Topical Guide 694
Mark Dorset
Fiction: Stock Characters: Gentleman Thief
What a Piece of Work I Am, Chapter 23:
I’ve wondered sometimes—if he had been a glamorous bandit, a figure out of our folklore, the thief as hero—wouldn’t I have gone along with him? And wouldn’t I have been thrilled?”
A gentleman thief, gentleman burglar, lady thief, or phantom thief is a stock character in fiction. A gentleman or lady thief is characterised by impeccable manners, charm, courteousness, and the avoidance of physical force or intimidation to steal, and often has inherited wealth. They steal not only to gain material wealth but also for the thrill of the act itself, which is often combined in fiction with correcting a moral wrong, selecting wealthy targets, or stealing only particularly rare or challenging objects.
In fiction, the gentleman thief is typically superb at stealing while maintaining a gentleman’s manners and a code of honour. For example, […] Arsène Lupin steals from the rich who do not appreciate their art or treasures and redistributes it […]
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