lclbloodtransfusion
Newbie
Hi everyone. This is my first post here, but I have been a fan of the Final Fantasy series for a really long time. I was getting ready to start a new playthrough of VIII this morning, and while kind of just generally checking up on the series online to see if there was any news, I had a thought which I decided to develop a little bit. I wanted to discuss it with some like-minded people, and here I am! I've done some searching and haven't been able to find any similar discussions online about this idea, so please forgive me if it's already been talked about.
I've always enjoyed learning about the etymology and namesakes of the characters and props in the FF universe, and so mistranslations and script errors are obviously a point of interest to me. I'm sure everyone is familiar with the Reina/Lenna discrepancy, and I'm aware that Rinoa has been translated as Linoa at times as well. I thought that Linoa sounded like what I would imagine the name "Lenore" might become if translated to Japanese. As it happens, I've now found that it was originally ("mis-")translated as such before the game came out. This is where my theory comes from.
The important disclaimer I want to make is that this is just for fun; I'm not arguing this as anything close to a fact, nor do I genuinely believe that any of it is probable. Please do not take it as such. This is just a collection of connections I've made and I'm interested to see what other people have to say, especially because I'm rusty on both of the stories involved. The things I do have to say are mostly just a series of loosely linked observations, rather than a fully-fledged "theory" so-to-speak; this is basically a stream of consciousness.
So, anyways...
Lenore, to me, immediately recalls Poe's "The Raven." I am wondering if there is any possibility that Rinoa's name was intended to either be or be a reference to the name Lenore, and, furthermore, if any aspects of Final Fantasy VIII's storyline were influenced by The Raven. What I have theorized is that Squall is symbolized by the narrator, Rinoa obviously by Lenore, and then possibly Edea/Ultimecia by the Raven.
In the introduction FMV, Rinoa is seen at the orphanage; she will be waiting so if Squall goes there he will find her etc. She holds a petal which becomes a feather;
Rinoa releases the feather, and it flies away and is transformed into Squall's gunblade; Edea oversees ominously:
Rinoa and Squall have promised to reunite in this field should they be separated, and this feather is seemingly emblematic of that. Likewise, there is the following exchange in the Raven:
As Squall battles Seifer, his gunblade is surrounded by white feathers; cut to Rinoa, and then fade to Edea who is wearing a peculiar mask:
Regardless of this theory, it has always struck me as clearly avian; the tip appears to be a beak. There are a couple of things the black lines could be, but here are two in-game images I am reminded of:
I don't know if Zell's tattoo has been discussed, nor do I think it's relevant here, but there are certainly similarities.
If the first black line is an eye, then the one beneath it is reminiscent of Squall's injury. Also, the shape of his spilled blood does look like the one on the mask. Again, though, I do not necessarily believe this is on purpose or that there is a connection between the two (at least, that I can explain).
More applicable to my theory is this:
The second black line looks like the talon of a Raven; obviously this is not the easiest connection to make, but they are like enough (to me) that it's not out of the question. Additionally, the red mask itself has two sharpened edges beneath the line. The lines on Edea's mask are not integral to this theory, but I wanted to bring it up anyway.
Either way, the bird mask is resting upon Edea (who is possessed by Ultimecia at this point)'s face.
Here is what wikipedia has to say about Pallas:
I don't intend to assign Pallas and/or Athena to any one particular FFVIII character. However, the relationship between the two (Athena kills Pallas and thereafter is known as Pallas) has a very obvious parallel; a Sorceress is killed and passes on her powers. Rinoa [helps to] defeat Edea in Galbadia Garden, and then becomes a sorceress; Edea creates SeeD who kills Ultimecia and then as a result eventually inherits her powers. It is also interesting that Pallas was sometimes a parental figure to Athena, as while Rinoa was not one of the orphans, the rest of the party were raised by Edea. Similarly, as a [foster] sister, the party at times deals with the possibility of having to defeat Rinoa.
So, the Raven landing upon Pallas = the fate of the Sorceress befalling someone. Figuratively, the decidedly bird-like mask on Edea's head at a time when she is possessed shows Ultimecia's control over her.
To continue with the opening FMV, the feathers return toward the end. However,
they are now black. And, as black feathers might have been suggesting, the movie is harshly stopped right before Squall and Rinoa are able to be reunited.
Some more "Raven:"
I'd also like to point out that Ultimecia's wings, and thus feathers, are black:
I could definitely be forgetting something, but I am not remembering any other important character with black wings/feathers in the game; the black feathers then, if to anyone at all, would most likely/easily be linked to Ultimecia. This makes sense, as she is basically what stands between Squall and Rinoa in the end. The same way that the Raven who refuses to leave reminds the narrator that he can be with Lenore "nevermore," the continued existence of Ultimecia and the Sorceress' powers are a constant obstacle to the happiness of Squall/Rinoa. Both contain themes of eternity too; there is the time compression and issue of the impossibility of completely erradicating the Sorceress' Powers, while the Raven's "nevermore" revolves around the fact that Lenore's absence is unending.
I'm going to stop myself here as I've been working on this for longer than I'd like to admit and I have a feeling I'm already talking in circles. Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this! I've loved this game for so long, but have never really had the opportunity to discuss it. Don't take any of this too seriously, but please feel free to offer any criticism or comments!
I've always enjoyed learning about the etymology and namesakes of the characters and props in the FF universe, and so mistranslations and script errors are obviously a point of interest to me. I'm sure everyone is familiar with the Reina/Lenna discrepancy, and I'm aware that Rinoa has been translated as Linoa at times as well. I thought that Linoa sounded like what I would imagine the name "Lenore" might become if translated to Japanese. As it happens, I've now found that it was originally ("mis-")translated as such before the game came out. This is where my theory comes from.
The important disclaimer I want to make is that this is just for fun; I'm not arguing this as anything close to a fact, nor do I genuinely believe that any of it is probable. Please do not take it as such. This is just a collection of connections I've made and I'm interested to see what other people have to say, especially because I'm rusty on both of the stories involved. The things I do have to say are mostly just a series of loosely linked observations, rather than a fully-fledged "theory" so-to-speak; this is basically a stream of consciousness.
So, anyways...Lenore, to me, immediately recalls Poe's "The Raven." I am wondering if there is any possibility that Rinoa's name was intended to either be or be a reference to the name Lenore, and, furthermore, if any aspects of Final Fantasy VIII's storyline were influenced by The Raven. What I have theorized is that Squall is symbolized by the narrator, Rinoa obviously by Lenore, and then possibly Edea/Ultimecia by the Raven.
In the introduction FMV, Rinoa is seen at the orphanage; she will be waiting so if Squall goes there he will find her etc. She holds a petal which becomes a feather;
Rinoa releases the feather, and it flies away and is transformed into Squall's gunblade; Edea oversees ominously:
Rinoa and Squall have promised to reunite in this field should they be separated, and this feather is seemingly emblematic of that. Likewise, there is the following exchange in the Raven:
The narrator asks the Raven if he will be reunited with Lenore; the Raven replies that he will not. The narrator rejects this and commands the Raven to leave and to "leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken." i.e. do not leave a feather as a reminder that he will not reunite with Lenore. In both stories, the lovers' reunion (or lack thereof) is symbolized by a feather. Squall and Rinoa's feather, representing the affirmation of their reunion, is white. The Raven's, which indicates the lovers will not reunite, is black.
As Squall battles Seifer, his gunblade is surrounded by white feathers; cut to Rinoa, and then fade to Edea who is wearing a peculiar mask:
Regardless of this theory, it has always struck me as clearly avian; the tip appears to be a beak. There are a couple of things the black lines could be, but here are two in-game images I am reminded of:
I don't know if Zell's tattoo has been discussed, nor do I think it's relevant here, but there are certainly similarities.
If the first black line is an eye, then the one beneath it is reminiscent of Squall's injury. Also, the shape of his spilled blood does look like the one on the mask. Again, though, I do not necessarily believe this is on purpose or that there is a connection between the two (at least, that I can explain).
More applicable to my theory is this:
The second black line looks like the talon of a Raven; obviously this is not the easiest connection to make, but they are like enough (to me) that it's not out of the question. Additionally, the red mask itself has two sharpened edges beneath the line. The lines on Edea's mask are not integral to this theory, but I wanted to bring it up anyway.
Either way, the bird mask is resting upon Edea (who is possessed by Ultimecia at this point)'s face.
In the poem, the narrator opens a window and allows the Raven in; it lands on a statue of Pallas as such:
Here is what wikipedia has to say about Pallas:
The key ideas:
- "Pallas" is a mythological figure related to Athena in some way; it was possibly her father, sister, foster sister, etc
- Athena kills Pallas and then takes over the identity
I don't intend to assign Pallas and/or Athena to any one particular FFVIII character. However, the relationship between the two (Athena kills Pallas and thereafter is known as Pallas) has a very obvious parallel; a Sorceress is killed and passes on her powers. Rinoa [helps to] defeat Edea in Galbadia Garden, and then becomes a sorceress; Edea creates SeeD who kills Ultimecia and then as a result eventually inherits her powers. It is also interesting that Pallas was sometimes a parental figure to Athena, as while Rinoa was not one of the orphans, the rest of the party were raised by Edea. Similarly, as a [foster] sister, the party at times deals with the possibility of having to defeat Rinoa.
So, the Raven landing upon Pallas = the fate of the Sorceress befalling someone. Figuratively, the decidedly bird-like mask on Edea's head at a time when she is possessed shows Ultimecia's control over her.
To continue with the opening FMV, the feathers return toward the end. However,
they are now black. And, as black feathers might have been suggesting, the movie is harshly stopped right before Squall and Rinoa are able to be reunited.
Some more "Raven:"
Which is also very easy to connect:
I'd also like to point out that Ultimecia's wings, and thus feathers, are black:
I could definitely be forgetting something, but I am not remembering any other important character with black wings/feathers in the game; the black feathers then, if to anyone at all, would most likely/easily be linked to Ultimecia. This makes sense, as she is basically what stands between Squall and Rinoa in the end. The same way that the Raven who refuses to leave reminds the narrator that he can be with Lenore "nevermore," the continued existence of Ultimecia and the Sorceress' powers are a constant obstacle to the happiness of Squall/Rinoa. Both contain themes of eternity too; there is the time compression and issue of the impossibility of completely erradicating the Sorceress' Powers, while the Raven's "nevermore" revolves around the fact that Lenore's absence is unending.
I'm going to stop myself here as I've been working on this for longer than I'd like to admit and I have a feeling I'm already talking in circles. Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this! I've loved this game for so long, but have never really had the opportunity to discuss it. Don't take any of this too seriously, but please feel free to offer any criticism or comments!