Yet another topic about Anders, and still I’m hoping it actually it won’t turn into it. I wouldn’t write anything more about him, but for the past month I’ve been reading these forums on daily basis and that’s how I noticed that whether people love, hate, like or dislike Anders, they keep talking and debating about him. No other DA2 character received such attention from the players as he did. And that’s what inspired me to write this post and even do a little experiment with my own students – just to see how young people from my country perceive what’s moral and when that idea of morality gets bent.
Anders, We Were Friends, Lovers and Still You Didn’t Trust Me
OK, stop whining and kiss me already! Just don’t let Justice touch my behind!
Since Hawke didn’t have Warden’s knowledge on Anders (a player does), I’ll treat his character as such – so no funny, a bit selfish Anders that likes cats and tattoed women and asks only to shoot occasional fireballs and a pretty girl by his side. Hawke’s Anders is a tormented, moody man, calculated when his skin is endangered, witty but in petty sense, generous when need be but also selfish and narrowminded when something is not following his vision of right and wrong. A perfect character for girls that are 16, 17, 18 years old and still think there’s something mystic and good hidden, some wisdom and suffering, behind that exterior of a man that elder ones would mark as ’potential problem and trouble’. There’s always appeal to the idea of saving some tormented soul. Especially if there’s some ’outside’ influence that effects our interest of saving.
Hey, in some aspects he resembles so much Arthas Menethil, that I almost wished for Jaina to teleport to the Gallows and say: ’Hawke, don’t mourn and lick your wounded heart, road to Hell is mostly paved by good intentions! Tell him that you love him, and fight beside him but also that you won’t forget that easily what he did.’ But even she had the privilege that was stripped from our Hawke (guess, blondies get better deals in the end) – she was able to acknowledge outloud her love for the doomed prince but also not to condone or agree with his crime. Seems that all Shepards and Hawkes of this world are doomed to blind acceptance or just look plain stupid if they want to stand by their lovers/friends... either that or ’we’re no more’, even though it plays out differently in life itself. Guess those that go for bugged rivalry path got better bargain in the end – friendship is the thing from previous century anyway, stale and boring... I mean, man toward other man is a wolf and who are we to deny that? How can we care for someone and stand by them and still not agree with the things they do? Tis either, yeeeehaaaa! for your bad deeds and misconceptions or knife in the back since, after all, I am too self-righteous arse.
Kaidan, I love you, but that’s just crap what you’re saying now after I’ve been dead for 2 years and saved you and the Horizon! So, don’t mess with me, hon!
Anders, but but I do support you and all other mages! See, I even told them I’m Bas Serabaas... and lost all my chances with the Arishok, darn it!
Haters Gonna Hate Anders, Fans Will Keep Drawing Silly Pictures of Him With Cats and Who Knows What Else
(They should actually petition Whiskers cat food brand to rename some of their products into ’Anders ka-boom cat delight’ or something like that.)
OK, lets see what’s happening to our emo companion since DA2 is released. Ah, tis fun, bread and games, people are berserking over poor Anders – murder-knife him, love him, bromance him for destroying the chantry, torture him with siding with templars, tranqulize him, put him in Aeonar... ah variations are limitless indeed. But one thing I didn’t see so far on these forums (maybe I missed it since there are so many topics about him, so many posts). I didn’t notice truly human approach toward ’Hawke-Anders’ problem... the one that actually covers grayness of our existence. Even rivalry path shows that issue and still, tis like people kinda miss it (maybe it’s ’cause he’s made of pixels and not real, but still, tis strange). Is it really that easy to murder a man that shared so many years with you as a companion (either as a rival, friend or a lover)? Is it really that easy to be the judge and executioner in the same time, especially if one was personally involved? And if it is that easy, how can one claim then that he/she isn’t same as Anders, or better said, as corrupted Justice that actually doesn’t comprehend the complexity of mortal world? That’s a tough question for me but as I see, people are to eager or fast to play all mighty and powerful role of being just by their own standards when it’s only hypothetical?
But I’m grateful for this situation, it gave me the new insight and the reason to talk about these issues with my students. I presented them with Hawke-Anders dilemma and they surprised me pleasantly. There was 10 minutes pause on the classes and they did think seriously about it... I was already worried when the first hand came up and almost all of them told me – I would not be able to play the role of imposed righteousness if I’ve spent time with that person – I would act selfish in that matter, I would not condone or agree with a crime nor with distrust, but I would either force that person to do what must be done to minimize the suffering and then take responsibility for his/hers actions or I would spurn him/her but I would not kill... ’cause I have better understanding and insight into his/hers problems and what led to that devious act. It gave e a flicker of hope that not all are so fast to take the role of corrupted DA2 Justice/Vengeance... and trust me, you would understand me better if you knew from which country I am.
I don’t agree with your crime, Anders, but I will stand by those that were blameless, like I always did and show Justice that he doesn’t know a thing about what justice is... and you, my lad, will take responsiblity and I’ll be beside you then, to take the hit.
So, I guess it all has to do with that famous old psychological test with a kid and his understanding of story about the man who stole medicines for his sick wife and the question if it’s moral thing to do. (If you want to know more about it, I managed to find online version of it https://www.msu.edu/...bergtheory.html ).
What is My Final Message to Jennifer Helper if She by Any Chance Reads This?
Anders, you’re sexy when you’re glowing blue, sweety, but please, be a man more! We elder chicks like to see occasional feminine side shown in our man, but... Just recall Commando’s words that will stay forever: Remember, Sully, when I promised to kill you last... I lied. See, that’s testosterone talking, hon, and it’s a kind of magic... another way to oppose evol templars!
Redoing Anders was a hard job because out there, there are so many players that will have their own vision of him already imprinted by Awakening. Model change, voice change, character change and the risk that many of them won’t see motivation behind it that drives him to act the way he does. And I trully think that miracle was accomplished with him, ’cause no one is indifferent when it comes to him. Everyone has an opionion, and these forums got some of the best and some of the worst posts thanks to him. Hey, even Hilarious Images topic exploits him indefinitely. So, yes, he is great success in that regard. Anders haters hate him profoundly and Anders fans love him til there’s last man standing on that silly battlefield. And he’s just a character from a story, but somehow he really gained his life, somehow he breathes and provokes emotions from people.
To be or not to be? Alas, Anders, why do people love or hate thee?
To be honest, blowing up the chantry didn’t show that he actually grew a bit of backbone though. I had seven playthroughs so far (yes, I’m a freak that likes to see everything when it comes to stories and games) and as I progressed in that number, I was finding less and less reasons to perceive him just as Anders – the one condemned or loved by posters. But one thing was lacking in all those playthroughs and that was a backbone – plain, simple thing that many people possess... and sometimes it really bothered me because it would be rather refreshing to actually meet a npc that can deal with its issues with more backbone (ah Sten, I miss you, you’re still more cool than Arishok). Or at least an illusion of it... I know very well Aristotle’s rules of tragedy and what’s provoking katharsis (hey, I’m actually teaching that... and being bored by it since like I keep repeating those rules like a stupid parrot), but if that is the goal, one should look again at Tolkien’s Faramir (not the movie version one! Don’t you even dare! lol). Sometimes Carth Onasi or Kaidan Alenko or Alistair or Anders (and Fenris as well) could actually grow up as character, show their emotions but also stay men... they could use ’Are you feeling lucky, punk?’ attitude sometimes... at least have some resemblance to their roots that begin with alpha males.
Now, one can say ’But, but, Anders blown up the chantry and said those famous words – The Circle has failed us, Orsino – in front of Meredith and all those templars... but still he was rendered powerless because he was actually afraid for his life through the entire game, manipulating and whining, using Hawke (just remember how he says – I should look for a nicer place or how he asks to move in with Hawke is she/he doesn’t choose the option ’I love you’). Growing backbone in Gallows final scenes is just not something that will mark a character as one that has it. And I’m not saying that it was intention, it’s just, it would be nice to actually have male characters apart from player’s hero with a bit of backbone... they can have serious issues and still keep one. Even Gilgamesh had one even though he had issues with his friend Enkidu dying and death... and loo! He survived as hero for so many centuries.
So, you’re not the cool guy? Justice is... even tho he’s unwilling participant in our threesome? Bah...
If you keep it up like that Anders, I’ll kiss Emille. Step down, Isabela!
Modifié par Nimrodell, 21 avril 2011 - 10:29 .
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Sorry for not being more clear about it. I didn't even think that anyone will take it literally... Apologies. 
