The Most Tragic Figure in VIII

[Lirael]

Who do you think is the most tragic figure in Final Fantasy VIII?
Why?

SPOILER ALERT!

Spoiler

I personally would choose Laguna. Laguna loses his first love, having been forced to desert her mere moments after confessing the feelings he has harboured for weeks. He then goes to battle Esthar soldiers, but is severely injured.

After plunging into the ocean from a cliff, he meets Raine and Ellone. He acts nobly and protects them: he remains upbeat and never lets them join him on monster hunts. He treats them like a family, acting as the 'Uncle' Ellone calls him. If I remember correctly, Laguna decides to stay with them to make sure they're safe. He does this not only to thank them for saving his life, but because he sees that they are vulnerable.

Six months later, he finds out that Julia has married after her 'true love' failed to return from war. Laguna must have felt incredibly guilty upon hearing this. Furthermore, I imagine he was torn between wanting to allow Julia to live her new life and wanting to tell her that he was alive and they could fulfil their vision of being together.

More time passes and Laguna falls in love with Raine. The two get married and all seems well; until Ellone is kidnapped by Adel's forces. Laguna goes to save Ellone, leaving Raine who is unknowingly pregnant. He saves Ellone, but never sees Raine again as she dies giving birth to Squall. :wtf: He then becomes president of Esthar and thus is unable to see Ellone for years. Although... I think I'd make sure to see my adopted daughter as much as I could after losing so many loved ones. <_<

Despite everything, Laguna remains upbeat. He manages to put a positive spin on pretty much everything and supports his friends.

 

[Sheechiibii]

Completely agree. I love Laguna (favourite character in VIII) but his story really is so sad and I think a lot of people don't really think about his story as being tragic because he always seems so happy and positive about life and he's the president so he's rich and living comfortably.

Spoiler

Another thing tragic is that not only does he rarely see Ellone (who is like his daughter) for years but for all we know he doesn't even know about his son for most of his life and if he does know he is never able to find him or meet him which is so sad.

At least he's got his buddies Kiros and Ward who seem like they're with him for life

Xx..xX

 

[Omegadruid]

Alright some of you may find my opinion really weird. First of all I would like to state that indeed laguna's story is very tragic and memorable...
Yet I find Ultimecia to be the most tragic figure. I mean we dont really know what her real motivations are but there are 2 possibilities atleast
The R=U approach and if this is true, Rinoa or Ultimecia have the most tragic story(If you re not familiar with the theory ask in the next reply)
The other approach is that ultimecia is an evil sorcerer from the future who probably suffered a lot in order to have gained all that hate for the world and wanted to absorb all the universe and literally live alone for eternity forever and ever. For a person that mentally disturbed and filled with hatred and probably sadness, something really bad must have driven her to that state.
You may say that my approach on the subject is pure speculation but I dont really buy into the whole Cliche Super evil sorceress who is evil for the sake of being evil because she wants world domination because she is evil and basically she is just evil( I want to really emphasize how crappy that would make Ultimecia). Atleast kefka in the end has some motivation being that a nihilistic view of the world

 

[kuranza]

In the end I think Laguna came to terms and accepted his fate and was happy for the memories he had with Julia and Raine and at least he gets to see Ellone often now since the world is at peace and all that. I feel sorry for Seifer though...... his sorceress' knight dreams crushed by Squall and co. then he is also kicked out of garden, and his potential love interest was also stolen by Squall.