Old School Chivalry



An Always Male character devoted to enforcing the standards and principles regarding how "real men" act and behave, whether it's around women or otherwise. One of his top priorities is maintaining the comfort, safety, and reputation of ladies, thinking that the idea of a woman being One of the Boys is plain old wrong. His ideals go beyond common courtesy.

Any attempts to resist or otherwise convince said character of how horrifically archaic his principles are mostly never come up or fall flat on their faces, but a rare success will result in either a Break the Haughty moment or a wake up call to the man that he might be trapped in the wrong era or the wrong culture.

If he practices what he preaches, especially if it's in terms of romance, then he will probably win over the other characters like a natural Prince Charming. Might be a Sharp-Dressed Man. Some hand-kissing may be in order, too.

If he's not just a gentleman, but an Officer and a Gentleman, he probably belongs to an order of knighthood and follows the more classic code of chivalry. In that case see Knight in Shining Armor.

Compare Stay in the Kitchen and Prince Charming Wannabe.

Anime and Manga

 * Rurouni Kenshin: a female ninja is escorting a Dutch visitor about and is disconcerted when he wants her to walk through a door ahead of him. When he explains chivalry dictates it as a way of showing respect for women, she just laughs it off.

Film
"Gwyn: Now you let me steal your horse?
 * Hugh Jackman's character in Kate and Leopold. The nobleman from 1876, who is accustomed to stand when a lady leaves the table, is often mocked for things like his idea of the culinary arts, but he does become more modern and learns that obligation will trump integrity. He also woos Kate with a moonlight dinner and dancing on the roof, breakfast the next morning, etc.
 * Princess of Thieves

Prince Philip: I give it to you freely madam. A woman should not have to walk.

Gwyn: Has not a woman legs? Do we not walk and run just as you do?"

"Alejandro: All that shooting guns, racing around on horses - gives me a frightful headache. It’s hardly the work of a gentleman.
 * The Mask of Zorro

Elena: What is? Climbing in and out of carriages?

Alejandro: No, but increasing one's holdings so as to provide comfort to ladies. Such as yourself."

Live-Action TV

 * Simon Tam in Firefly is a well dressed doctor who doesn't swear or have casual sex. Needless to say he doesn't fit in with the thieves he lives with, but he says that he has to be proper because it's all he has.

Visual Novel

 * From Katawa Shoujo, Hisao is a subtle example - when he and Lilly first tell Akira that they're going out, he bows to her and tells her that he will take care of her sister. Akira comments on this, mentioning that she always expected Lilly would get together with an old-fashioned sort of guy.