False Suspicion - 30 of 36 Dramatic situations! Plots! AskWhy! Publications

Wise Women Discuss—Plot!

The 36 Tragic Situations

Though women have been starved of creative opportunities over the centuries of patriarchal bullying, they have proved in one important field that they are not creatively inferior to men—in writing. Adelphiasophists are keen that all people should be creative and that their efforts should be appreciated. If you have been intending to start that novel or screenplay but felt short of ideas, here is the Wise Women's synopsis of plot to give you a few ideas. May the Goddess inspire you. Saviour Shirlie.

30. False Suspicion

Elements

A suspicious person
A victim of the false suspicion
A cause or author of the suspicion
A guilty person

Themes

False suspicion which requires faith
False suspicion of a mistress (apparently not without reason)

This is a singularly fine plot; eg as used in the poisoned pen letter.

False suspicion aroused by

...a misunderstood attitude of a loved one
...indifference

False suspicion falling upon

...the innocent
...the innocent who nevertheless had a guilty intention
...the innocent who believes himself guilty
...oneself, drawn in self-sacrifice to save a friend
...a witness to the crime, in the interest of a loved one, lest accusation fall upon the innocent

False suspicion Involving an enemy

suspicion is allowed to fall upon an enemy
suspicion is directed against the victim by an enemy

False suspicion deliberately thrown

...by the real culprit upon one of his enemies
...by a brother against his sister
...by the real culprit upon the second victim against whom he has plotted from the beginning
This is pure Machiavellianism, obtaining the death of the second victim through an unjust punishment for murder of the first. Add a close relationship between the two victims and the deceived judge and all these emotions are assembled: discovery of the death of a relative; supposed discovery of an impious hatred between two relatives; belief even in a second case of crime, aggravated by this time by a scheme of revolt; finally the duty of condemning a loved one believed to be guilty. This includes four other situations. The "Machiavelli" who sets it all up abstracts himself from the drama but inspires in other characters the necessary feelings, unrolls before their steps the indispensible circumstances that impel movement toward the denouement he desires.
...upon a rival
...upon one innocent because he has refused to be an accomplice
...by a deserted mistress upon a lover who left her because he would not deceive her husband
...leading to an error of justice

struggle to rehabilitate oneself
struggle to avenge oneself