SpoilerI have to admit, I didn't get the feeling that we should totally agree with Lavellan. Both parties appear as hurt and confused, trying to make sense of another tragedy among other tragedies.
Pride however didn't stop because he realizes he was wrong; he stops because he realizes this is pretty much exactly what Solas did - and what Solas did to Lavellan, specifically; and that's after he spends all days trying to wrap his head around his other self's actions and why they're so monstrous AND vehemently declaring that he wouldn't do anything like that to the world or Lavellan.
And not only he's absolutely terrified of becoming Solas, he probably begins to realize that he's been on that route without knowing it. It's a gut-wrenching personal realization, and not a conclusion to logical or philosophical argument.
Still - it's actually a philosophical/logical argument not just Feynite's putting into question, but Bioware themselves. We see question about how far necessary sacrifices "for the greater good" can go popping in DAI all the time - in case of Solas, in case of Leliana, in case of the Seekers, Chantry, etc., and I fully expect for a continuation of that in DA4.
Because it is a question we should be asking ourselves - and I don' t think Lavellan or Feynite argue about necessary sacrifices that have to happen sometimes, but when they're necessary and when it's just becoming a convenient excuse.
Spoiler
So the question in that part isn't about sacrifices and putting aside personal feelings in general, but indeed whether Mythal has crossed the line in that particular case.
I'm not sure how you could not get the sense that we're supposed to agree with Lavellan. Literally every character who does disagree with her is evil - the sole exception is Pride, who is obviously (As with just about every other point he disagreed with her on) being brought around to her side. Even Curiosity immediately throws in with Lavellan and denounces Mythal. Which is a common problem throughout the entire story - anyone who opposes Lavellan is an evil jerk that's in the wrong. The only possible exception are the Sha-Brytol, who turned out to be on her side anyway. Lavellan challenges nearly everyone who doesn't fall in line with her, but no one gives her the same treatment without the story itself turning on them. Nearly every problem I have stems from that.
And the fact that BioWare handles the same theme she is doesn't make her handling better somehow. My issue isn't that she's questioning the necessity of sacrifice. It's that she's questioning everyone but her protagonist. She always questions everyone but her protagonist - and the friends that surround her who just echo her opinions.
I understood why Pride reacted the way he did, but you're looking at it purely from a Watsonian standpoint. From a Doylist one, it's just another mark in Lavellan's moral favor - there to provide evidence of how she is right and Pride (And Mythal, and the Evanuris, and Elvhenan in general) are wrong. Her reaction is key - she doesn't reprimand him for giving voice to the philosophy that leads Solas to destroy the world. She just denies the philosophy as even slightly valid. Despite the fact that earlier in the story, it was a philosophy she needed to have. Even there Lavellan's not allowed to be questioned, even though Mythal's philosophy allowed the sacrifice of one spirit and her philosophy allowed the sacrifice of an entire world.
No one brings this up. No one points this out. Because Lavellan can't be wrong, and if she finds someone to be morally lacking, they probably are.
And again - if Feynite wanted to question the necessity of Mythal's sacrifice in particular, then she should've questioned the necessity of Mythal's sacrifice in particular. She should not have made blanket statements denouncing sacrifice in general. It muddies her message and makes Lavellan sound like a hypocrite.
Honestly, I don't think there is a point of going into such detailed criticism about a WIP. You don't know at this point where she is going with the story. I also don't get the feeling that we're supposed to agree with Lavellan. Feynite did a good job writing Mythal and Pride's reasoning.
Hey, I'd be happy to have Feynite prove me wrong and rectify my issues with the story - because yeah, it's not finished yet. And I'll keep giving it a chance until it is.
Retour en haut
that game.
...
Or at least for me, personally, such sentiment comes across through the writing itself.
Magical realism!
