History Main / AmbiguousInnocence

* This trope was assumed to be true for the audience of the original {{fairy tales}}, so they provide clear-cut rewards for good deeds and [[CantGetAwayWithNuthin punishment (often terrible) for bad actions]] as AnAesop for the difference between right and wrong. Or, rather, they provide ''what was considered at the time'' to be clear-cut rewards and punishments. Quite often along the way, Prince Charming is blinded or in some other way maimed for doing the right thing ''before'' he gets the girls.

On the other hand, the villain may often [[EvilCannotComprehendGood assume this, and that all good characters are really naive]]--if they ''[[SillyRabbitIdealismIsForKids understood]]'' things, [[GoodIsOldFashioned they would be as evil as he is]].

* A recurring theme in ''Manga/HunterXHunter'' is that Gon doesn't judge people, even when he should. He's forgiven or befriended a surprising number of serial killers, just [[BewareTheNiceOnes don't you dare]] let him catch you engaging in MoralMyopia...
* This is [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation one possible interpretation]] of Akito in ''Manga/FruitsBasket''--he just [[DomesticAbuse made life hell for people]] because no one ever told him it was wrong.
* [[SerialKiller Light]] [[BrokenAce Yagami]] of ''Manga/DeathNote'' can come off this way; his BlackAndWhiteInsanity and LackOfEmpathy are often regarded as evidence of his immaturity and childish inability to understand the world around him or connect to others, thereby making his mass murder spree seem like an adequate way to spend his time. Light does admit that he understands killing people is a crime--he just never admits that it is ''wrong''. It doesn't help that [[ArtifactOfDeath he can kill without seeing people die]].
* Ultimo, the ''Ultimate Good'' douji from ''Manga/KarakuridoujiUltimo'' is currently recovering from this; before he was even ''worse''. An example: while in feudal Japan, bandit Yamato taught him that AristocratsAreEvil and he took it seriously. Later on they met princess Gekkou who was ready to renounce her royalty, marry Yamato and live for the common people; [[spoiler:Ultimo killed her for the only reason of her being an noble, just as his master taught him]]. Yamato even lampshades it.

* The whole point of ''LightNovel/{{Shimoneta}}'' is that the overly-strict indecency laws have led to teenagers being ''hopelessly'' ignorant about sex. This leads to the leader of a censorship squad almost raping someone since she has no idea about things like ''consent'' and has confused lust with love, all due to her massive ignorance of the topic enforced by her parents. Also no teenager knows how a baby is made due to the censorship laws forcing textbooks to declare it simply happens "out of love."

* Music/{{Eminem}}'s Slim Shady character is a PsychopathicManchild, but usually [[CardCarryingVillain fully aware]] that he's a monster (he just doesn't care). On Eminem's ''Relapse'' album, however (and a handful of later songs using this characterisation), Slim is portrayed as genuinely not knowing or understanding what he's doing. In "Insane", when a bystander asks him (after threatening to rape and then kick a puppy) what he's saying, he screams "I don't know, help me!" and flashes back to his [{RapeAsBackstory traumatic childhood rape]]. In "Same Song And Dance", he murders a couple of starlets (and another woman, Tonya) while delighting in their screaming and struggling, viewing it as them singing and dancing just like they do on stage. In the ''Revival'' song "Framed!", Slim has no idea why these real life murders seem to be the same as the ones he's described in his songs, and seems to really have no understanding why he's covered in blood or has Ivanka Trump in the trunk of his car. A lot of this is to allegorise the MissingTime that can be caused by abuse of Ambien and Valium.

* Midoriya from [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/16237514/chapters/37958840 Oyasumi Midoriya]] would be a good example of this, as his quirk warps reality around him, and he may or may not have malicious intent. As of now, the author has not confirmed.

* In [[VideoGame/TheWalkingDeadSeasonTwo season 2]], some of Clementime's comments make it unclear if she hasn't had TheTalk or is obfuscating naivety. Regardless, Bonnie tries to act as a MoralGuardian by telling off the others for telling bawdy jokes in Clem's presence.

* Suggested in the cases of both the Manpigs and the Engineer in ''VideoGame/AmnesiaAMachineForPigs.'' During your explorations, you'll come across a series of cells in which you can observe non-hostile Manpigs trying to eat, playing with blocks, and weeping in corners. [[spoiler:It's suggested that the majority of them were made from the mentally disabled and the homeless]]. The Engineer is more obscure, but he comes across as quite child-like the further you go into the game. [[spoiler:His visions of the 20th century drove him to genuinely believe [[WellIntentionedExtremist that there was no other way to save humanity]] [[OmnicidalManiac other than to kill them all]] and begs Mandus to let him finish, seemingly quite puzzled and hurt by his attempts to sabotage the machine]].
* ''VideoGame/Disgaea4APromiseUnforgotten'': Desco has been raised by a MadScientist her whole life for the sake of conquering the human world for her ambitious older sister. Her appearance and personality just scream "Cutest EldritchAbomination Ever". Enough said.

* Quark from ''VideoGame/AtlasReactor'' is a {{keet}} EnergyBeing who doesn't seem to understand the whole "life" thing or why people consider it a big deal -- Quark pulls some atoms apart, Quark puts some back together... All in good fun. Basically, imagine if GIR was a PhysicalGod.

* ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXIV'' introduces, in the ''Shadowbringers'' expansion, Lord Vauthry, ruler of Eulmore. [[FatBastard An obese, oversized man]] with [[{{Gonk}} rolls of fat for a neck]] who [[TheBeastmaster somehow]] is able to command [[AngelicAbomination Sin Eaters]] into ''not'' [[TheVirus immediately attacking]] and [[TransformationHorror infecting]] his people, while sheltering [[MonsterLord a Lightwarden]] somewhere in his city... all while declaring that [[ItsAllAboutMe the entire world should obey his whims]]. His [[PsychopathicManchild proclamations are sadistic]], his [[DisproportionateRetribution temper short]], and his [[LateToThePunchline reaction to insults delayed]]. It's then revealed that [[spoiler:he ''is'' the Lightwarden, having been [[HalfHumanHybrid infused with one's essence in the womb]], merely an "unascended" one, and raised to believe that [[TautologicalTemplar whatever he did was just and right]]]]. When he finally [[spoiler:[[BishounenLine transforms]], the trope itself becomes an incredibly fitting name for his "true" self, Innocence, for even as the players beat him down, he ''cannot'' grasp why these "villains" have gone out of their way to attack him, why his "[[RightMakesMight righteousness]]" cannot stop them, or what he's done to deserve it]]. He's very much in the wrong, but his horribly tainted worldview means [[TragicMonster he can't begin to understand how to make amends]], or even that he ''[[MoralMyopia should]]''.

Compare PureIsNotGood and VirginityMakesYouStupid. The related idea of the "Fall" being a good thing is very common (perhaps even required) in works where GodIsEvil and/or SatanIsGood. See also IgnoranceIsBliss, KidsAreCruel, and CreepyChild. ObliviouslyEvil is related. If a character comes off as ambiguously innocent not because of the inherent amorality of innocence but because the writers can't remember how grown-up the character is supposed to be, it's PingPongNaivete.

* Suggested in the cases of both the Manpigs and the Engineer in ''VideoGame/AmnesiaAMachineForPigs.'' During your explorations, you'll come across a series of cells in which you can observe non-hostile Manpigs trying to eat, playing with blocks, and [[TearJerker weeping in corners]]. [[spoiler:It's suggested that the majority of them were made from the mentally disabled and the homeless]]. The Engineer is more obscure, but he comes across as quite child-like the further you go into the game. [[spoiler:His visions of the 20th century drove him to genuinely believe [[WellIntentionedExtremist that there was no other way to save humanity]] [[OmnicidalManiac other than to kill them all]] and begs Mandus to let him finish, seemingly quite puzzled and hurt by his attempts to sabotage the machine]].

* [[VideoGame/Disgaea4APromiseUnforgotten Desco]] has been raised by a MadScientist her whole life for the sake of conquering the human world for her ambitious older sister. Her appearance and personality just scream "Cutest EldritchAbomination Ever". Enough said.

* Orpha in ''VisualNovel/EienNoAselia'' was raised to think of killing as a good thing. So she appears quite sadistic while completely unaware of how her behavior horrifies Yuuto. She wanted his approval and tried to get it the way she had been taught.

* Matt Engarde of ''VideoGame/PhoenixWrightAceAttorney'' gives off this vibe. He seems hopelessly clueless, always has a smile, and just doofy in general. It's hard to believe that he could have killed someone, despite some of the evidence against. As the case progresses, it becomes clear that the evidence against him is fabricated, and he seems genuinely happy though still weirdly clueless about what's going on. [[spoiler: Then Phoenix finds out that Matt hired the assassin that killed the victim, prompting Matt to reveal his ''real'' self, and this trope goes right out the window.]]

* ''Manga/DailyLifeWithMonsterGirl'' is very vague on exactly how socially conscious and mature [[SlimeGirl Suu]] is, especially in regards to when she sexually assaults the other girls. On one hand, she's shown to learn from them mainly by imitation, is ignorant of many aspects of society, and her biology is so different from everyone else's that it's arguable whether she understands what sex even ''is''. On the other hand, it's also implied that [[ObfuscatingStupidity she's much smarter than she lets on]] and at least ''partially'' understands the situation. The fact that her mental state is heavily dependent on the materials she's absorbed makes it even harder to tell exactly how innocent she is.

* A character (or, rather, a [[TarotMotifs Basanos Card]]) from ''Comicbook/{{Lucifer}}'' is called "Innocence" and takes the form of a young girl. She turns out to be pretty much out-and-out evil in the end.

* [[Videogame/Disgaea4APromiseUnforgotten Desco]] has been raised by a MadScientist her whole life for the sake of conquering the human world for her ambitious older sister. Her appearance and personality just scream "Cutest EldritchAbomination Ever". Enough said.

* Quark from ''Videogame/AtlasReactor'' is a {{keet}} EnergyBeing who doesn't seem to understand the whole "life" thing or why people consider it a big deal -- Quark pulls some atoms apart, Quark puts some back together... All in good fun. Basically, imagine if GIR was a PhysicalGod.

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* One possible interpretation of the [[{{Deconstruction}} character]] of [[PrincessClassic Lily]] from ''Film/{{Legend 1985}}'' is this. [[BigBad Darkness]] goes out of his way to tell everyone how innocent she is, but in the first few minutes of the movie, we witness her lie and steal. Later, she takes to manipulating [[Creator/TimCurry Darkness]] with terrifying ease.
** The other explanation, naturally, is that it was never she who was innocent, but [[TheHero Jack]].
* [[Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy Groot]] can only speak one sentence, and is nearly at all times just following his friend Rocket's instructions. He seems childlike, growing flowers for people he likes, and fiercely protective when people threaten his friends. He also '''impales a line of soldiers, thrashes them around until everyone stops moving''', only to turn around to the rest of the group and give them a dopey smiley almost as if he's looking for approval for what he's just done.

** More sympathetic portrayals of the Daleks (see "Evil of the Daleks", "Dalek", "Asylum of the Daleks", and the audio dramas "The Davros Mission" and "Jubilee") often exploit this, as Daleks are genetically programmed to exterminate and have no concept of anything else--so, in a lot of ways, are much more innocent than similarly evil humans. The Doctor in "Jubilee" even points this out to the humans in a speech that they made themselves into a Dalek analogue culture through choice, which is so much worse, while "The Davros Mission" is about a Thal psychologist trying to persuade Davros that he's--unlike the Daleks--capable of making good decisions, unlike the Daleks which are psychologically incapable of knowing any better.
*** Davros's InsaneTrollLogic justification for his actions in "Genesis of the Daleks" is based around the idea that since the Daleks's only goal is to survive, their mass genocide is "the power not of evil, but of good". [[RuleOfSymbolism He considers himself a god for having created them, but refuses to give them knowledge of good and evil in order to keep them morally pure.]]

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* In ''TabletopGame/BleakWorld'' The princesses are fighting the darkness that threatens to consume the universe... but might also be the elves who destroyed Jotun society and kidnap children.

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* Orpha in ''VisualNovel/EienNoAselia'' was raised to think of killing as a good thing. So she appears quite sadistic while completely unaware of how her behavior horrifies Yuuto. She wanted his approval and tried to get it the way she had been taught.

* ''{{VideoGame/Undertale}}'' is a five hour waltz with the many, many ways innocence can be [[PlayingWithATrope played with.]] The obvious example is Flowey the talking flower, but this quickly turns into a subversion. Flowey is well aware that he's doing terrible things. He just doesn't care.

* ''Videogame/FinalFantasyXIV'' introduces, in the ''Shadowbringers'' expansion, Lord Vauthry, ruler of Eulmore. [[FatBastard An obese, oversized man]] with [[{{Gonk}} rolls of fat for a neck]] who [[TheBeastmaster somehow]] is able to command [[AngelicAbomination Sin Eaters]] into ''not'' [[TheVirus immediately attacking]] and [[TransformationHorror infecting]] his people, while sheltering [[MonsterLord a Lightwarden]] somewhere in his city... all while declaring that [[ItsAllAboutMe the entire world should obey his whims]]. His [[PsychopathicManchild proclamations are sadistic]], his [[DisproportionateRetribution temper short]], and his [[LateToThePunchline reaction to insults delayed]]. It's then revealed that [[spoiler:he ''is'' the Lightwarden, having been [[HalfHumanHybrid infused with one's essence in the womb]], merely an "unascended" one, and raised to believe that [[TautologicalTemplar whatever he did was just and right]]]]. When he finally [[spoiler:[[BishounenLine transforms]], the trope itself becomes an incredibly fitting name for his "true" self, Innocence, for even as the players beat him down, he ''cannot'' grasp why these "villains" have gone out of their way to attack him, why his "[[RightMakesMight righteousness]]" cannot stop them, or what he's done to deserve it]]. He's very much in the wrong, but his horribly tainted worldview means [[TragicMonster he can't begin to understand how to make amends]], or even that he ''[[MoralMyopia should]]''.

* The amorality of innocence is one of the major themes of ''{{VisualNovel/Remember11}}'', and is the foundation of one of its major twists: [[spoiler:there is one more person involved in Satoru and Kokoro's FreakyFridayFlip predicament--one of Utsumi's unborn twins, who killed Enomoto (and slashed his corpse with a knife as if it was a crayon) and wrecked the living room at SPHIA during a major tantrum. One of the TIPS describes the "baby colic" phenomenon as a baby's simultaneous desire and inability to recklessly "play" with the world]]. In addition, the childlike Hotori/Inubushi [[spoiler:kills a sick rat without the slightest remorse, rationalizing it as a MercyKill, which leads Satoru to theorize her spree killing at a hospital was born from the same motivation]].

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* Despite being described as evil, the Flame Princess from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' isn't really malicious. It's just that, given she's never really set foot outside her home in the Fire Kingdom, she doesn't get that other creatures in the Land of Ooo don't like being set on fire, and her flames get dangerous when she gets ''too'' passionate, which causes problems when [[IdiotHero Finn]] falls in love with her.
-->'''Flame Princess:''' Fire's purpose is to burn...which is why I'm going to make this land ''my'' fire kingdom!

* Mao of ''Anime/CodeGeass'' also has a form of this, since he grew up into a PsychopathicManchild.

* This is exactly what made Majin Buu in ''Anime/DragonBallZ'' so dangerous. He thought like a child; all he did was a game, including [[KillEmAll murdering almost everyone on the planet]]. As soon as someone managed to get close enough to him to explain that what he was doing was wrong, though, [[HeelFaceTurn he pulled the plug immediately]]. Unfortunately, that just woke up the [[TykeBomb OTHER]] [[LetsGetDangerous personality]] that was buried inside him, which was the identity that destroyed Galaxies like he was created to.

* This trope was assumed to be true for the audience of the original {{fairy tales}}, so they provide [[{{Anvilicious}} clear-cut rewards for good deeds]] and [[CantGetAwayWithNuthin punishment (often terrible) for bad actions]] as AnAesop for the difference between right and wrong. Or, rather, they provide ''what was considered at the time'' to be clear-cut rewards and punishments. Quite often along the way, Prince Charming is blinded or in some other way maimed for doing the right thing ''before'' he gets the girls.

* Xavier of ''WesternAnimation/XavierRenegadeAngel'' is this trope in spades. He has a noble desire to help people, but ends up destroying everything. For example, he is once transported to a dimension that moves backwards. He sees a man getting run over by a car in reverse--Xavier sees the man as a bloody corpse miraculously healed, then walking backwards. So what does Xavier do on his heroic quest? He steals a car and starts driving it backwards, killing dozens of people, believing that he is saving them.

** [[PsychopathicManchild Mr. Teatime]] and [[DumbMuscle Banjo]] from ''Discworld/{{Hogfather}}''. Both are in touch with their "inner child", which makes Teatime a totally deranged psychopath who never considers the consequences of his actions beyond "Would it be interesting to...?" and Banjo so easily led that he's a thug even though, left to his own devices, he's ''not'' actually violent.

* Ultimo, the ''Ultimate Good'' douji from ''Manga/KarakuridoujiUltimo'' is currently recovering from this; before he was even ''worse''. An example: while in feudal Japan, bandit Yamato taught him that AristocratsAreEvil and he took it seriously. Later on they met SpoiledSweet princess Gekkou who was ready to renounce her royalty, marry Yamato and live for the common people; [[spoiler:Ultimo killed her for the only reason of her being an noble, just as his master taught him]]. Yamato even lampshades it.

* Music/MelanieMartinez's "Cry Baby" is a ConceptAlbum based around the idea of presenting complex adult situations through the lens and metaphor of childhood, so naturally it's chock-full of this.

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