Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 50 (click to see context) from:
* In the ''Literature/JohnnyMaxwell'' trilogy, Johnny tends towards this, mostly going along with what everyone else thinks, although he'll stand up if he thinks it's ''important''. [[CompassionateCritic Kirsty]] is always telling him off for this, completely failing to realise that this tendency is what makes him one of the few people her bossiness hasn't driven away.
to:
* In the ''Literature/JohnnyMaxwell'' trilogy, ''Literature/JohnnyMaxwellTrilogy'', Johnny tends towards this, mostly going along with what everyone else thinks, although he'll stand up if he thinks it's ''important''. [[CompassionateCritic Kirsty]] is always telling him off for this, completely failing to realise that this tendency is what makes him one of the few people her bossiness hasn't driven away.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* In the ''Literature/JohnnyMaxwell'' trilogy, Johnny tends towards this, mostly going along with what everyone else thinks, although he'll stand up if he thinks it's ''important''. [[CompassionateCritic Kirsty]] is always telling him off for this, completely failing to realise that this tendency is what makes him one of the few people her bossiness hasn't driven away.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ''Literature/EarthsChildren'':
** Clan women are generally raised to be obedient and deferential towards others - in particular men - but in ''The Clan of the Cave Bear'' Oga takes it to another level when it comes to her mate Broud. It's indicated this is due to Broud's [[HairTriggerTemper explosive tempers]], frightening her into meek submission.
** Although Fralie from ''The Mammoth Hunters'' is well-meaning, her lack of confidence and physical frailty means she tends to let both her mother and mate walk all over her, to the point of endangering herself and her unborn child. This stems back to her childhood, where she was persuaded by her mother to accept a betrothal despite disliking the man. Mamut remarks to Ayla that although he is sympathetic to Fralie, he feels that she could improve her situation by standing up to Crozie and Frebec but that she lacks will-power. Fralie later admits to Ayla that she doesn't want to intervene in their bickering because she understands where they're both coming from and doesn't want to hurt either of them, so she tries to remain passive.
** Clan women are generally raised to be obedient and deferential towards others - in particular men - but in ''The Clan of the Cave Bear'' Oga takes it to another level when it comes to her mate Broud. It's indicated this is due to Broud's [[HairTriggerTemper explosive tempers]], frightening her into meek submission.
** Although Fralie from ''The Mammoth Hunters'' is well-meaning, her lack of confidence and physical frailty means she tends to let both her mother and mate walk all over her, to the point of endangering herself and her unborn child. This stems back to her childhood, where she was persuaded by her mother to accept a betrothal despite disliking the man. Mamut remarks to Ayla that although he is sympathetic to Fralie, he feels that she could improve her situation by standing up to Crozie and Frebec but that she lacks will-power. Fralie later admits to Ayla that she doesn't want to intervene in their bickering because she understands where they're both coming from and doesn't want to hurt either of them, so she tries to remain passive.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 8 (click to see context) from:
to:
{{Extreme Doormat}}s in {{Literature}}.
----
----
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 76 (click to see context) from:
to:
* ''Literature/TheWitchOfKnightcharm'': A witch at an evil WizardingSchool named Janet Yawkly proves to be this. She's made to endure countless humiliations, including another witch forcibly renaming her to Yawkly on the bogus premise that this way she won't be mixed up with some other witch named Janet (who looks nothing like her whatsoever), and she's so scared and timorous that she does so without complaint.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ''Literature/TheRiseOfRenegadeX'': In the fifth book, Kat is initially envious of how her AlternateSelf seems like TheAce, before realizing that she just does everything her parents tell her to (even get engaged) without any reflection of whether it is the right thing to do and/or what she really wants.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
* Homer Simpson (no, not [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons that one]]) in Nathanael West's Literature/TheDayOfTheLocust allows everyone -- from his love interest to his neighbors to various shady salesmen, push him around and manipulate him.
to:
* Homer Simpson (no, not [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons that one]]) in Nathanael West's Literature/TheDayOfTheLocust ''Literature/TheDayOfTheLocust'' allows everyone -- from his love interest to his neighbors to various shady salesmen, push him around and manipulate him.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 20 (click to see context) from:
* Homer Simpson (no, not that one) in Nathanael West's Literature/TheDayOfTheLocust allows everyone -- from his love interest to his neighbors to various shady salesmen, push him around and manipulate him.
to:
* Homer Simpson (no, not [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons that one) one]]) in Nathanael West's Literature/TheDayOfTheLocust allows everyone -- from his love interest to his neighbors to various shady salesmen, push him around and manipulate him.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ''Literature/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'': Rowley usually just goes along with Greg's ideas, even though Greg often uses him and makes him do all of the work.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
removed natter
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
* ''Literature/AnitaBlake'': Nathaniel. Until he [[TookALevelInBadass grew a pair]] to please his mistress, the title character, he was so incredibly submissive and masochistic both in ''and'' out of the sex dungeon that he literally could not do anything without his master's/mistress's permission. Oh, and he's a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent wereleopard]](!) Nathaniel was probably this way before becoming a wereleopard, having been a child prostitute, raped, and a drug addict, not to mention living in an abusive home before all that. Dominant natures are not created by gaining the ability to shift shape. When you consider he's first introduced at age seventeen or so, and all this has already happened to him... It makes more sense.
to:
* ''Literature/AnitaBlake'': Nathaniel. Until he [[TookALevelInBadass grew a pair]] to please his mistress, the title character, he was so incredibly submissive and masochistic both in ''and'' out of the sex dungeon that he literally could not do anything without his master's/mistress's permission. Oh, and he's a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent wereleopard]](!) Nathaniel was probably this way before becoming a wereleopard, having been a child prostitute, raped, and a drug addict, not to mention living in an abusive home before all that. Dominant natures are not created by gaining the ability to shift shape. When you consider he's first introduced at age seventeen or so, and all this has already happened to him... It makes more sense.wereleopard]].
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
* ''Literature/AnitaBlake'': Nathaniel. Until he [[TookALevelInBadass grew a pair]] [[HornyDevils to please his mistress, the title character]], he was so incredibly submissive and masochistic both in ''and'' out of the sex dungeon that he literally could not do anything without his master's/mistress's permission. Oh, and he's a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent wereleopard]](!) Nathaniel was probably this way before becoming a wereleopard, having been a child prostitute, raped, and a drug addict, not to mention living in an abusive home before all that. Dominant natures are not created by gaining the ability to shift shape. When you consider he's first introduced at age seventeen or so, and all this has already happened to him... It makes more sense.
to:
* ''Literature/AnitaBlake'': Nathaniel. Until he [[TookALevelInBadass grew a pair]] [[HornyDevils to please his mistress, the title character]], character, he was so incredibly submissive and masochistic both in ''and'' out of the sex dungeon that he literally could not do anything without his master's/mistress's permission. Oh, and he's a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent wereleopard]](!) Nathaniel was probably this way before becoming a wereleopard, having been a child prostitute, raped, and a drug addict, not to mention living in an abusive home before all that. Dominant natures are not created by gaining the ability to shift shape. When you consider he's first introduced at age seventeen or so, and all this has already happened to him... It makes more sense.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 48 (click to see context) from:
* ''Literature/MaloryTowers'': Catherine from this series. However, the other characters dislike her strongly because she's always so kind and friendly and helpful -- for instance, she once sharpened all of Belinda's pencils for her without asking. However, Belinda used them for her art and kept some of them blunt on purpose, and so she definitely didn't thank her. They nickname her 'Saint Catherine' at one point and use it mockingly.
to:
* ''Literature/MaloryTowers'': Catherine from this series. Catherine, introduced in the Fifth form, is explicitly described as a doormat. However, the other characters dislike her strongly because she's always so she goes out of her way to be kind and friendly and helpful -- for helpful, often to the point of giving UnwantedAssistance. For instance, she once sharpened all of Belinda's pencils for her without asking. However, asking, but since Belinda used them for her art and kept some of them blunt on purpose, and so she definitely didn't thank her. They The girls nickname her 'Saint Catherine' ''Saint Catherine'' at one point and use it mockingly.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 37 (click to see context) from:
* ''Literature/TheHost'': Wanderer. Even the human colonists eventually get annoyed. Part of this is due to the communal nature of the souls but part of it is a survival strategy to avoid antagonizing her (understandably) hostile captors. She gets better about it as she feels less threatened.
to:
* ''Literature/TheHost'': ''Literature/TheHost2008'': Wanderer. Even the human colonists eventually get annoyed. Part of this is due to the communal nature of the souls but part of it is a survival strategy to avoid antagonizing her (understandably) hostile captors. She gets better about it as she feels less threatened.
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
%%%
%%
%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks!
%%
%%%
----
%%
%% This page has been alphabetized. Please add new examples in the correct order. Thanks!
%%
%%%
----
Changed line(s) 12 (click to see context) from:
* Homer Simpson (no, not that one) in Nathanael West's Literature/TheDayOfTheLocust allows everyone - from his love interest to his neighbors to various shady salesmen, push him around and manipulate him.
to:
* Homer Simpson (no, not that one) in Nathanael West's Literature/TheDayOfTheLocust allows everyone - -- from his love interest to his neighbors to various shady salesmen, push him around and manipulate him.
Changed line(s) 65 (click to see context) from:
* Sonya Rostova from ''Literature/WarAndPeace'' has a chronic martyr complex, and in the end it causes her to [[spoiler: lose out on the love of her life to another woman and spend the rest of her life as a "sterile flower" of a spinster]].
to:
* Sonya Rostova from ''Literature/WarAndPeace'' has a chronic martyr complex, and in the end it causes her to [[spoiler: lose out on the love of her life to another woman and spend the rest of her life as a "sterile flower" of a spinster]].spinster]].
----
----
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Changed line(s) 33,34 (click to see context) from:
** Bertie of this Creator/PGWodehouse book is the epitome of this -- story after story shows that he can be bullied or cajoled into anything. He suffers the worst of one ZanyScheme after another because he's simply unable to say "no" to a friend, JerkAss or otherwise. Besides that, he's afraid to stand up to his GrandeDame aunt, and he lets his valet dictate every facet of his existence, even down to the details of his wardrobe. Attempts to assert his rights by keeping an article of clothing Jeeves disapproves of invariably give out by the end of the story:
-->''Anybody can talk me round. If I were in a Trappist monastery, the first thing that would happen would be that some smooth performer would lure me into some frightful idiocy against my better judgment by means of the deaf-and-dumb language.''
-->''Anybody can talk me round. If I were in a Trappist monastery, the first thing that would happen would be that some smooth performer would lure me into some frightful idiocy against my better judgment by means of the deaf-and-dumb language.''
to:
** Bertie of this Creator/PGWodehouse book is the epitome of this -- story after story shows that he can be bullied or cajoled into anything. He suffers the worst of one ZanyScheme after another because he's simply unable to say "no" to a friend, JerkAss or otherwise. Besides that, he's afraid to stand up to his GrandeDame aunt, and he lets his valet dictate every facet of his existence, even down to the details of his wardrobe. Attempts to assert his rights by keeping an article of clothing Jeeves disapproves of invariably give out by the end of the story:
-->''Anybodystory. Bertie acknowledges this in the short story "Bingo and the Little Woman":
--->''Anybody can talk me round. If I were in a Trappist monastery, the first thing that would happen would be that some smooth performer would lure me into some frightful idiocy against my better judgment by means of the deaf-and-dumb language.''
-->''Anybody
--->''Anybody can talk me round. If I were in a Trappist monastery, the first thing that would happen would be that some smooth performer would lure me into some frightful idiocy against my better judgment by means of the deaf-and-dumb language.''
Is there an issue? Send a MessageReason:
None
Added DiffLines:
* ''Literature/AdrianMole'': Although not a general trait of Adrian's, in ''Weapons of Mass Destruction'' he is an extreme doormat to the highly manipulative Marigold Flowers and her family, who twist him round their little finger, and bully him into marrying her, and spending vast amounts of money on her, despite his resolve to stop seeing her.
--> '''Daisy''': So tell her the wedding's off before they hire the sodding marquee!!!
--> I didn't tell her I had written a large cheque to the marquee hire firm.
* ''Literature/AnitaBlake'': Nathaniel. Until he [[TookALevelInBadass grew a pair]] [[HornyDevils to please his mistress, the title character]], he was so incredibly submissive and masochistic both in ''and'' out of the sex dungeon that he literally could not do anything without his master's/mistress's permission. Oh, and he's a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent wereleopard]](!) Nathaniel was probably this way before becoming a wereleopard, having been a child prostitute, raped, and a drug addict, not to mention living in an abusive home before all that. Dominant natures are not created by gaining the ability to shift shape. When you consider he's first introduced at age seventeen or so, and all this has already happened to him... It makes more sense.
* ''Literature/ArchersGoon'': Quentin, Howard's father, is this; he explicitly states that his role in life is to be a passenger.
* ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'': The princesses deceased father is said to have been this. He let his son-in-law walk all over him, and is, at one point, even blamed for letting this son-in-law beat up and rape one of his daughters without intervening. It is not entirely clear whether he actually knew what was going on, though -- it is mainly brought up as a point in favor of a potential marriage candidate for the princesses, as the young man in question is obviously no doormat.
* ''Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'': The bratty kids' parents.
* ''Literature/{{Coraline}}'':
** The Other Mother really wanted something to love so she tried to keep Coraline for herself and make her into the "perfect, obedient daughter". Such as when she tries to [[EyeScream sew buttons on her eyes]] so that she'll be a well behaved "little doll".
** The Other Father is this to the Other Mother. Even though he obviously wants to help Coraline, he is unable to.
* European folklore: The Patient Griselda, appearing in Creator/{{Boccaccio}} and Creator/GeoffreyChaucer, which makes it OlderThanPrint.
* Homer Simpson (no, not that one) in Nathanael West's Literature/TheDayOfTheLocust allows everyone - from his love interest to his neighbors to various shady salesmen, push him around and manipulate him.
* Despite being a hardened criminal and former [[TykeBomb teen assassin]], Mildmay from ''Literature/DoctrineOfLabyrinths'' is a shy, self-deprecating emotional wreck who accepts ridiculous levels of cruelty from his brother, Felix. Both brothers grew up being horrendously abused, but while Felix learned to emulate [[YouAreWhatYouHate the arrogance and cruelty of his abusers]], Mildmay mostly just tolerates constant mistreatment and views it as normal. They do form a more balanced relationship in the final book, however, after Mildmay gets better at [[GrewASpine standing up for himself]] and Felix is [[BreakTheHaughty brought to his senses]] via HumiliationConga.
* ''{{Literature/Discworld}}'':
** ''Literature/{{Sourcery}}'': Coin is a {{Tykebomb}} who effectively ''grew up possessed''. He's never made his own decisions in his entire life, so he never learned how.
** ''Literature/UnseenAcademicals'': Nutt is basically this, and it's repeatedly given more than one LampshadeHanging. He's described as an "amiable milksop", and tries to always be helpful and agreeable and "accumulate worth" [[spoiler:because he's an [[OurOrcsAreDifferent orc]] and was at worst horribly abused and at best taught to keep his head down as a survival strategy]]. He does have opinions, and sometimes expresses them, but is very meek about talking to anyone he doesn't know well.
* The title character in ''Literature/EllaEnchanted'' is cursed to be this by a fairy who cast a spell forcing her to obey anyone who tells her to do something.
* In ''Literature/AFrozenHeart'', Prince Hans from ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' was this growing up. Being the proverbial BlackSheep of his family and the youngest of 13 sons meant that he was an easy target for [[BigBrotherBully most of his older brothers (especially Rudi and Runo, who bully Hans the most) to pick on]], and [[TheBabyOfTheBunch growing up the smallest and most forgettable of his clan]] wound up being [[FreudianExcuse the source of his issues]]. He's been been the victim of countless pranks (especially where [[BigBrotherBully three of his brothers pretended he was "invisible" for]] ''[[BigBrotherBully two straight years]]''), not to mention being subjected to extensive psychological and physical abuse ''numerous times'' despite repeatedly asking his brothers to stop it. Plus, his father is an extremely stone-cold and unfeeling man who regards his youngest son with nothing but utter contempt and disgust for being a "weakling" against his older sons. By the time he's a young adult, [[DespairEventHorizon Hans has already given up fighting back as it just makes their physical abuse worse]], and is forced to use violence against his father's subjects despite his objections. But by doing this, it only accelerated his father's emotional abuse even more by saying Hans should "learn a thing or two" from his brothers.
%%* ''Literature/GemmaDoyle'': Ann from this trilogy. [[CharacterDevelopment At first]].
* ''Literature/GoneWithTheWind'':
** Ashley Wilkes, who disagrees with the American Civil War but is willing to fight anyway.
** His wife and brother-in-law also fit the trope. Scarlett married Charles partially because he was so biddable to her, and Melanie is subservient to everyone, unless they trigger her BerserkButton by mistreating Scarlett.
* ''Literature/TheGreatGatsby'': George Wilson, an ineffectual car salesman who is completely dominated by [[TheVamp his wife]] and [[JerkJock her lover]], until [[spoiler:Daisy accidentally kills his wife and Gatsby takes the fall for it, causing him to go [[RoaringRampageofRevenge berserk]] and confront Gatsby in a [[TakingYouWithMe murder-suicide]]]].
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** The house elves. They are magically bound to do whatever their master tells them to and seem to share a universal inferiority complex, despite incredible magical power. Despite being able to easily defeat a powerful wizard, [[HappinessInSlavery house elves are at their happiest when they serve wizardkind and fall into a severe depression when they are fired]]. Even Dobby, an eccentric by house elf standards, as he loves to be free, had to talk his employer Dumbledore down in terms of salary and days off, because he loves working more than being free. However, if a house elf really dislikes their master, they are able to differently interpret or even outright defy their orders.
** [[spoiler:Peter Pettigrew]] always allies himself with the winning side for his own protection, despite the insults he regularly gets from his "allies". When allied with Voldemort, he was treated with nothing with contempt and designated to do only menial labor. While he does grumble a bit about this, he always does what is asked of him.
** Merope Gaunt, [[spoiler:Voldemort's mother]], was constantly terrorized and abused by her father and brother for being unskilled at magic and her only reaction is to cower in fear.
* ''Literature/TheHollows'': During the time she had spent with Algaliarept, Ceri seemed to be this. She regained her pride pretty fast, though. That's because she got her soul back. Al had stolen her soul to make her serve him, but Rachel negotiated for it to be returned as part of their deal.
* ''Literature/TheHost'': Wanderer. Even the human colonists eventually get annoyed. Part of this is due to the communal nature of the souls but part of it is a survival strategy to avoid antagonizing her (understandably) hostile captors. She gets better about it as she feels less threatened.
* In the ''Literature/{{Hurog}}'' series, Ward's younger brother implies that their mother was this even before she became TheOphelia. Her children needed her protection against her abusive husband, but she chose to drug herself instead.
* ''Literature/InDeath'' series: ''Purity in Death'' reveals that Donald Dukes's wife is this. She knows what he's doing and seems unable or unwilling to do much about it. Eve Dallas, considering her DarkAndTroubledPast, has little patience for people like this.
* ''Literature/JeevesAndWooster'':
** Bertie of this Creator/PGWodehouse book is the epitome of this -- story after story shows that he can be bullied or cajoled into anything. He suffers the worst of one ZanyScheme after another because he's simply unable to say "no" to a friend, JerkAss or otherwise. Besides that, he's afraid to stand up to his GrandeDame aunt, and he lets his valet dictate every facet of his existence, even down to the details of his wardrobe. Attempts to assert his rights by keeping an article of clothing Jeeves disapproves of invariably give out by the end of the story:
-->''Anybody can talk me round. If I were in a Trappist monastery, the first thing that would happen would be that some smooth performer would lure me into some frightful idiocy against my better judgment by means of the deaf-and-dumb language.''
** Another Wodehouse example is "Corky" Corcoran, who lets himself get dragged into all sorts of schemes by his friend [[Literature/{{Ukridge}} Stanley Ukridge]].
* ''Literature/KnightLifeSeries'': In this Creator/PeterDavid series, the character of Gwen (Queen Quinevere of Arthurian legend reincarnated) begins as this, [[TookALevelInBadass takes a level in badass]] within the book itself, and ends up being the {{Determinator}}.
* ''Literature/KushielsLegacy'': Phedre isn't this, but she acts like it when working in her professional capacity to satisfy the unique tastes of her clients. More than one enemy, up to and including a GodOfEvil, has failed to recognize the difference until it was too late.
* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': Sméagol to both Gollum and Frodo, which leads to some conflict of interest....
* ''Literature/MagnusChaseAndTheGodsOfAsgard'' depicts Sigyn as this, after having been absolutely ''broken'' by her experience leading to Loki's imprisonment and keeping venom from dripping onto his face.
* ''Literature/MaloryTowers'': Catherine from this series. However, the other characters dislike her strongly because she's always so kind and friendly and helpful -- for instance, she once sharpened all of Belinda's pencils for her without asking. However, Belinda used them for her art and kept some of them blunt on purpose, and so she definitely didn't thank her. They nickname her 'Saint Catherine' at one point and use it mockingly.
* ''Literature/TheManchurianCandidate'': Raymond Shaw, although he is too arrogant to be a perfect fit, has many of the features of this. He has little drive or emotional depth, and he always caves in to his shrewish mother, even giving up the only girl he ever had any interest in just to shut her up.
* ''Literature/MansfieldPark'': Fanny Price is extremely docile and biddable due to her circumstances -- she grew up as a charity case, being adopted by her wealthy relatives (her overly strict uncle Sir Thomas Bertram and her neglectful aunt Lady Bertram) and her other aunt Mrs. Norris is downright abusive. Her only real friend is her cousin Edmund. Important to note -- she has ''opinions'', but she's not in a position to be open. This makes the moments where she stands up for herself, such as her refusing to marry a morally dubious man whom everybody else considers a stellar match, all the more impressive... and astonishing to her fellow characters.
* In Book 1 of ''Literature/{{MARZENA}}'', Dr. Lauren will go to any length to preserve the status quo. Add to this the fact that she is Alexithymic and thus blind to her own emotions making this trope go to excessive length. She will kill if ask to by the proper authority figure and that in spite of the [[BeingEvilSucks horrible guilt]] that will follow, and she will take up on her shoulders great and dangerous mission to save the world with little to no argument despite definitely not being professionally qualified for such a task. This trope goes [[ExaggeratedTrope Up to Eleven]] when [[spoiler: Gorski and the TAR Kernel seize her up to strap her on the chair of the MadDoctor where she does not even attempt to scream or fight them off, and does not even attempt to talk herself out of it]]. Fighting would only make things worse anyways.
* ''Literature/MercyWatson'': Baby Lincoln tends to speak softly to her sister and keep her thoughts to herself, given Eugenia's tendency to be stubborn and opinionated.
* In ''Literature/TheNeverendingStory'', Xayide acts this way towards Bastian, as part of her gambit to manipulate him.
* ''Literature/{{Oblomov}}'': Agafya. The titular character is also guilty of this, seeing as he is pushed around by Tarantyev.
* Phenix from ''Literature/OfFearAndFaith'' is this with women, although he is ''slightly'' more assertive around his own gender.
%%* ''Literature/OfMiceAndMen'': Lenny, towards George.
* Creator/SimonaAhrnstedt gives us Sofia Löwenström her debut novel ''Literature/{{Overenskommelser}}''. Fearing that she would get beaten by her abusive father, she hardly ever expresses any opinion of her own. So people are really astounded if she does. Sadly enough, her mother has become this as well because of her abusive husband.
** Venus Dag och Natt in "De skandalösa" is also very close to this. She's so desperate to please her mother and doesn't seem to have any opinions of her own.
* ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'': Mr. Bingley is an astonishingly NiceGuy who really hates conflict. He's eager and obliging to all of his friends; sadly this makes it easy for them to remove him from Hertfordshire and persuade him that it would be a mistake to marry Jane Bennet. It gets sorted out, but when he and Jane later have to deal with her obnoxious sister and brother-in-law, the best evidence Bingley shows of his irritation was to ''talk'' about dropping a ''hint'' that they should go.
%%* ''Film/PrimalFear'': Aaron Stampler, [[spoiler:or so it seems]].
* ''{{Literature/Raffles}}'': Bunny's UndyingLoyalty to Raffles makes him abandon whatever moral principles he has to pursue Raffles's latest scheme -- he can't say no to the man, although Raffles does occasionally resort to dirty tactics like alcohol to get Bunny to comply.
* ''Shoeless Joe'': Annie Kinsella: Her main line of dialogue is "Oh love, if it makes you happy, you should do it," even if that means Ray should plow up his crop and build a baseball field and then kidnap J.D. Salinger on a whim, risking financial ruin and jail time. AvertedTrope in the book's movie adaptation, ''Film/FieldOfDreams'', in that Annie also receives a few of Ray's visions herself.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Poor [[spoiler:Theon Greyjoy]] begins the series as a SmugSnake of the worst sort, but by ''Literature/ADanceWithDragons'' a healthy dose of [[ColdBloodedTorture horrific torture]] and some {{Gaslighting}} courtesy of [[spoiler:Ramsay Snow]] turns him into 'Reek', who has long ago learned to do whatever his master tells him without hesitation.
** In the backstory novel ''Literature/FireAndBlood'', Thaddeus Rowan spends a few days during Unwin Peake's attempted coup against Aegon III in the care of the Red Keep's [[TortureTechnician Lord Confessor]], and is left so utterly broken that he'll admit to anything if asked, up to and including being responsible for the [[CataclysmBackstory Doom of Valyria]].
* In the ''Literature/StarDarlings'' franchise, Libby is a people-pleaser to the extent that it's hard for her to make her own decisions and say no to people.
* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': Szeth will do anything that the person who holds his Oathstone orders, except commit suicide or give up his Shardblade. This is actually ''cultural''. Shin "warriors" are treated like slaves, with Shin culture greatly favoring farmers and craftsmen and elevating them to the rulership positions of society. Soldiers are slaves that are conditioned to view themselves as having little value and to obey whoever possesses them.
* ''Literature/TheStranger'': Mersault thinks that nothing really matters, so he does pretty much anything people ask him to.
* ''Literature/TheTenantOfWildfellHall'': Millicent Hattersley, best friend of the heroine.
* The title character in the Creator/DrSeuss book ''Literature/ThidwickTheBigHeartedMoose'' is one at first. He lets other animals live on his antlers, which seems like a noble gesture at first, especially when his friends alienate him for it. But then his "guests" refuse to let him migrate when winter comes, and Thidwick puts their selfish wants over his own needs. It's not until he is cornered by hunters that he learns his lesson.
* ''Literature/TheTiesThatBind'': Laika qualifies if she took corporal punishment for 20 years without complaint and willingly became a slave in BDSM.
* The main villain in ''Twistaplot #12: Journey to Vernico 5'' had turning practically ''everybody in the universe'' into one as his goal, only he prettied it up by calling them "Willingness Workers."
* In Literature/VorkosiganSaga Ivan Vorpatril is a subversion. At first he'll do almost anything Miles says(with proper amounts of grumbling of course). Later he learns to show some initiative.
* Sonya Rostova from ''Literature/WarAndPeace'' has a chronic martyr complex, and in the end it causes her to [[spoiler: lose out on the love of her life to another woman and spend the rest of her life as a "sterile flower" of a spinster]].
--> '''Daisy''': So tell her the wedding's off before they hire the sodding marquee!!!
--> I didn't tell her I had written a large cheque to the marquee hire firm.
* ''Literature/AnitaBlake'': Nathaniel. Until he [[TookALevelInBadass grew a pair]] [[HornyDevils to please his mistress, the title character]], he was so incredibly submissive and masochistic both in ''and'' out of the sex dungeon that he literally could not do anything without his master's/mistress's permission. Oh, and he's a [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent wereleopard]](!) Nathaniel was probably this way before becoming a wereleopard, having been a child prostitute, raped, and a drug addict, not to mention living in an abusive home before all that. Dominant natures are not created by gaining the ability to shift shape. When you consider he's first introduced at age seventeen or so, and all this has already happened to him... It makes more sense.
* ''Literature/ArchersGoon'': Quentin, Howard's father, is this; he explicitly states that his role in life is to be a passenger.
* ''Literature/ABrothersPrice'': The princesses deceased father is said to have been this. He let his son-in-law walk all over him, and is, at one point, even blamed for letting this son-in-law beat up and rape one of his daughters without intervening. It is not entirely clear whether he actually knew what was going on, though -- it is mainly brought up as a point in favor of a potential marriage candidate for the princesses, as the young man in question is obviously no doormat.
* ''Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'': The bratty kids' parents.
* ''Literature/{{Coraline}}'':
** The Other Mother really wanted something to love so she tried to keep Coraline for herself and make her into the "perfect, obedient daughter". Such as when she tries to [[EyeScream sew buttons on her eyes]] so that she'll be a well behaved "little doll".
** The Other Father is this to the Other Mother. Even though he obviously wants to help Coraline, he is unable to.
* European folklore: The Patient Griselda, appearing in Creator/{{Boccaccio}} and Creator/GeoffreyChaucer, which makes it OlderThanPrint.
* Homer Simpson (no, not that one) in Nathanael West's Literature/TheDayOfTheLocust allows everyone - from his love interest to his neighbors to various shady salesmen, push him around and manipulate him.
* Despite being a hardened criminal and former [[TykeBomb teen assassin]], Mildmay from ''Literature/DoctrineOfLabyrinths'' is a shy, self-deprecating emotional wreck who accepts ridiculous levels of cruelty from his brother, Felix. Both brothers grew up being horrendously abused, but while Felix learned to emulate [[YouAreWhatYouHate the arrogance and cruelty of his abusers]], Mildmay mostly just tolerates constant mistreatment and views it as normal. They do form a more balanced relationship in the final book, however, after Mildmay gets better at [[GrewASpine standing up for himself]] and Felix is [[BreakTheHaughty brought to his senses]] via HumiliationConga.
* ''{{Literature/Discworld}}'':
** ''Literature/{{Sourcery}}'': Coin is a {{Tykebomb}} who effectively ''grew up possessed''. He's never made his own decisions in his entire life, so he never learned how.
** ''Literature/UnseenAcademicals'': Nutt is basically this, and it's repeatedly given more than one LampshadeHanging. He's described as an "amiable milksop", and tries to always be helpful and agreeable and "accumulate worth" [[spoiler:because he's an [[OurOrcsAreDifferent orc]] and was at worst horribly abused and at best taught to keep his head down as a survival strategy]]. He does have opinions, and sometimes expresses them, but is very meek about talking to anyone he doesn't know well.
* The title character in ''Literature/EllaEnchanted'' is cursed to be this by a fairy who cast a spell forcing her to obey anyone who tells her to do something.
* In ''Literature/AFrozenHeart'', Prince Hans from ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' was this growing up. Being the proverbial BlackSheep of his family and the youngest of 13 sons meant that he was an easy target for [[BigBrotherBully most of his older brothers (especially Rudi and Runo, who bully Hans the most) to pick on]], and [[TheBabyOfTheBunch growing up the smallest and most forgettable of his clan]] wound up being [[FreudianExcuse the source of his issues]]. He's been been the victim of countless pranks (especially where [[BigBrotherBully three of his brothers pretended he was "invisible" for]] ''[[BigBrotherBully two straight years]]''), not to mention being subjected to extensive psychological and physical abuse ''numerous times'' despite repeatedly asking his brothers to stop it. Plus, his father is an extremely stone-cold and unfeeling man who regards his youngest son with nothing but utter contempt and disgust for being a "weakling" against his older sons. By the time he's a young adult, [[DespairEventHorizon Hans has already given up fighting back as it just makes their physical abuse worse]], and is forced to use violence against his father's subjects despite his objections. But by doing this, it only accelerated his father's emotional abuse even more by saying Hans should "learn a thing or two" from his brothers.
%%* ''Literature/GemmaDoyle'': Ann from this trilogy. [[CharacterDevelopment At first]].
* ''Literature/GoneWithTheWind'':
** Ashley Wilkes, who disagrees with the American Civil War but is willing to fight anyway.
** His wife and brother-in-law also fit the trope. Scarlett married Charles partially because he was so biddable to her, and Melanie is subservient to everyone, unless they trigger her BerserkButton by mistreating Scarlett.
* ''Literature/TheGreatGatsby'': George Wilson, an ineffectual car salesman who is completely dominated by [[TheVamp his wife]] and [[JerkJock her lover]], until [[spoiler:Daisy accidentally kills his wife and Gatsby takes the fall for it, causing him to go [[RoaringRampageofRevenge berserk]] and confront Gatsby in a [[TakingYouWithMe murder-suicide]]]].
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** The house elves. They are magically bound to do whatever their master tells them to and seem to share a universal inferiority complex, despite incredible magical power. Despite being able to easily defeat a powerful wizard, [[HappinessInSlavery house elves are at their happiest when they serve wizardkind and fall into a severe depression when they are fired]]. Even Dobby, an eccentric by house elf standards, as he loves to be free, had to talk his employer Dumbledore down in terms of salary and days off, because he loves working more than being free. However, if a house elf really dislikes their master, they are able to differently interpret or even outright defy their orders.
** [[spoiler:Peter Pettigrew]] always allies himself with the winning side for his own protection, despite the insults he regularly gets from his "allies". When allied with Voldemort, he was treated with nothing with contempt and designated to do only menial labor. While he does grumble a bit about this, he always does what is asked of him.
** Merope Gaunt, [[spoiler:Voldemort's mother]], was constantly terrorized and abused by her father and brother for being unskilled at magic and her only reaction is to cower in fear.
* ''Literature/TheHollows'': During the time she had spent with Algaliarept, Ceri seemed to be this. She regained her pride pretty fast, though. That's because she got her soul back. Al had stolen her soul to make her serve him, but Rachel negotiated for it to be returned as part of their deal.
* ''Literature/TheHost'': Wanderer. Even the human colonists eventually get annoyed. Part of this is due to the communal nature of the souls but part of it is a survival strategy to avoid antagonizing her (understandably) hostile captors. She gets better about it as she feels less threatened.
* In the ''Literature/{{Hurog}}'' series, Ward's younger brother implies that their mother was this even before she became TheOphelia. Her children needed her protection against her abusive husband, but she chose to drug herself instead.
* ''Literature/InDeath'' series: ''Purity in Death'' reveals that Donald Dukes's wife is this. She knows what he's doing and seems unable or unwilling to do much about it. Eve Dallas, considering her DarkAndTroubledPast, has little patience for people like this.
* ''Literature/JeevesAndWooster'':
** Bertie of this Creator/PGWodehouse book is the epitome of this -- story after story shows that he can be bullied or cajoled into anything. He suffers the worst of one ZanyScheme after another because he's simply unable to say "no" to a friend, JerkAss or otherwise. Besides that, he's afraid to stand up to his GrandeDame aunt, and he lets his valet dictate every facet of his existence, even down to the details of his wardrobe. Attempts to assert his rights by keeping an article of clothing Jeeves disapproves of invariably give out by the end of the story:
-->''Anybody can talk me round. If I were in a Trappist monastery, the first thing that would happen would be that some smooth performer would lure me into some frightful idiocy against my better judgment by means of the deaf-and-dumb language.''
** Another Wodehouse example is "Corky" Corcoran, who lets himself get dragged into all sorts of schemes by his friend [[Literature/{{Ukridge}} Stanley Ukridge]].
* ''Literature/KnightLifeSeries'': In this Creator/PeterDavid series, the character of Gwen (Queen Quinevere of Arthurian legend reincarnated) begins as this, [[TookALevelInBadass takes a level in badass]] within the book itself, and ends up being the {{Determinator}}.
* ''Literature/KushielsLegacy'': Phedre isn't this, but she acts like it when working in her professional capacity to satisfy the unique tastes of her clients. More than one enemy, up to and including a GodOfEvil, has failed to recognize the difference until it was too late.
* ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'': Sméagol to both Gollum and Frodo, which leads to some conflict of interest....
* ''Literature/MagnusChaseAndTheGodsOfAsgard'' depicts Sigyn as this, after having been absolutely ''broken'' by her experience leading to Loki's imprisonment and keeping venom from dripping onto his face.
* ''Literature/MaloryTowers'': Catherine from this series. However, the other characters dislike her strongly because she's always so kind and friendly and helpful -- for instance, she once sharpened all of Belinda's pencils for her without asking. However, Belinda used them for her art and kept some of them blunt on purpose, and so she definitely didn't thank her. They nickname her 'Saint Catherine' at one point and use it mockingly.
* ''Literature/TheManchurianCandidate'': Raymond Shaw, although he is too arrogant to be a perfect fit, has many of the features of this. He has little drive or emotional depth, and he always caves in to his shrewish mother, even giving up the only girl he ever had any interest in just to shut her up.
* ''Literature/MansfieldPark'': Fanny Price is extremely docile and biddable due to her circumstances -- she grew up as a charity case, being adopted by her wealthy relatives (her overly strict uncle Sir Thomas Bertram and her neglectful aunt Lady Bertram) and her other aunt Mrs. Norris is downright abusive. Her only real friend is her cousin Edmund. Important to note -- she has ''opinions'', but she's not in a position to be open. This makes the moments where she stands up for herself, such as her refusing to marry a morally dubious man whom everybody else considers a stellar match, all the more impressive... and astonishing to her fellow characters.
* In Book 1 of ''Literature/{{MARZENA}}'', Dr. Lauren will go to any length to preserve the status quo. Add to this the fact that she is Alexithymic and thus blind to her own emotions making this trope go to excessive length. She will kill if ask to by the proper authority figure and that in spite of the [[BeingEvilSucks horrible guilt]] that will follow, and she will take up on her shoulders great and dangerous mission to save the world with little to no argument despite definitely not being professionally qualified for such a task. This trope goes [[ExaggeratedTrope Up to Eleven]] when [[spoiler: Gorski and the TAR Kernel seize her up to strap her on the chair of the MadDoctor where she does not even attempt to scream or fight them off, and does not even attempt to talk herself out of it]]. Fighting would only make things worse anyways.
* ''Literature/MercyWatson'': Baby Lincoln tends to speak softly to her sister and keep her thoughts to herself, given Eugenia's tendency to be stubborn and opinionated.
* In ''Literature/TheNeverendingStory'', Xayide acts this way towards Bastian, as part of her gambit to manipulate him.
* ''Literature/{{Oblomov}}'': Agafya. The titular character is also guilty of this, seeing as he is pushed around by Tarantyev.
* Phenix from ''Literature/OfFearAndFaith'' is this with women, although he is ''slightly'' more assertive around his own gender.
%%* ''Literature/OfMiceAndMen'': Lenny, towards George.
* Creator/SimonaAhrnstedt gives us Sofia Löwenström her debut novel ''Literature/{{Overenskommelser}}''. Fearing that she would get beaten by her abusive father, she hardly ever expresses any opinion of her own. So people are really astounded if she does. Sadly enough, her mother has become this as well because of her abusive husband.
** Venus Dag och Natt in "De skandalösa" is also very close to this. She's so desperate to please her mother and doesn't seem to have any opinions of her own.
* ''Literature/PrideAndPrejudice'': Mr. Bingley is an astonishingly NiceGuy who really hates conflict. He's eager and obliging to all of his friends; sadly this makes it easy for them to remove him from Hertfordshire and persuade him that it would be a mistake to marry Jane Bennet. It gets sorted out, but when he and Jane later have to deal with her obnoxious sister and brother-in-law, the best evidence Bingley shows of his irritation was to ''talk'' about dropping a ''hint'' that they should go.
%%* ''Film/PrimalFear'': Aaron Stampler, [[spoiler:or so it seems]].
* ''{{Literature/Raffles}}'': Bunny's UndyingLoyalty to Raffles makes him abandon whatever moral principles he has to pursue Raffles's latest scheme -- he can't say no to the man, although Raffles does occasionally resort to dirty tactics like alcohol to get Bunny to comply.
* ''Shoeless Joe'': Annie Kinsella: Her main line of dialogue is "Oh love, if it makes you happy, you should do it," even if that means Ray should plow up his crop and build a baseball field and then kidnap J.D. Salinger on a whim, risking financial ruin and jail time. AvertedTrope in the book's movie adaptation, ''Film/FieldOfDreams'', in that Annie also receives a few of Ray's visions herself.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Poor [[spoiler:Theon Greyjoy]] begins the series as a SmugSnake of the worst sort, but by ''Literature/ADanceWithDragons'' a healthy dose of [[ColdBloodedTorture horrific torture]] and some {{Gaslighting}} courtesy of [[spoiler:Ramsay Snow]] turns him into 'Reek', who has long ago learned to do whatever his master tells him without hesitation.
** In the backstory novel ''Literature/FireAndBlood'', Thaddeus Rowan spends a few days during Unwin Peake's attempted coup against Aegon III in the care of the Red Keep's [[TortureTechnician Lord Confessor]], and is left so utterly broken that he'll admit to anything if asked, up to and including being responsible for the [[CataclysmBackstory Doom of Valyria]].
* In the ''Literature/StarDarlings'' franchise, Libby is a people-pleaser to the extent that it's hard for her to make her own decisions and say no to people.
* ''Literature/TheStormlightArchive'': Szeth will do anything that the person who holds his Oathstone orders, except commit suicide or give up his Shardblade. This is actually ''cultural''. Shin "warriors" are treated like slaves, with Shin culture greatly favoring farmers and craftsmen and elevating them to the rulership positions of society. Soldiers are slaves that are conditioned to view themselves as having little value and to obey whoever possesses them.
* ''Literature/TheStranger'': Mersault thinks that nothing really matters, so he does pretty much anything people ask him to.
* ''Literature/TheTenantOfWildfellHall'': Millicent Hattersley, best friend of the heroine.
* The title character in the Creator/DrSeuss book ''Literature/ThidwickTheBigHeartedMoose'' is one at first. He lets other animals live on his antlers, which seems like a noble gesture at first, especially when his friends alienate him for it. But then his "guests" refuse to let him migrate when winter comes, and Thidwick puts their selfish wants over his own needs. It's not until he is cornered by hunters that he learns his lesson.
* ''Literature/TheTiesThatBind'': Laika qualifies if she took corporal punishment for 20 years without complaint and willingly became a slave in BDSM.
* The main villain in ''Twistaplot #12: Journey to Vernico 5'' had turning practically ''everybody in the universe'' into one as his goal, only he prettied it up by calling them "Willingness Workers."
* In Literature/VorkosiganSaga Ivan Vorpatril is a subversion. At first he'll do almost anything Miles says(with proper amounts of grumbling of course). Later he learns to show some initiative.
* Sonya Rostova from ''Literature/WarAndPeace'' has a chronic martyr complex, and in the end it causes her to [[spoiler: lose out on the love of her life to another woman and spend the rest of her life as a "sterile flower" of a spinster]].
