History Main / MadonnaWhoreComplex

The Whore is always an EmbodimentOfVice with massive sex appeal, catering to the MaleGaze and various [[{{Fetish}} fetishes]]. Usually spiteful, malevolent and scheming, and very often [[{{Envy}} deeply jealous of the Madonna/Virgin]]. Usually ends up punished, ostracized and/or humiliated at best. Otherwise, she suffers the CruelAndUnusualDeath she "deserves" for choosing sex over virtue and chastity. It is very rare for a Whore to get a chance at redemption, even rarer for her [[RedemptionEqualsDeath to be allowed to live after being redeemed]].

-->-- '''Rebecca West'''

* ''Fanfic/WithPearlAndRubyGlowing'': while raping Esmeralda, Frollo causes her to bleed, and becomes even angrier and more irrational, accusing her of somehow faking her virginity because he can't comprehend the idea of a professional stripper ''not'' sleeping around. We see him assault another girl and be much gentler, indeed almost reverent; the other girl is a professional ballerina, and thus he sees her as more "pure", though it doesn't stop him assaulting her. Meanwhile, the cult God's Will First are known for murdering, among other "undesirables", unwed mothers and sex workers (ironically enough, regarding the trope name, they don't like Catholics either).

* On the inversion end, there's also Wrestling/{{Ivory}} from Right 2 Censor, as well as ODB and Wrestling/{{Jac|queline}}kie Moore's "cleaning up the Knockout division" gimmick from when they both returned to TNA and feuded with Wrestling/VelvetSky. Looking through history, {{face}} women wrestlers are usually actually in the middle--somewhat sexualized but still implied to be women of valor and virtue--whereas women played to either extreme have made for great {{heel}}s in the past. Velvet Sky is a great defiance of this trope in her own right. As a heel, she was definitely a Whore. However, as a face she was still MsFanservice and had no problem showing off her body--she just happened to be presented as heroic as well.

* DeathBySex: May be subjected to this, sometimes even by [[HonorRelatedAbuse members of her own family]].

* FinalGirl: The existence of this trope in slasher movies runs on the Madonna-Whore Complex. The FinalGirl is typically a virgin and above vices such as drinking, smoking and being promiscuous. She is usually contrasted with other girls in the film who enjoy frequent sex and therefore [[DeathBySex don't survive the film]]. ''Film/{{Halloween 1978}}'' was among the first to do this with all the female victims being killed in relation to sex. Two had just had sex while the third was on her way to do so.

* ''VideoGame/{{Psychonauts}}:'' When [[TheStoic Sasha Nein]] was a child, he wanted to know more about his MissingMom, but his dad was reluctant to discuss her. Eventually Sasha started reading his dad's mind, and got some happy images of her as an angel in Heaven--but, when he dug too deep, also got some more...[[DirtyMindReading personal]] memories of her. It's implied this made the father-son relationship a bit awkward and inspired Sasha to leave home as soon as possible.

* TheChick

* ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'': [[TheChick Sakura]] is never seen making any sexual advances to Sasuke, only a teary AnguishedDeclarationOfLove and total devotion before the TimeSkip. [[DarkChick Karin]], on the other hand, is much more openly sexual.

* DeterminedWidow

* ''Literature/TheGame2005'' [[note]]Not to be confused with the 1997 Michael Douglas movie of the [[NamesTheSame same name]][[/note]] (And "Pick Up Artist" philosophy in general) names and discusses this trope extensively - according to its theories, [[AllWomenAreLustful all]] women [[MyGirlIsASlut are]] "Whores" that only put on a "Madonna" facade because that's societally expected of them.

[[folder: Real Life]]
* Could be argued in the contemporary attitudes towards UsefulNotes/CatherineOfAragon and UsefulNotes/AnneBoleyn (the first and second wives, respectively, of King UsefulNotes/HenryVIII):
** Catherine was noted in her time for her beauty, manners, and piety, and her marriage to Henry was widely celebrated. Although she failed at arguably the most important duty of a queen (i.e. producing a male heir), she was still greatly loved by the English people, who were not pleased when Henry attempted to divorce her so he could try for an heir with Anne.
** Anne, by contrast, was not particularly beautiful by contemporary standards, and was much more brash and outspoken than Catherine. As she and Henry grew closer and closer, the people grew increasingly resentful at her pushing Catherine to the sidelines and encouraging Henry to change England’s religious makeup. They even called her the “great whore”.
[[/folder]]

* ''Literature/{{Dracula}}'' is frequently cited as an example, with Lucy Westenra as the Whore, having three lovers and becoming a seductive vampire before getting her just punishment in death, and Mina Harker neé Murray as the Madonna, a kind and submissive housewife, surviving through the end. This was an addition made by adaptations, however, and the original novel is by-and-large a subversion. Lucy in the novel is a textbook Madonna, kind and innocent, with nary a flaw to be had. Yet she is killed anyway, both by being TooGoodForThisSinfulEarth and as a symbol of the fading aristocracy. Mina Murray, while not exactly a Whore, is far more liberated and proactive, frequently brings up a skillset one wouldn't typically expect of a housewife, and is ultimately vital to the defeat of Dracula. Not to mention that, while Lucy is definitely a virgin by the time of her death, Mina (being a married woman) is almost explicitly not.

Compare SlutShaming, SourPrudes, LightFeminineAndDarkFeminine, BettyAndVeronica, MyGirlIsNotASlut, SensibleHeroesSkimpyVillains, GoodPeopleHaveGoodSex. Sometimes may be seen as a sign of BlackAndWhiteInsanity. Closely related to MamasBabyPapasMaybe, HeirClubForMen, and AltarDiplomacy, as demonizing female promiscuity is one way of ensuring political marriages only produce legitimate heirs. Contrast EthicalSlut, GoodBadGirl, HeroicSeductress, HookerWithAHeartOfGold, and MyGirlIsASlut. Not to be confused with MadonnaArchetype.

* In ''Series/TheHandmaidsTale'', women in [[NoWomansLand Gilead]] are expected to be either daughters and wives (which are the most respectable position in society) or Handmaids (forced to be [[BreedingSlave breeding slaves]]) and Jezebels (forcibly turned into [[SexSlave pleasure slaves]]), both of which are reserved for "unruly", "fallen" or "rebel" women. Curiously there are classes such as the Aunts ([[DrillSergeantNasty drill sergeant nasties]] for Handmaids) and Marthas (domestic workers) that fit neither classification. (This may be because, particularly in the novel, the Aunts and Marthas were ''usually'' women who were unmarried, and too old to bear children (and thus [[OldMaid too old]] to either ''get'' married or become Handmaids or Jezebels.)

** A similar contrast is done between Snow White and Regina. Snow White of course has IncorruptiblePurePureness and her Storybrook counterpart Mary Margaret is modest and virgin-like. Regina meanwhile as the Evil Queen favoured outfits with AbsoluteCleavage that provided plenty of Fanservice. Whenever she's attempting a HeelFaceTurn, her outfits become more modest. Of course on a deeper level, it's not so black and white. While Regina is essentially raping [[spoiler: Graham]], the "relationship" doesn't last that long--and Regina is pretty asexual for most of the time. Meanwhile, Mary Margaret has no problem having a one night stand with Dr Whale or pursuing a married man.

* ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': {{Discussed}} in Vamp's narration in [[http://whateleyacademy.net/index.php/content-menu/stories/104-diamonds-are-a-vamp-s-best-friend-part-1 Diamonds Are a Vamp's Best Friend (Part 1)]], when Vamp's mom is called a whore by [[spoiler:her legal father]]:

* ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': Hilariously deconstructed in ''The Missing Kink''. Stan inists than sex in anything other the Missionary Position is morally sinful, and when a bored Francine tricks him into experimenting, her banishes her from the house. He’s eventually convinced through a lavish musical number to break out of his repression, but his fetishes become so extreme that he has to be snapped back to his senses.

* ''Film/TaxiDriver'': Travis, among his many other issues, seems to suffer a major case of this, although it is more complicated and nuanced than most other examples. He becomes obsessed with Betsy, whom he sees as a beacon of virtue and purity among the filth of the city ("Madonna"), but when she rejects him his perception of her shifts completely, and she turns into "just like all the others" (a "Whore"). His relationship with Iris is similar but inverted: she starts as a "Whore"(literally a prostitute, and is implied that Travis is sexually attracted to her), but possibly due to her age Travis becomes fixated with helping her escape and start a virtuous life (become a "Madonna"). Thoughout the movie is never shown that Travis can think of women in any other way than these two extremes.

* ''Series/{{Frontier}}'': The owners of the Alehouse have to get Captain Johnson in a compromising position with one of the tavern girls in order to blackmail him. The problem is that he's a deeply Christian man, so Imogen taking the direct "whore" approach just leads to Johnson getting annoyed and telling her to leave. Mary instead tries the "madonna" tactic by presenting herself as a religious girl who finds herself tempted by bodily sin. This proves a lot more successful.

* TheCheerleader

* ''Literature/TheGame'' [[note]]Not to be confused with the 1997 Michael Douglas movie of the [[NamesTheSame same name]][[/note]] (And "Pick Up Artist" philosophy in general) names and discusses this trope extensively - according to its theories, [[AllWomenAreLustful all]] women [[MyGirlIsASlut are]] "Whores" that only put on a "Madonna" facade because that's societally expected of them.

* ''Film/TaxiDriver'': Travis, among his many other issues, seems to suffer a major case of this, although it is more complicated and nuanced than most other examples. He becomes obsessed with Betsy, whom he sees as a beacon of virtue and purity among the filth of the city ("Madonna"), but when he rejects him his perception of her shifts completely, and she turns into "just like all the others" (a "Whore"). His relationship with Iris is similar but inverted: she starts as a "Whore"(literally a prostitute, and is implied that Travis is sexually attracted to her), but possibly due to her age Travis becomes fixated with helping her escape and start a virtuous life (become a "Madonna"). Thoughout the movie is never shown that Travis can think of women in any other way than these two extremes.

* ''Film/TaxiDriver'': Travis, among his many other issues, seems to suffer a major case of this, although it is more complicated and nuanced than most other examples. He becomes obsessed with Betsy, whom he sees as a beacon of virtue and purity among the filth of the city ("Madonna"), but when he rejects him his perception of her shifts completely, and she turns into "just like all the others" (a "Whore"). His relationship with Iris is similar but inverted: she starts as a "Whore"(literally a prostitute, and is implied that Travis is sexually attracted to her), but possibly due to her age Travis becomes fixated with helping her escape and start a virtuous life (become a "Madonna"). Thoughout the movie is never shown that Travis can think of women in any other way than this two extremes.

* Stifler of the ''Film/AmericanPie'' series idolizes his mother and hates the thought of her having sex. This directly works against his mother's rampant promiscuity and willingness to have sex with his friends, much to Stifler's embarrassment and rage.
* In ''Film/AnalyzeThis'', Billy Crystal asks Creator/RobertDeNiro why he has a mistress. De Niro explains that there are things he can't do with his wife. When Crystal asks what, De Niro replies "Doc, it's the mouth that kisses my children goodnight".
* In ''Film/{{Atlantics}}'', there are two cliques of girls in the film: the well-behaved, religious girls like Mariema who obey their parents, and the "sluts" like Fanta and Dior who have more freedom but are shunned by society. At first, Mariema exists between the two worlds, appearing outwardly obedient while secretly hanging out with the girls and seeing Souleiman. After the fire, Mariema becomes increasingly discontented with obeying her family, and as word of her contact with Souleiman becomes public, Omar's family suspects her virtue and demand a virginity test. [[spoiler: Ultimately Mariema abandons her family and the life of the virginal girls by moving in with Dior, and losing her virginity.]]

* Discussed in ''Film/TheBreakfastClub'', where the topic of sex is brought up between Allison and Claire.

* ''Film/TheCabinInTheWoods'' has Jules and Dana shoehorned into both roles, Jules becoming "The Whore" and Dana being "The Virgin". Though in reality the Whore is in a steady relationship with her boyfriend and isn't exactly that promiscuous while the Virgin/Madonna isn't actually a virgin and has been having an affair with her professor.
* ''Film/CruelIntentions'' has the virginal Annette Hargrove contrasted with the manipulative and sexual Kathryn Merteuil.
* The existence of the FinalGirl in slasher movies runs on this trope. The FinalGirl is typically a virgin and above vices such as drinking, smoking and being promiscuous. She is usually contrasted with other girls in the film who enjoy frequent sex and therefore [[DeathBySex don't survive the film]]. ''Film/{{Halloween 1978}}'' was among the first to do this with all the female victims being killed in relation to sex. Two had just had sex while the third was on her way to do so.
* Ling in ''Film/KungPowEnterTheFist'' invokes this on herself. On the one hand, she plays the pious and quiet girl, but on the other she's shown teasing the Chosen One multiple times on the sly throughout the film. This culminates one intimate scene, where she throws caution to the wind and decides to have sex with him. However, before she even gets to the point of sex, she flips between undressing and redressing herself while worrying about what the Chosen One would think of her if she gives into her lust (including thinking he'll see her as a slut ''just for suggesting the sex'', and he's clearly ogling her the whole time).
* The titular heroine of ''Film/{{Malena}}''. Renato sees Malena as a Madonna figure, even having an ImagineSpot where she rides through the town dressed as the Virgin Mary. The women of the town see her as a Whore because the men ogle her and stare at her as she passes by. Malena herself starts out the film as a Madonna but becomes a Whore when she is forced to become a prostitute to make money.
* In ''Film/TheMarriageChronicles'', Ethel is alternately intrigued and horrified at his formerly staid wife's burgeoning sexuality.
* In Fritz Lang's ''Film/{{Metropolis}}'', [[MeaningfulName Maria]] is saintly and pure, whereas her robotic doppelganger is a diabolical temptress who works as a dancing girl at Toshiwara. Of course, the machine-woman was [[InvokedTrope deliberately made that way by Rotwang and Joh Fredersen to discredit Maria]]. They even spell it out for us--not only is Maria named after the Virgin Mary, but her robot double is repeatedly and explicitly compared to the Whore of Babylon from [[Literature/BookOfRevelation Revelation]].

* ''Film/PsychoIVTheBeginning'' reveals this to be a major factor in why Norman Bates became like he was, as his mother would ([[UnreliableNarrator according to him]]) seek to seduce him and then punish him when he reacted, and later explicitly says that all women are whores except for her.
* Jake [=LaMotta=] suffers from a major case of this in ''Film/RagingBull'', though slightly more subtly--he can't believe she's with him, so she must be cheating, so he beats her...

* In ''Film/SaturdayNightFever'', Tony believes a girl can be a [[ProperLady "nice girl"]] or a [[CountryMatters "cunt"]], not both.

* Laura of ''Film/StudentServices'' does this to herself, wanting to think of the girl who has sex with clients for money as a completely separate person who has no impact on Laura's much more innocent life.
* ''Film/ThatObscureObjectOfDesire'' is a {{Deconstruction}} as the same woman is turned into two -- one the virgin, the other the whore.

* Nick Diamond from ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'' [[AtLeastIAdmitIt admits he suffers from this]], after Johnny Gomez calls him out on lusting after the "sweet, innocent" Kristen Davis.