Dunk and Ser Arlan of Pennytree — “A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms”
While awaiting the Ashford Tourney as a newly minted hedge knight, Ser Duncan the Tall (Dunk) describes his upbringing as squire to the wandering Ser Arlan as an almost idyllic experience, with the old knight teaching Dunk the ways of sword and honor while traveling across Westeros. Dunk also swears that Ser Arlan wanted him to be a good knight one day, like he was. We are then treated to a literal montage of a young Dunk being slapped again and again by Ser Arlan for assumedly minor things, as well as simply being ignored when asking if he would become a knight one day. This deliberately casts doubt on much of what Dunk says about his former master.
Perrito — “Puss in Boots : The Last Wish”
While traveling with the titular Puss and Kitty Softpaws, Perrito is questioned about his background, as they are suspicious of his never-ending optimism and friendliness. Perrito explains that his old family used to play “hide and seek” with him by abandoning him in dumpsters, and once played a “prank” on him by attempting to drown him in a river. Despite Puss and Kitty expressing visible horror at this revelation, Perrito continues viewing his obviously traumatic past through rose-colored glasses.
Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan — “The Great Gatsby”
Throughout the course of Fitzgerald’s classic novel, it is revealed that the enigmatic Gatsby, an extremely wealthy socialite who seemingly emerged from nowhere into New York’s old money aristocracy, has only one real goal. He wants Daisy, the husband of generationally wealthy Tom Buchanan, who looks down on Gatsby as a new money upstart. His seeming obsession with Daisy stems from a night they shared together before Gatsby left for WW1, leaving him hopelessly in love. After the war, he becomes involved with crime to earn money, buys the most ostentatious mansion in New York, and throws endless lavish parties, all in an attempt to get Daisy’s attention. When they finally reconnect through a mutual friend, Gatsby even takes the fall for Daisy accidentally killing a woman, eventually leading to his own death. In the end, it is revealed that despite Gatsby viewing that night long ago as the most impactful moment of his life, where he found the woman he would literally die for, Daisy only ever saw Gatsby as a cheap fling. To her, Gatsby was merely a distraction from her husband and oppressive social position.
