Definition
The Coquette is Greene's archetype of strategic withholding. The Coquette grants warmth and attention, then withdraws it — alternating between heat and coolness so that the target is never allowed to feel secure. The defining trait is self-sufficiency: the Coquette appears to need nothing, and that apparent independence is what makes the granted attention feel valuable.
The archetype seduces through delay. By refusing to resolve the pursuit, the Coquette keeps the target in a heightened state of anticipation that intensifies over time rather than fading.
Why it matters
How it works
The Coquette exploits a basic feature of attention: an inconsistent reward is more compelling than a reliable one. Periods of warmth confirm that the target has a chance; periods of coolness make them doubt it and redouble their effort. The Coquette's calm self-possession during the cool phases is essential — it reframes the withdrawal as the target's problem to solve, not the Coquette's loss. The result is a target who works harder the less they receive.