlackComedy (immediately after being shot) "Ooh! Free bullets!"]]
35	* '''Played For Drama''': Polly's sunny outlook doesn't stop the world trying its best to BreakTheCutie. It's revealed to be a struggle for her to constantly pretend to be in a good mood, putting her under even more stress than simply riding out the storm would have done.
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37	Wasn't that fun? And this ''one little link'' will take you straight back to ThePollyanna. Yay!
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39	%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
40	%%
41	%%* '''Implied''': ???
42	%%* '''Plotted A Good Waste''': ???

Context PlayingWith / ThePollyanna