History Main / ServileSnarker

-->But Baddeley was stout. "No, ma'am, it is Miss Price; I am certain of its being Miss Price." And there was a half-smile with the words, which meant, "I do not think you would answer the purpose at all."

* This character has been a staple of Gothic literature since its inception, whose purpose is to provide a comic releif breather in the midst of all the darkness, angst, and tragedy in the rest of the plot:

-->'''Mark Antony:''' Cheer up, Posca, you're not dead yet.

'''C.C.:''' Ha! You used ''that'' pathetic line on me three ''years'' ago.\\

* The title character from ''{{Merlin}}'' has this in spades.

You wouldn't like taking orders from some pompous rich [[UpperClassTwit higher up]] for an occupation. In turn, neither do the characters written this way. In turn, the only way to tolerate their occupation of servitude is to snark at your employer for all it's worth. After all, they CantLiveWithoutYou. Also, some employers genuinely enjoy the banter or value the valet's second opinion. Some might even consider them [[{{Nakama}} a member of the family]], and know that there's genuine love behind the mocking.

* The incarnation of Jarvis, [[{{IronMan}} Tony Stark's]] butler found in ''{{Ultimate Marvel}}'' is very sarcastic towards towards his master, unlike the traditional Earth 616 Jarvis. He's also drawn to resemble Michael Gough, the Alfred of the Burton/Schumacher movies.

* This character has been a staple of Gothic literature since its inception:

* The original Zanni (especially Colombina who was usaully the only senible person on stage) from CommediaDellArte, who made a regular habit of popping their masters' egos with panache.

* The original Lazzi from CommediaDellArte, who made a regular habit of popping their masters' egos with panache.

-->'''Mrs. C:''' Well? - where have ''you'' been?
-->'''Hirsch:''' Mardi Gras, ma'am.

* Hobson in ''{{Arthur}}''.

See SassySecretary for another variation of this character. You might also want to see SarcasticDevotee and NoHeroToHisValet.

* Kyon from ''TheMelancholyOfHaruhiSuzumiya'' fits this to the T, being snarky in general, especially towards SOS Brigade leader Haruhi Suzumiya, who treats him as essentially nothing more than a slave and toy for her amusement.

* Alfred from ''{{Batman}}'' was considered as a candidate for the TropeNamer.
** It takes an extraordinary man to snark at someone who regularly makes others wet their pants in fear.

-->'''Tony:''' *seeing the rendering of the Mk III armor* ...A little ostentatious, don't you think?\\

* Sebastian from {{Heidi}}, specially in regards to Mrs. Rottenmeier.

* Desmond Pfeiffer from ''{{The Secret Diary Of Desmond Pfeiffer}}''.

* The titular character from ''{{Merlin}}'' has this in spades.

* The slave Pseudolus, in ''{{A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum}}''.

* [[EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep The butler]] in ''DiscworldNoir''. Although his snark is directed at Lewton, not his employer. (He doesn't actually have any ''scenes'' with his employer.)
** He's a lot less polite about it as a result. He'd raise obstruction to an art form if not for the fact that you have business with both his bosses, neither of whom appreciate being kept waiting.
* Alfred, of course. For example, this little gem from the Batman Begins video game:
-->'''Batman''': Alfred, I need a way inside the asylum.
-->'''Alfred''': Might I suggest donning a pair of tights and pretending you're a bat, sir?
-->'''Batman''': ''Cute''.

* Ardsley Wooster, Gil's manservant in GirlGenius, isn't above a well-timed eye roll or directing the girl his master's trying to impress to one of master's "[[EroticLiterature favorite novels]]" in the library. Slight subversion, as Wooster [[spoiler: isn't really a manservant but a spy, and Gil, unbeknownst to him, is fully aware of this.]]

* Ardsley Wooster, Gil's manservant in GirlGenius, isn't above a well-timed eye roll or directing the girl his master's trying to impress to one of master's "[[BodiceRipper favorite novels]]" in the library. Slight subversion, as Wooster [[spoiler: isn't really a manservant but a spy, and Gil, unbeknownst to him, is fully aware of this.]]

* Roman Playwright Plautus created the Ur-Example with the title character in ''Pseudolus'', though he is somewhat different in that he actually chooses the life of a slave, feeling that it (paradoxically) gives him more freedom.