History Main / TheRevolutionWillNotBeVilified

* Like the above Literature example, ''Theatre/LesMiserables'' portrays a France post-Revolution of 1830, where the populace is angry with the new king and already ready to rebel once more. Les'Amis del ABC are brave, noble revolutionaries, and even the worst among them, the token drunk Grantaire, is still dedicated to the cause enough to [[spoiler:fight and die along with the rest of them]]. Justified in that many of the revolution scenes are adapted from and inspired by scenes from the book, which were taken directly from author Creator/VictorHugo's own experience with the June Rebellion of 1832, making it TruthInTelevision.

All [[LaResistance resistances]] are against TheEmpire. Only evil [[TheGovernment governments]] provoke rebellion. No matter [[VillainWithGoodPublicity their hold over information]], striking against the authority will never be wrong. In the land of tropes, the revolution will not be vilified. It is always a force for the good, freedom, equality, freedom, justice, [[RuleOfThree freedom]], and democracy. [[OverlyLongGag And freedom.]] (ForGreatJustice, of course.)

Contrast with FullCircleRevolution, TheRemnant, and the DarkMessiah. See also the related and often confused trope of LaResistance. When the rebels are generally good but hampered by infighting, it's WeAreStrugglingTogether. For the opposite, when the rebels are anti-heroes or outright villains, see TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized. For the case where the whole conflict really was "civilized" (for better or worse), see VelvetRevolution.

** Actually, the movie was pretty accurate historically, though the locations were often wrong. Shooting surrendering British soldiers was not glossed over and was to emphasis that war sucks (and they had no way to contain or take care of the soldiers). The atrocities of the British army were not fabricated but the locations they took place in were. Let it be known the British were ''not'' famous for their merciful treatment of rebels. Their occupations were also bad enough that pro-Empire colonists in British taken territory often turned to the rebellion due to how they, too, were treated. One example of this was the Church-burning scene, which was not something that happened during the American Revolution, but did happen during some of the Irish Rebellions.

Having said that, reality is complicated. Sometimes the rebels have misread the situation, for instance believing that the government has caused all their problems when actually the government had nothing to do with it. And if the government really ''is'' evil or incompetent, that doesn't necessarily mean that the revolutionaries actually know how to fix it. Sometimes they establish a new government that's just as bad as the old government.

For instance, ''Animal Farm'' (based on the Russian Revolution) depicts the animals revolting against a corrupt establishment and establishing a new government with a new leader...and then the new leader turns out to be a murderous tyrant. Oops. Less destructive examples usually involve the revolutionaries breaking into factions, where each faction has a different idea of how to run things now that the old regime has been defeated, and they can't agree on a common plan even if they all have good intentions. This may even lead to a civil war among the revolutionaries.

* For all its attempts at down-to-earth gritty realism, the revolutionaries in ''Anime/FangOfTheSunDougram'' are always portrayed in a sympathetic light.

** Actually, the movie was pretty accurate historically, though the locations were often wrong. Shooting surrendering British soldiers was not glossed over and was to emphasis that war sucks (and they had no way to contain or take care of the soldiers). The atrocities of the British army were not fabricated but the locations they took place in were. Let it be known the British were ''not'' famous for their merciful treatment of rebels. Their occupations were also bad enough that pro-Empire colonists in British taken territory often turned to the rebellion due to how they, too, were treated.

If things go bad, the new regime may have to confront a lot of pissed off government workers, businesses, and common folk who didn't want a war in the first place. All that unrest might produce a *new* crop of revolutionaries...who might just end up repeating the exact same mistakes.

Having said that, reality is complicated. Sometimes the rebels have misread the situation, for instance believing that the government has caused all their problems when actually the government had nothing to do with it. And if the government really ''is'' evil or incompetent, that doesn't necessarily mean that the revolutionaries actually know how to fix it. Sometimes they establish a new government that's just as bad as the old government. For instance, ''Animal Farm'' (based on the Russian Revolution) depicts the animals revolting against a corrupt establishment and establishing a new government with a new leader...and then the new leader turns out to be a murderous tyrant. Oops. Less destructive examples usually involve the revolutionaries breaking into factions, where each faction has a different idea of how to run things now that the old regime has been defeated, and they can't agree on a common plan even if they all have good intentions. This may even lead to a civil war among the revolutionaries.

Having said that, reality is complicated. Sometimes the rebels have misread the situation, for instance believing that the government has caused all their problems when actually the government had nothing to do with it. And if the government really *is* evil or incompetent, that doesn't necessarily mean that the revolutionaries actually know how to fix it. Sometimes they establish a new government that's just as bad as the old government. For instance, ''Animal Farm'' (based on the Russian Revolution) depicts the animals revolting against a corrupt establishment and establishing a new government with a new leader...and then the new leader turns out to be a murderous tyrant. Oops. Less destructive examples usually involve the revolutionaries breaking into factions, where each faction has a different idea of how to run things now that the old regime has been defeated, and they can't agree on a common plan even if they all have good intentions. This may even lead to a civil war among the revolutionaries.

Having said that, reality is complicated. Sometimes the rebels have misread the situation, for instance believing that the government has caused all their problems when actually the government had nothing to do with it. And if the government really *is* evil or incompetent, that doesn't necessarily mean that the revolutionaries actually know how to fix it. Sometimes they establish a new government that's just as bad as the old government. For instance, AnimalFarm (based on the RussianRevolution) depicts the animals revolting against a corrupt establishment and establishing a new government with a new leader...and then the new leader turns out to be a murderous tyrant. Oops. Less destructive examples usually involve the revolutionaries breaking into factions, where each faction has a different idea of how to run things now that the old regime has been defeated, and they can't agree on a common plan even if they all have good intentions. This may even lead to a civil war among the revolutionaries.

This isn't necessarily an unrealistic trope, as rebellions and revolutions almost never happen for no reason at all. They're usually the expression of real (or at least perceived), preexisting problems and grievances, often founded on economic inequality or long-lasting cultural discrimination. Commonly, the rebels come to power on the assumption that what they believe is the problem is indeed the problem them discover they were wrong. Usually, they didn't believe that they were the underclass because of poor economics and poor resources in their nation. Instead, they believed that their government was stealing from them (despite the fact they had nothing to steal) or that America was oppressing them (even though America probably didn't know their country existed at all). So, the victorious rebels then become worse than the previous regime because they have to establish control over pissed off government workers, businesses, and common folk who didn't want a war in the first place. This then leads to worse conditions for their nation and more rebellions.

Even so, that should not imply that the revolutionaries or rebels choose the most liberating tactics, especially when applied in a historical context where revolutions became morally complex and dangerous affairs. Revolutions in the strict definition is defined as an ideological and comprehensive overhaul of the pre-existing government and system. Sometimes this is a spontaneous expression of the population and usually a simple desire of changing the system. Other times it's an ideological attempt at creating a new system to match a particular set of principles. In the case of the former, it is a more winning and genuine revolutionary spirit which may or may not find their faith rewarded by the new regime. Here one can take the side of the people's initial hopes and dreams, rather than the shape and outcome that followed. In the case of the latter, it largely depends on the nature of the given ideology being proposed, which can potentially complicate and polarize the outcome since almost all revolutionary events fracture on the question of ideology and means to enforce and practise it.

One must also be careful in using the word Revolution and Rebellion. All revolutions ''are'' rebellions against the established order, but all rebellions ''need not be'' revolutions. Rebellions are driven mostly in opposition to the existing system without necessarily an idea in place to replace the new regime. Rebellions can even include military and parliamentary coups which are usually not seen as positive examples of this trope. They are also vague, limited in outcome and yet, ironically, they are generally more spontaneous as expressions and reactions of genuine sentiments than a revolutionary program.

** Actually, the movie was pretty accurate historically, though the locations were often wrong. Shooting surrendering British soldiers was not glossed over and was to emphasis that war sucks (and they had no way to contain or take care of the soldiers). The atrocities of the British army were not fabricated but the locations they took place in were. Let it be known the British were ''not'' famous for their merciful treatment of traitors. Their occupations were also bad enough that pro-Empire colonists in British taken territory often turned to the rebellion due to how they, too, were treated.

This isn't necessarily an unrealistic trope, as rebellions and revolutions almost never happen for no reason at all. They're usually the expression of real (or at least perceived), preexisting problems and grievances, often founded on economic inequality or long-lasting cultural discrimination.

* Some film versions of ''Literature/LesMiserables'' made at points of anti-Communist hysteria, which portray Enjolras as a dangerous kook, and Marius as a wide-eyed innocent caught up in his overzealous mission. This is however played straight in the highly popular Film/LesMiserables2012'' where Enjolras is portrayed in the same manner as Creator/VictorHugo's original vision.

* Like the above Literature example, ''Theatre/LesMiserables'' portrays a France post-Revolution of 1830, where the populous is angry with the new king and already ready to rebel once more. Les'Amis del ABC are brave, noble revolutionaries, and even the worst among them, the token drunk Grantaire, is still dedicated to the cause enough to [[spoiler:fight and die along with the rest of them]]. Justified in that many of the revolution scenes are adapted from and inspired by scenes from the book, which were taken directly from author Creator/VictorHugo's own experience with the June Rebellion of 1832, making it TruthInTelevision.

* The Vendrien Guard in ''{{Tyranny}}'' is fighting a heroic but doomed struggle against the forces of Kyras.

* The Vendrien Guard in ''{{Tyranny}}'' is fighting a heroic but doomed struggle against the forces of Kyras

Contrast with TheRemnant and the DarkMessiah. See also the related and often confused trope of LaResistance. When the rebels are generally good but hampered by infighting, it's WeAreStrugglingTogether. For the opposite, when the rebels are anti-heroes or outright villains, see TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized. For the case where the whole conflict really was "civilized" (for better or worse), see VelvetRevolution.

** Though, in Roy's defense, it quickly becomes clear that most of the regular soldiers [[LockedOutOfTheLoop have no idea what their superiors are planning to do]] and are only doing what they truly and honestly believe to be the right thing. And are severely ticked off when they find out the truth and ripped off their badges and threw them in the corrupt officers face. A lot of them have HeelRealizations after hearing Central commands plans and realizing that their families and friend will be among the dead.

* The Anime/AKB0048 are portrayed as an heroic rebel group dedicated to restoring to bringing back entertainment and cheap clean FTL drives for everyone against an evil Corporate Government.
* Both the government and the anti-government rebellion in Manga/Area88 are portrayed as essentially good people; who just couldn't agree over certain issues. Then again, Manga/Area88 isn't really about the Aslani Civil War, but the dehumanising and destructive effects, war has on people. [[DontDoThisCoolThing And awesome dogfights.]]

'''Traximus:''' Revolution is usually what happens...''when the world needs to change!''

'''Traximus:''' Revolution is ''usually'' what happens...''when the world needs to change.''

* ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'': The Crystal Gems are the members of a ServantRace who TurnedAgainstTheirMasters to prevent [[TheEmpire Homeworld]] from [[HostileTerraforming destroying all life on Earth to make new gems and a colony]]. Homeworld is expansionist, [[FinalSolution wanted to wipe the Crystal Gems out entirely]], treat their own members as [[WeHaveReserves expendable]] and [[IndividualityIsIllegal interchangeable]], and committed atrocities such as [[spoiler:resurrecting the dead to create a WeaponOfMassDestruction and inflicting TheCorruption on most of their enemies--along with much of their own forces]]. The Crystal Gems have an essentially defensive mission, took their enemies alive whenever possible (i.e. most of the time because of gems' [[FromASingleCell regenerative abilities]]), and most of them joined their leader's cause [[BecauseYouWereNiceToMe because they were treated with respect and dignity]]. [[spoiler:Bismuth wanted to take the Crystal Gems into [[TheRevolutionWillNotBeCivilized shadier territory]], planning to deliberately kill enemy gems as a means to topple Homeworld's leadership, but Rose put a stop to that (and apparently reigned in anyone else who felt otherwise).]]

[[folder:Mythology and Religion]]
* If you really squint at the Literature/BookOfExodus, Moses is effectively literature's first bio-terrorist, and takes out his aggression against the government on the civilian population.
[[/folder]]

* ''RedFaction'' and ''Red Faction Guerilla,'' Ultor and the Earth Defense Force are absolutely evil tyrants who have NO redeeming personalities and the revolution rarely commits acts of genuine evil. ''Red Faction 2'' is slightly more ambiguous.

* ''Viva Zapata!'' by Creator/EliaKazan was an attempt at reconstructing this trope. Kazan had become an ex-communist but he believed that genuine revolutionary change was a good thing to strive for. In the film Zapata after succeeding in his rebellion takes office but worries that he'll become a tyrant like he once opposed, so he resolves to fight and live among the people inspiring them from below rather than above.
* Film/WildWind has the good Communist partisans against the evil Nazis. The only partisan who disobeys orders and shoots the prisoners is put on trial and shot by his commander.

* [[TheEmpire The Galactic Empire]] in ''Franchise/StarWars'' is remarkably evil, what with the racist motives and the EarthShatteringKaboom. The Rebellion, on the other hand, wore halos. This was eventually fleshed out in the ExpandedUniverse with both sides [[KickTheDog kicking]] or [[PetTheDog petting the dog]]. However the Rebellion is ''still'' much better.