No one is talking to Danny. He can't understand why. Sure, he threw that football at the nerds and ended up hitting the head cheerleader in the head instead. What's the big deal? That little incident isn't bad enough to warrant the worst of possible peer punishments ... is it?
The Silent Treatment - a) when a character is so upset, they refuse to speak, b) someone who won't respond when questioned or if they are spoken to, and for no apparent reason, at least for the time being. Don't confuse this with The Quiet One, since this trope is used by characters who are usually or otherwise chatty (unless an inanimate object is treated like a character, spoken to, and a response is expected). More often than not, this trope is accompanied with crossed arms.You will always see this trope during an interrogation scene, after an argument, or, in some cases, as a form of torture or psychological abuse. I'll show you what I mean by this following ad-xample:
Or how about this one:
...
And this one:
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See how frustrating that can be, and yet so interesting at the same time? Now apply that when it seems appropriate and watch the drama fly. Just be careful not to use it too much. It drives people crazy.
Ever given your characters The Silent Treatment? Have you been a victim of this horrible experience? Have you ever perpetuated it?
I'm David, and ...
Other than the first one your examples aren't showing up.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I've used this one at some point. Actually in one that involves a mother-daughter the mother doesn't yell at the kid. Instead she just stares her down, which the kid refers to as "the Glare."
I'm pretty sure he was giving us the silent treatment with those ...
DeleteI used the silent treatment in one of my books. It led to a first kiss. :)
ReplyDeleteLove your new little David avatar. ;0) I don't think I've used this. But you just gave me an idea...
ReplyDeletelol. Love that commercial! I've only used the silent treatment a few times, but only because I was afraid of what might fly out of my mouth. ;)
ReplyDeleteI can never make the silent treatment work, because it usually leads to more internal dialog which I already do too much of. :-)
ReplyDeleteFunny. Yeah.
ReplyDeleteLove what you've done with the place.
I think it works best on really abnoxious people who try to force/scream their way into being talked to.
ReplyDeleteUmm...so when I do this to my husband, I'm perpetuating a trope? I should be more original and yell at him instead. Ha! Just kidding.
ReplyDeleteSee you soon, David! Have a Merry Christmas!
Silent treatment is a great non-physical torture device. I love that ad. Poor guy.
ReplyDeleteOr the main character is so mad if he speaks, he'll be yelling. (Used that one in CassaFire.)
ReplyDeleteIn junior high my best friend gave me the silent treatment. It devestated me.
ReplyDeleteThe silent treatment: also a frustrating and manipulative marital ploy! Sometimes when an MC is so frustrated or feels that it won't do any good to respond anyway, the silence can speak volumes.
ReplyDeleteThe silent treatment: passive aggressive torture of choice around here :) Okay, not really, but I've been known to use it from time to time. It is oddly effective in some instances!
ReplyDeleteDoes Silent Bob of Jay and Silent Bob count as this trope?
ReplyDeleteLOL. I sometimes think characters talk TOO much. Silence is golden. =) Oh, and the tension silence brings? Hey, I used it the other day when teaching a class. Now imagine that, applying this trope to a whole group of kids at once.
ReplyDeleteI've never done this with a character. Could be a fun exercise though!
ReplyDeleteI use this often while in a fight. I'm just not made for nagging/shouting/swearing, the latter two would just be funny coming from me.
ReplyDeleteMy WIP protagonist uses this to make people blurt out stuff they wouldn't usually say.
One of my characters in my coming release does this. Sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. It is pretty funny :) haha
ReplyDeleteI've been on the giving and receiving end of the silent treatment. Not fun either way.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the silent treatment. I know it well. As a teen, I was a master of it, lol.
ReplyDeleteThe silent treatment is the worst! I once had a friend freeze me out like this until our friendship was totally destroyed. REALLY sucky way for a friendship to end. I never even figured out what I did to make her stop speaking to me.
ReplyDeleteI've used it in my books to though. Always adds some cool drama. Silence can say SO much.
Love the timing of this post! I was actually just debating about whether or not I should make my character suffer through a silent treatment. I guess we'll just see how everything unfolds, but great post! :)
ReplyDeletelove this trope! must remember to use it, diabolically!! mua ha ha!
ReplyDeleteUsed it many times. I think men do it far more than women, too.
ReplyDeleteIck. The silent treatment is no fun. I've never thought of how much it's used in books before, though. I'll have to keep an eye out for that next time. :)
ReplyDelete