![]() ![]() The joke can also be dragged too far in other ways - to make a character a Butt-Monkey of fate is one thing to have them constantly taking the punishment for the misdeeds of an unsympathetic cast is another. Furthermore, if the audience begins to resent the "unfair" treatment of the character, they can become the Designated Monkey. If the audience sympathizes with them, they become a Woobie. The Butt-Monkey is occasionally dangerous if they're pushed too far. This can be counteracted if you occasionally Throw the Dog a Bone, though many writers just can't resist Yanking The Dog's Chain. ![]() If carried too far, may result in Deus Angst Machina. The direct opposite of a Karma Houdini (although technically the definition applies to those who escape from karma regardless of whether it's good or bad). Sometimes it's all the writers can think of to do with the character. They don't have to deserve what they go through, but they're an easy target. With tertiary characters, it must be their sole purpose to exist. With primary and secondary characters, it must be a regular occurrence. Simply having a character go through hell once or twice (no matter how severely) is not enough to be the Butt-Monkey. ![]() Long story short, it sucks to be a Butt-Monkey. Nothing ever goes right for this character, and if something bad is going to happen to someone, chances are it's going to happen to them. For whatever reason, the Butt-Monkey seems to walk through life with a permanent "Kick Me" sign attached to their backs, invisible to them, but all too visible to the rest of the world. The character who is always the butt of the demeaning joke or the "put them through hell" plotline. Xander Harris, Buffy the Vampire Slayer ![]()
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