IDW's second arc in its MLP:FIM series features Rarity being abducted by Nightmare Forces who then turn her into Nightmare Rarity, like Nightmare Moon with Luna.

What is interesting is why they pick Rarity. The Nightmare Leader is clear that Rarity was picked for two connected reasons: she had self esteem issues, and with those they could manipulate her Generosity.

And fortunately the comic provides insight into what those self esteem issues are. Rarity fears (or maybe feared if she got over it) being replaced, rejected, forgotten, unwanted by those around her.

This is interesting, beyond being thematically consistent with a character who makes art to be appraised and gives things away for free, because of how it develops her desire to join High Society and the steps she has taken to achieve it.

Reinventing who she is from the ground up and trying to fit in to High Society is clearly a search for identity on her part, and can even be a search for a sense of belonging.

After all, Becoming Popular graces us with the line "not just another Jane Doe." A clear exclamation of having achieved a position of relative fame and prestige. The rest of the song goes into this as well but this particular lyric resonates greater in comparison to the Nightmare Rarity arc as they both capitalize on the same emotion. A fear of being unknown and unwanted.

Without Nightmare Rarity, the Jane Doe line could have simply been a turn of a phrase. However I don't think it is now. After all, the author of Nightmare Rarity probably got the idea from somewhere, and did state that they felt it made up for Rarity's absence in Season 3. Meaning that, on the perspective of the author, it contributes something to Rarity as a character.

Beyond simply adding an issue of identity and standing to her character, the Nightmare Rarity arc (as I touched on here http://mlpforums.com/blog/1599/entry-12489-an-addendum-to-the-freudian-thing/) also shows that Rarity's desire to be popular and important is part of her instinct to also be generous. When she is generous she is ingratiating herself to others and gaining social connections while doing so, whether she intends to or not. Rarity Takes Manehattan took advantage of this with the recipients of her generosity helping her later in the episode.

But also when she is raising her own status she displays an understanding of Noblesse Oblige (that nobility set the example of behavior and are charitable), as evidenced by her general behavior but more specifically her actions in two episodes.

In Sweet & Elite, during Becoming Popular specifically, she is the only member of the Elites to support the paintings at the gallery, and bid on initially unwanted items at the charity auction. Each time this not only causes the other Elites to do as she does, but it also displays a less snooty and more charitable character on her part. Particularly when she went to those events to placate the same Elites who hosted them, as they histrionically threatened cancelling the events if she did not come. Simply put, Rarity understood being a good guest by being acquiescent to those in 'need', not being so flippantly stuck up as to turn her nose up at the unappreciated works of others; and being a Star of High Society by acting as a tastemaker when appropriate.

In addition to Sweet & Elite, Rarity takes Manehattan also displayed this concept. Although to a lesser and more visible extent. Rarity used her social connections with important people in the play to do nice things for her friends. Initially just getting them the tickets, later a private showing as contrition for her poor behavior, and lastly giving her job to the talented but previously unsung Coco Pommel.

These episodes display not only her modelling behavior as befits a noble but also sharing the fruits of her achievements with others. Even if done unknowingly, or rather without any direct expressed intent, this is what one can take away from her actions. In fact, her acting this way so casually and without forethought in many of these instances strengthens this as a part of who she is as it casts this behavior as autonomous or default rather than something unique and fleeting. It also displays how her desire to be important and her desire to be generous are linked, she satisfies both at the same time.

Hopefully, the concept of Noblesse Oblige will be explored further with Rarity as it provides a compelling avenue down which to develop her character further.

But that is another blog.