I'm so gutted! I go to bed and the thread wakes up?! At least I got my Anders dreams... non-sexual though - dammit.
Right, have read everything on the train and now I'm work I'll try to put my thoughts coherently.
Anders = Terrorist/Revolutionary/Freedom FighterYour choice of label is probably determined by how you view what he did and his reasons for doing so. I've found myself being pro-freedom so he falls into the latter category for me. Now this is internet land so each to their own, just remember there have been more than two buildings blown up in the history of the world. I happen to work about 5 minutes walkaway from a massive shopping centre in Manchester UK that was blown up by the IRA. Generally the people that are doing the blowing up have their reasons for thinking what they're donig is right. Whether or not we agree with them.
Anders = Tactician/NaiveAs I see it Anders has tried peaceful methods. He's stopped outright attacking Templars on sight. He's taken to working the resistance. He's speaking to the leaders to try to get them to do something. I think he comes to the realisation that no matter what he does the
structure is still there. No matter how many mages he helps escpae the Chantry still churns out it's blather than mages are cursed and should be held in circles. I don't doubt that initially when the circles were created they seemed like a great idea - no more persecution, mages get to train their skills with like minded people, but over the years the structure has become oppressive and dangerous. As Orsino says - 'Why not just drown us at birth?'
The wonderful thing that Anders does is to see that fighting within the confines of Mages vs. Templars is still within the Chantry's structure. By fighting within those confines you agree to the terms. And he sees that, and he sees the need to deny the structure. Not only is there no compromise, there never
was any compromise. The Chantry will always come down on the side of the Chantry - the mages will always be held as cursed and kept locked up, no matter what cursory "freedoms" they're granted.
As I see it getting rid of the Chantry is a symbolic act to remind the mages that they are trapped only so long as they
let themselves be trapped. Individuals may be able to escape here and there, apostates do exist, but the majority have been indoctrinated into believing that they ought to be locked away. It's a bit like Orianna - she cannot fathom a life where she would be free, all she's known is being a slave. And with the Saarebas (sp?) he totally accepts his slave-mage role to the extent that he kills himself anyway if you force freedom on him.
By shaking the foundations of the system I think Anders was brilliant. I don't think he would have been capable of doing it without Justice - and I love the friendmanced ending because it seems to me he knows what he did was horrific but it was
necessary, and rather than involve someone who possibly couldn't cope with the end result he took the burden upon himself/Justice. How you or your character reacts to that is players choice, but I personally thought it was amazing.
As for him wanting to be a martyr, I think he'd readied himself for what he would have done in that situation. If Hawke had blown up the gallows I don't think Justice could have held back. I think he was ready to accept any punishment deemed necessary by Hawke. Had he truly wanted to die he could have done things in a number of different ways and BW I'm sure would have had no problem with an ending where he kills himself (ala Alistair's sacrifice - now the second most heart wrenching gaming moment).
Yes he's shocked that you let him live, but it's not soul crushing. It doesn't knock him into a depressive fug. True he doesn't realise the immediate effects of what he's done until they're walking through the streets, and the immediate effects were always going to be horrific. But I like to think it galvanises his resolve. Once you start down that path you have to keep on going, to quote MacBeth "I am in blood stepped in so far that should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o’er". Or even better, to quote Flemeth "Watch for that moment...and when it comes, do not hesitate to leap."
And to lighten the tone - bloodied menacing Anders is swoonworthy. If that isn't a face to go into battle with I don't know what is.
Modifié par ElleMullineux, 05 mai 2011 - 08:09 .
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... How much do you guys have Anders in your party? Does it depend on what class your Hawke is? Or you just have him in cause you like him?
