# Fictional examples of "punished for succeeding"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 20, 2024, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001 "2024-10-20T17:35:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/1 "2024-10-20T17:35:00Z")
Someone works out a better way of doing something, only to discover that everyone invested in the status quo is either uninterested or actually actively opposed to any innovation that will overturn the apple cart. Or someone succeeds but because their rivals are socially or politically better connected, they are denounced as not knowing their place and the success suppressed (or even co-opted or stolen by their rivals). Examples would be _The Man in the White Suit_, or in the first Robocop movie the assassination of Bob Morton at the behest of rival Dick Jones. Other example? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/2 "2024-10-20T17:37:39Z")
- **[Tucker: The Man and His Dream](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096316/)** ETA: I guess “Tucker” is not fictional. - **[The Hudsucker Proxy](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110074/)** - **King Lear** (Shakespeare) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/3 "2024-10-20T17:42:25Z")
I haven’t read _Uncle Tom’s Cabin_ since high school, but I kind of remember something like that in there – a slave invented a machine to make one of his tasks easier, but instead of bring praised for his ingenuity he gets denounced as “lazy”; he just built that machine to get out of doing “real work”, doesn’t know his place, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/4 "2024-10-20T17:45:02Z")
A version of this was in an episode of _I Dream of Jeannie_. She magically fixed Tony’s uniform so that it couldn’t get damaged or dirty. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/5 "2024-10-20T17:53:01Z")
Would _Raiders of the Lost Ark_ count? Indy succeeds in recovering the Ark of the Covenant, and despite being eminently qualified to study it, it’s whisked away to a government warehouse for “top men” to examine (read: allow to languish indefinitely). I suppose Indy wasn’t really _punished_ for his success, but neither did he get the sort of recognition, reward, or opportunities that he certainly deserved. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/6 "2024-10-20T17:53:49Z")
Ray Bradbury’s short short story [The Flying Machine](https://floydmiddle.typepad.com/files/the-flying-machine-text.pdf) is how authoritarians brutally crush independent innovation and then self-congratulate for seeing “the bigger picture.” ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/7 "2024-10-20T18:11:01Z")
In _Anthem_ by Ayn Rand, in a dystopian (presumably post-apocalyptic) future, the hero rediscovers/reinvents (it’s been a while since I read it) electric lights. He presents it to his government, and they condemn him for it because he’s not a “scholar” who’s allowed to do experiments, and also his lights would out-compete candles. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/8 "2024-10-20T18:11:18Z")
_Flowers for Algernon_ includes this trope, though it’s not the focus of the plot. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/9 "2024-10-20T18:12:31Z")
> [@susan](#): > > _Flowers for Algernon_ includes this trope, though it’s not the focus of the plot. I am not sure I would call that punished for succeeding. The treatment was only temporary. Unfortunate but not a punishment. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/10 "2024-10-20T18:12:40Z")
Well, the ultimate example has to be _[Harrison Bergeron](https://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/harrison.html)_. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/11 "2024-10-20T18:14:56Z")
Yes, as I said, not the main plot focus. Charley is punished as described in the OP when he devops a more efficient way to organize the machinery. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/12 "2024-10-20T18:17:52Z")
> [@Dendarii\_Dame](#): > > In _Anthem_ by Ayn Rand, in a dystopian (presumably post-apocalyptic) future, the hero rediscovers/reinvents (it’s been a while since I read it) electric lights. He presents it to his government, and they condemn him for it because he’s not a “scholar” who’s allowed to do experiments, and also his lights would out-compete candles Even worse, he dared to do so _individually_, instead of as part of a vetted and approved research team that would require a consensus at each step of the process in order to ensure that it had the support of all of society. This was a favorite theme of Rand’s. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/13 "2024-10-20T18:20:32Z")
Its a pretty central to the plot of Idiocracy: The hero convinces the dumbed down future America that watering plants with fictionalized Gatoraid\* because, rather than being “what plants crave” the electrolytes in it are actually just salt which is the cause of their crop growing problem. Rather than being happy about it people are instead incensed that shares of the energy drink company have crashed causing an economic crisis. The hero is about to be executed when proof is produced that replacing energy drink with water has caused plants to grow again. - - I don’t know why Gatoraid is fictionalized when so many other brands are kept in (including Starbucks which have morphed into brothels over the years) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/14 "2024-10-20T18:28:53Z")
In the first KNIGHT RIDER episode, David Hasselhoff is the would-be recruit who (a) asks why the heck this dying rich guy wants him to drive around the country in a bulletproof car that can solve crimes, but quickly (b) gets a vehement response to his suggestion: _“Have it taken away from me and kept off the market, like they did my airpl-airplane?”_ As far as I know, this doesn’t get expanded on: in part because the old man starts coughing right then and dies soon after, and in part because the line is just there to move the plot along. But the point is: yeah, that’s presumably the idea. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/15 "2024-10-20T18:45:34Z")
> [@griffin1977](#): > > I don’t know why Gatoraid is fictionalized when so many other brands are kept in (including Starbucks which have morphed into brothels over the years) Because “Brawndo - The Thirst Mutilator” is a heck of a lot funnier than Gatorade. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/16 "2024-10-20T18:47:36Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > I haven’t read _Uncle Tom’s Cabin_ since high school, but I kind of remember something like that in there – a slave invented a machine to make one of his tasks easier, but instead of bring praised for his ingenuity he gets denounced as “lazy”; he just built that machine to get out of doing “real work”, doesn’t know his place, etc. The passage in question (spoilered for N word): George Harris. This young man had been hired out by his master to work in a bagging factory, where his adroitness and ingenuity caused him to be considered the first hand in the place. He had invented a machine for the cleaning of the hemp, which, considering the education and circumstances of the inventor, displayed quite as much mechanical genius as Whitney’s cotton-gin.[1] He was possessed of a handsome person and pleasing manners, and was a general favorite in the factory. Nevertheless, as this young man was in the eye of the law not a man, but a thing, all these superior qualifications were subject to the control of a vulgar, narrow-minded, tyrannical master. This same gentleman, having heard of the fame of George’s invention, took a ride over to the factory, to see what this intelligent chattel had been about. He was received with great enthusiasm by the employer, who congratulated him on possessing so valuable a slave. He was waited upon over the factory, shown the machinery by George, who, in high spirits, talked so fluently, held himself so erect, looked so handsome and manly, that his master began to feel an uneasy consciousness of inferiority. What business had his slave to be marching round the country, inventing machines, and holding up his head among gentlemen? He’d soon put a stop to it. He’d take him back, and put him to hoeing and digging, and “see if he’d step about so smart.” Accordingly, the manufacturer and all hands concerned were astounded when he suddenly demanded George’s wages, and announced his intention of taking him home. “But, Mr. Harris,” remonstrated the manufacturer, “isn’t this rather sudden?” “What if it is?—isn’t the man mine?” “We would be willing, sir, to increase the rate of compensation.” “No object at all, sir. I don’t need to hire any of my hands out, unless I’ve a mind to.” “But, sir, he seems peculiarly adapted to this business.” “Dare say he may be; never was much adapted to anything that I set him about, I’ll be bound.” “But only think of his inventing this machine,” interposed one of the workmen, rather unluckily. “O yes! a machine for saving work, is it? He’d invent that, I’ll be bound; let a nigger alone for that, any time. They are all labor-saving machines themselves, every one of ’em. No, he shall tramp!” ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/17 "2024-10-20T18:56:57Z")
In _Hannibal_, Clarice Starling’s anticipated success in locating Lecter made Paul Krendler jealous, so he sabotaged her career. Really lost his head. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/18 "2024-10-20T19:14:11Z")
Was there anything like this in any of Huxley’s books (Brave New World, etc)? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/19 "2024-10-20T19:18:46Z")
In Terry Gilliam’s movie _Jabberwocky_ our hero slays the dragon and wins the hand of the princess. But he doesn’t want the princess, he wants his lady love from his small town. But he has to marry the princess anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2024, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001/20 "2024-10-20T19:29:41Z")
The UK (ITV) series _Van der Valk_ is using this plot for the current series; someone has invented what could be a cure for cancer, and the billionaire whose fortune rests on pharmaceutical-industry cancer drugs has that someone killed. (Or so it appears from part 1, anyway—part 2 airs in the US tonight, so we’ll know for sure then.) > **["Van der Valk" Secrets in Amsterdam (TV Episode 2024) ⭐ 8.6 | Crime, Drama,...](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33095108/?ref_=ttep_ep3)** > > Secrets in Amsterdam: Directed by Paula van der Oest. With Marc Warren, Maimie McCoy, Darrell D'Silva, Emma Fielding. Van Der Valk investigates a series of murders that draw them into a cryptic puzzle which could not only unlock a potentially... [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fictional-examples-of-punished-for-succeeding/1009001.md?page=2)