I think it has more to do with ideology - I mean, it seems that Solas tinks that nurture is way more important than nature, and given that they all exist in the world where idea or sentiment can pretty literally become real, the way a being develops or what ideology they follow or what they were shaped is way more important than origin. One has to save the Chargers to see just how differently he treats Bull - he outright declares that he'd be there for him in case Bull had a breakdown, or was confused about what should he do, now that he's deciding things for himself.
He's sympathetic towards Tal-Vashoth, though he's first to admit that many of them indeed turn into violent beasts - but not because such is their nature, but because they were taught that they are beasts without the Qun. Many Tal-Vashoth sadly succumb to that, hence there are not that many that managed to actually fully leave the Qun religion and its destructive influences behind.
The fact that majority of people are cut away from the Fade and live paltry few years is also certainly a factor in how easily a person can free themselves of the confines of environment and ideology they were raised in, which likely strongly influences Solas' perception. Since the world is so bleak and living beings are diminished and short-lived (and oftentimes oppressed and not well-educated too) he's very pessimistic about people being able to grow into something more than what they were initially made/reduced to, or had grown around. It's pretty much what he thinks about all modern people, regardless of race or affiliation, hence highly approved Inquisitor of any background never fails to surprise him.
Also... I have to admit I'm confused with how often people use the word "racist" to things that aren't necessarily that. Like the Dalish. Saying that Solas is racist against Dalish is like saying that someone is racist against Polish or Catholic, or that that by extension means that someone is racist against white people. It's.... uh - the culture or religion may be strongly associated with given ethnicity, but it's not intrinsically tied to someone's race.
This is also why, in the balcony scene, with the Dalish Inky, he seems surprised that the Dalish managed to "raise someone with the spirit like theirs" and outright tells romanced Lavellan that they've succeeded in "making" her (or at least not impeding her development, I assume). Again - culture, not the race.
Plus, Solas seems to make distinctions among people based on who the follow rather than who they were born as - even in Trespasser when he mentions Mythal he says that "she protected HER people" not OUR people, even though certainly the majority of people under Mythal's care must have been ancient elves. He also likely means that anyone Inquisition protects - regardless of race or culture - is "your" people.
Interesting! For example, one is not violent because of how they are, but because of how one was raised. I'm more amenable to that, particularly because I can draw on several real life equivalents. An individual who is raised and taught in a particular culture, a culture that may also have been influenced by history and shaped by experiences both global and local. More than likely the individual will adopt the same thoughts and ideas of that culture and may find it difficult to stray as they grow into adulthood. Basic psychosociological principles, of course.
The problem is when people outside of that culture ignore how it nurtured the individual, and misjudge their character based on a supposed nature. That then leads into racism, and without any other context, it is incredibly easy to condemn Solas for what he says in the cutscene with a Vashoth. Even with context, one may condemn him.
You mentioned that Solas makes distinctions based on the ideology one follows rather than what they actually are. I hope I'm understanding all this right, because if not then the next several paragraphs are gonna be a waste lol. Anyways, I think that readily falls in line with his general character, but I want to draw back toward the cutscene because it still mildly confuses me.
I find it difficult to glean that sentiment from this scene. He states simply "Qunari are savage creatures. Their ferocity held in check only by the rigid teachings of the Qun." I don't think he is referring to their culture here, but the people themselves. I'm still not certain if he is referring to viddathari and/or the horned race, but I'm leaning more towards the latter due to how he relates it to the Vashoth Inquisitor.
To me, he is making an assumption based upon their nature, and relegates their ideology, their culture, to the lesser effect. That the Qun is the only thing to "contain" their nature, as it were. It can definitely be argued that the Qun can feed into this supposed ferocity, and its strict teachings and consequential beliefs influence a large number of Tal-Vashoth into becoming violent as a result of knowing nothing else.
But he's not really saying that, or at least not from what I'm reading into. He's saying something else: that without the Qun, their natural "savagery" would be uncontained. Maybe it would have been more clear if he related their nature to being an influence of the ideology, instead of just leaving it as face value.
This is all very interesting though. I'm open to any more thoughts you have on the subject!
"Saying that Solas is racist against Dalish is like saying that someone is racist against Polish or Catholic, or that that by extension means that someone is racist against white people. It's.... uh - the culture or religion may be strongly associated with given ethnicity, but it's not intrinsically tied to someone's race.
Also, I agree with this. He doesn't specify criticism against the Dalish elves as a race, exactly, but the Dalish as a culture. However, as to your last point, I just kind of want to go on a brief aside. A culture may not equal race entirely, true, but bigoted and fundamentally racist societal influences can affect a large part of the culture.
I think of a real life equivalent in Muslims, and how racism is undoubtedly a factor in how they are treated, influencing the resentment against their separate religion. This treatment in turn, can leave damaging effects upon the culture and behavior of segments of Muslim society. Black Muslims can have different racial motivations and issues than Arab Muslims, while both may experience distinct forms of racism and prejudice against their communities and even with each other.
Retour en haut
Can't go buy one until the weekend. *sighs*
You waited this long.
Remember, Muppets!
Why, oh why!?
