young character vs. old character theme

A stereotypically aged (often cynical) character is contrasted with a stereotypically younger (often more blue-eyed and enthusiastic) character.

31 total · 2 choice · 16 major · 13 minor

StoryLevelMotivation
movie: All About Eve (1950) choice The aging Broadway star Margo Channing was compared and contrasted with the young and equally talented aspiring actress Eve Harrington. Eve posed as humble and modest in order to get into Margo's circle, but was in fact sly and completely ruthless as she plotted to usurp Margo's position. The story ended with the implication that Eve herself might well have the same fate to look forwards to, as she was contrasted with the even younger Phoebe.
tz1985e2x11b choice The point of the story was to show how the older people were, in fact, a lot wiser than their foolish young selves.
ahh3x09 major The young optimistic missionary Brother John, who genuinely wanted to help people in need, was juxtaposed with his cynical old counterpart, Brother Thomas.
ahp2x33 major Hildegard, a girl much older than her age, was compared and contrasted variously with judge Anderson (whom she beat at chess), her own parents (whom she manipulated), and Mrs. Whiteford (whom she coached and played matchmaker to).
ahp5x21 major Charles was an old stick-in-the-mud and Len a young, rebellious man.
blackmirror3x06 major The tech savvy young inspector Blue Coulson versus the cynical older inspector Karin Parke.
movie: Daughters of the Dust (1991) major granddaughters vs. Nana
movie: Saturn 3 (1980) major Captain Benson kept pointing out how Adam was old and obsolete, and he could not understand why she would choose Adam over him.
movie: Seven (1995) major young David Mills in contrast with near retiring William Somerset
movie: The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant (1972) major 23 year old Karin was contrasted with the mature Petra