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dagas_isaWarnings: Spoliers for anyone who clicked here without actually getting a good way through FFX.
It occurs to me that at the very core of FFX, the playable characters are representations of different kinds of love, particularly when their relationships with Yuna (or in Yuna's case with the whole world) is examined.
Tidus, our hero/whipping boy (depends on your opinion of him) represents romantic love. Notice that the only real canon romance the develops within the bounds of the pilgrimage itself is between Tidus and Yuna. Also notice how from the beginning, our attention is brought to the potential romance between these two, just from the fact that people make a point to tell Tidus not to get any ideas about him and Yuna being together.
Wakka is brotherly love. There's Chappu of course, but Wakka's protectiveness and his tendency to rough-house reminds me of a big-brother. His actions towards the "younger" members of the party (Tidus, Rikku, and Yuna) are very brotherly. Tidus for the rough-housing, and the general bossiness. Yuna for the protectiveness, and Rikku as a sibling rivalry of sorts, where the two really care about each other, but disagreements are inevitable.
Lulu is maternal love. I know she's not old enough to be Yuna's mother, but she acts very maternal towards Yuna, between the gentle scoldings and the comforting. Towards the rest of the party, she may not be so gentle, but her wisdom, her advice, her direct words, and the patience she usually shows them are very quintessential of motherhood as I see it.
In contrast, Auron is paternal love. Though he has no canon children (as far as we're aware of), the other two members of Braska's pilgrimage were both fathers, and upon their removal from the world, Auron takes on duties towards their children. Like Lulu, Auron has the wisdom and patience of the ideal father, combined with a tendency to protect others (look at some of his special abilities: guard and sentinel). At various points in the journey, Yuna asks Auron for permission about some matter. He also spends much of his dialogue giving advice to others (particularly Tidus), as well as guiding the others. Of all the party members, he is the one to play matchmaker between Tidus and Yuna.
Rikku is friendship. Though she and Yuna are blood relations, I don't see their bond as being familial, in the same way that Lulu's bond with Yuna is, simply because there isn't the years of familiarity between them that Yuna has with Wakka and Lulu. Rikku is close to Yuna's age, and so Yuna can treat Rikku as a peer, have fun with Yuna (if they weren't on a pilgrimage), and engage in girl talk as equals, something that I don't think Yuna could do with Lulu.
Kimahri is chivalric love, and Yuna is his liege and lady. Socially, they're definitely in positions. Yuna's the daughter of a high-summoner, 'of noble blood' as one of the random NPC fodders on the boat to Killika said. Kimahri is an outcast from his tribe and therefore a Ronso living in a (mostly) human world. He loves Yuna because she gives him a place and a position to belong, and in return he protects and obeys her. It's almost a romantic love on his part, but unlike Tidus he can never get close with Yuna physically without ruining the spirit of his love for her. It's very important that Kimahri is the one who witnesses the scene between Yuna and Tidus in the Macalania pond.
Finally, Yuna herself is universal love. To even start the pilgrimage, Yuna has to love the people who live in Spira more than she loves herself or her friends. To gain the Aeons she must love the people of the past to form a bond with the Fayth that she can use to summon the Aeons. The depth of love is shown in the final battles where Yuna has to kill each of her Aeons one by one to kill Sin. It's necessary, but it hurt her. To consider marrying Seymour in the first place, she had to weigh her own feelings against seeing the entirety of Spira happy, and it was a legitimate choice. After seeing Jyscal's sphere, Yuna had to love the people and her religion to be willing to do what it takes to get Seymour to turn himself in. And in return, the world loves Yuna. More than any single person, Yuna loves and belongs to Spira as a whole.
And that's one of the reasons that Yuna cannot choose to make a Final Aeon at Zanarkand, for to do so would put one type of love over another when in truth they're all equal. At one time or another, every one of Yuna's guardians has shown deep devotion towards their summoner. Not to metion, that Yuna loves the people of Spira too much to take the safe route, if she can serve them better in another way.
Opinions (agreements or disagreements) are welcome, although I'm not going to be able to reply for a little while.
It occurs to me that at the very core of FFX, the playable characters are representations of different kinds of love, particularly when their relationships with Yuna (or in Yuna's case with the whole world) is examined.
Tidus, our hero/whipping boy (depends on your opinion of him) represents romantic love. Notice that the only real canon romance the develops within the bounds of the pilgrimage itself is between Tidus and Yuna. Also notice how from the beginning, our attention is brought to the potential romance between these two, just from the fact that people make a point to tell Tidus not to get any ideas about him and Yuna being together.
Wakka is brotherly love. There's Chappu of course, but Wakka's protectiveness and his tendency to rough-house reminds me of a big-brother. His actions towards the "younger" members of the party (Tidus, Rikku, and Yuna) are very brotherly. Tidus for the rough-housing, and the general bossiness. Yuna for the protectiveness, and Rikku as a sibling rivalry of sorts, where the two really care about each other, but disagreements are inevitable.
Lulu is maternal love. I know she's not old enough to be Yuna's mother, but she acts very maternal towards Yuna, between the gentle scoldings and the comforting. Towards the rest of the party, she may not be so gentle, but her wisdom, her advice, her direct words, and the patience she usually shows them are very quintessential of motherhood as I see it.
In contrast, Auron is paternal love. Though he has no canon children (as far as we're aware of), the other two members of Braska's pilgrimage were both fathers, and upon their removal from the world, Auron takes on duties towards their children. Like Lulu, Auron has the wisdom and patience of the ideal father, combined with a tendency to protect others (look at some of his special abilities: guard and sentinel). At various points in the journey, Yuna asks Auron for permission about some matter. He also spends much of his dialogue giving advice to others (particularly Tidus), as well as guiding the others. Of all the party members, he is the one to play matchmaker between Tidus and Yuna.
Rikku is friendship. Though she and Yuna are blood relations, I don't see their bond as being familial, in the same way that Lulu's bond with Yuna is, simply because there isn't the years of familiarity between them that Yuna has with Wakka and Lulu. Rikku is close to Yuna's age, and so Yuna can treat Rikku as a peer, have fun with Yuna (if they weren't on a pilgrimage), and engage in girl talk as equals, something that I don't think Yuna could do with Lulu.
Kimahri is chivalric love, and Yuna is his liege and lady. Socially, they're definitely in positions. Yuna's the daughter of a high-summoner, 'of noble blood' as one of the random NPC fodders on the boat to Killika said. Kimahri is an outcast from his tribe and therefore a Ronso living in a (mostly) human world. He loves Yuna because she gives him a place and a position to belong, and in return he protects and obeys her. It's almost a romantic love on his part, but unlike Tidus he can never get close with Yuna physically without ruining the spirit of his love for her. It's very important that Kimahri is the one who witnesses the scene between Yuna and Tidus in the Macalania pond.
Finally, Yuna herself is universal love. To even start the pilgrimage, Yuna has to love the people who live in Spira more than she loves herself or her friends. To gain the Aeons she must love the people of the past to form a bond with the Fayth that she can use to summon the Aeons. The depth of love is shown in the final battles where Yuna has to kill each of her Aeons one by one to kill Sin. It's necessary, but it hurt her. To consider marrying Seymour in the first place, she had to weigh her own feelings against seeing the entirety of Spira happy, and it was a legitimate choice. After seeing Jyscal's sphere, Yuna had to love the people and her religion to be willing to do what it takes to get Seymour to turn himself in. And in return, the world loves Yuna. More than any single person, Yuna loves and belongs to Spira as a whole.
And that's one of the reasons that Yuna cannot choose to make a Final Aeon at Zanarkand, for to do so would put one type of love over another when in truth they're all equal. At one time or another, every one of Yuna's guardians has shown deep devotion towards their summoner. Not to metion, that Yuna loves the people of Spira too much to take the safe route, if she can serve them better in another way.
Opinions (agreements or disagreements) are welcome, although I'm not going to be able to reply for a little while.
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Date: 2006-07-23 12:18 pm (UTC)I think I've seen others call Lulu and Auron the Mom and Dad of the party, or perhaps chaperones.
The interpretation of Yuna as universal love, and the reason why she can't do the Final Summoning-- perfect. All the summoners before her chose to focus on a personal love, so they couldn't save everyone!
I also love characterizing Kimahri's devotion to her as chivalric. Perfect. I was just reading Gawain and the Green Knight, and that fits so well.
Lulu's a bit puzzling -- sisterly and maternal. That's a common blend between close-knit older and younger women. She's more maternal though.
The only one I'm not quite sure about is Rikku. She's such a free spirit, it's hard for me to pin her down. I see what you mean, though.
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Date: 2006-07-24 03:06 pm (UTC)I'm so happy to see another person who shares the same view of Yuna with me XD XD XD But I connect some of it to the ability of summoners being able to send. I'm not sure if I'm making any sense here, but I see it as she must be able love and accept all to be able to understand the deceased and guide (or send) them to the Farplane. At least that is what I've been trying to put in the fics I wrote .3.
no subject
Date: 2006-07-24 03:30 pm (UTC)One question though: When did Auron play matchmaker? Or was it everywhere and just small enough that I missed it?
But awesome job.