History Main / AuthoritativeInPublicDocileInPrivate

[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
* Decim from ''Anime/DeathParade''. While working, he's a shrewd, icy {{Jerkass}} who will not hesitate to [[KickTheDog intimidate or taunt his guests]] when he sees fit. He's pushy and rather imposing towards them as well. However, it becomes clear around his coworkers that he's a quiet, ExtremeDoormat with very little presence. He is also incapable of actual confrontation, as shown around the black-haired woman as he simply [[HeroicBSOD shuts down]] when she pushes back against his behavior towards his guests.

[[folder:Fanfic]]
* ''Fanfic/TheBlackSheepDogSeries'' has Orion Black. As the acting head of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, he is used to ordering people around, and he fully expects the people around him to obey his command. Within his family circle, however, he's known to be quite a pushover, often allowing himself to be the subject of his sister's teasings, his wife's whims, and especially his father's domineering.

[[folder:Films - Live-Action]]

* In the Literature/{{Discworld}}, Lady Sybil Ramkin is a briskly forceful noblewoman who, in a benevolent sort of way, will do things like whisk the bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich out of her husband's hand and tell him that sort of thing isn't good for his health. Her husband, the police chief and possibly the second most powerful man in the city, has learnt his best response is a compliant "Yes, dear."

* In ''Film/LoveStory'', the protagonist Oliver is a successful lawyer, and his wife Jennifer is a housewife... and yet, he is the usual target of [[DeadpanSnarker her sarcastic quips]]. Moreover, when he finds out that [[spoiler:Jenny is terminally ill]], it is ''she'' who comforts ''him'' rather than the other way round.

** In "Dustcap Doormat", his neighbour is not better. He tries to teach him to be more assertive, [[{{Hypocrite}} only to reveal to be even bigger]] HenpeckedHusband than John. After that, John GrewASpine ([[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor and the first target is neighbour]]).

[[folder:Films - Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/LoveStory'', the protagonist Oliver is a successful lawyer, and his wife Jennifer is a housewife... and yet, he is the usual target of [[DeadpanSnarker her sarcastic quips]]. Moreover, when he finds out that [[spoiler:Jenny is terminally ill]], it is ''she'' who comforts ''him'' rather than the other way round.

[[folder:Films - Live-Action]]
* In ''Film/LoveStory'', the protagonist Oliver is a successful lawyer, and his wife Jennifer is a housewife... and yet, he is the usual target of [[DeadpanSnarker her sarcastic quips]]. Moreover, when he finds out that [[spoiler:Jenny is terminally ill]], it is ''she'' who comforts ''him'' rather than the other way round.

* In ''Series/TheAlienist'', the protagonist Laszlo Kreizler is an ambitious psychiatrist and quite a high-ranking member of the New York society, but there are some hints that he enjoys a submissive role in romantic relationships. This shows up in his conversation with the professional dominatrix Mrs. Williams (he mentions that he enjoyed her stories of "men's vulnerabilities"), and in his relationship with Karen Stratton, who takes him to various kinky places. His relationship with his housekeeper [[spoiler:and subsequent LoveInterest]] Mary [[PowerDynamicsKink also has strong undertones of this kind]]: he is highly dependent on her due to his bad arm, and she enjoys his timidity whenever he needs her to do something for him (and whenever he pisses her off, she just leaves him on his own, and he cannot even tie his own shoelaces without her). Besides, while Mary was away, he sneaked to her room to sniff her clothes.
* ''Series/MarriedWithChildren'': Jefferson D'Arcy, Marcy's second husband (Seasons 5+). He's a glorified gigolo (who was once in prison over a land scam and has a secret connection with the CIA) who married a relatively affluent woman (in short, a GoldDigger) but later [[BecomingTheMask become fond of Marcy]]. He's still participating in shenanigans, scams and very fond of women's company. But Marcy regularly bosses Jefferson around. He talks big to the other NO MA'AM guys, but whenever Marcy is about to bust one of their schemes he takes off his NO MA'AM shirt to reveal a YES MA'AM one. When he joined the National Guard, he started crying under pressure and saying that he wanted "his Marcy".

* ''Series/TwinPeaks'': Ben Horne, who is one of the richest and most powerful people in Twin Peaks, [[PowerDynamicsKink has a markedly submissive relationship with Catherine Martell]] that involves [[IKissYourFoot him kissing her feet]] and her [[DeadpanSnarker replying to his compliments with sarcastic quips]]. [[spoiler:Then he's accused of murder and arrested, and she visits him in the jail. She takes off her shoe, and he kisses her foot, pleading for her to confirm his alibi.]]

** John Doormat. In "Another Day, Another Doormat", it shows that he's a MeanBoss (if not a BadBoss and CorruptCorporateExecutive) at work, but to his wife he's an ExtremeDoormat as [[MeaningfulName his name suggest]].

!! Examples

[[AC:Films - Live-Action]]

[[AC:Literature]]

[[AC:Live-Action TV]]

[[AC:Western Animation]]

** In "Dustcap Doormat", his neighbour is not better. He tries to teach him to be more assertive, [[{{Hypocrite}} only to reveal to be even bigger]] HenpeckedHusband than John. After that, John GrewASpine ([[BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor and the first target is neighbour]]).