Do the Infected Eat in The Last of Us? Exploring the Cordyceps Consumption Conundrum
The infected in The Last of Us are terrifying, relentless, and driven by an insatiable urge to spread the Cordyceps fungus. But do they actually eat? The answer is a bit nuanced, but generally, yes, the infected can and do consume human flesh, but not necessarily for sustenance in the traditional sense. Their primary motivation isn’t hunger; it’s propagation of the fungus. Think of them less as mindless zombies driven by hunger and more as fungal vectors, using the human body as a host and conduit for spreading the infection. This article will dive deeper into the eating habits (or lack thereof) of the infected in The Last of Us, exploring the biological imperatives driving their behavior and dissecting common misconceptions.
The Biological Imperative: Spreading the Infection
The Cordyceps fungus is the key to understanding the infected’s behavior. Unlike typical zombie lore where reanimated corpses crave brains or flesh for survival, The Last of Us features a fungal infection that hijacks the host’s nervous system. The fungus manipulates the host’s behavior to maximize its own reproductive success. Biting and attacking uninfected humans are crucial mechanisms for the fungus to spread to new hosts.
The act of biting itself is a critical vector for the fungus. It deposits Cordyceps spores into the bloodstream of the victim, initiating the infection process. So, while the infected might ingest flesh during an attack, the primary goal is to transmit the fungus. The consumption of flesh isn’t about nourishment, but about infecting. The fungus has seemingly modified them to survive without needing to eat. They clearly can, but many are unable to, being locked in buildings or stuck in collapsed tunnels.
The Different Stages of Infection and Their “Diet”
The Last of Us infected aren’t a homogenous group. They evolve through distinct stages, each with different physical characteristics and behavioral patterns. These stages also influence their ability to “eat” or, more accurately, to transmit the fungus through contact.
Runners
These are the freshly infected, retaining much of their human appearance and speed. Runners are highly aggressive and actively pursue potential victims. Their attacks often involve biting, which makes them effective vectors for spreading the Cordyceps.
Stalkers
As the infection progresses, the fungus begins to visibly alter the host. Stalkers are more fungal in appearance, with fungal growth covering parts of their faces and bodies. They are more cunning than Runners, often hiding and ambushing their prey. They might engage in more sustained attacks, potentially consuming more flesh as they attempt to infect.
Clickers
Clickers are perhaps the most iconic and terrifying of the infected. Their faces are completely covered in fungal growth, rendering them blind. They rely on echolocation, emitting a characteristic “click” sound to navigate. Clickers are incredibly strong and aggressive, and their attacks are often fatal. While they bite, their primary objective remains infection, not sustenance. Relying on primitive, animalistic instincts caused by the infection, they will attempt to attack and/or eat any human they find. This becomes most prominent at the clicker and bloater stages.
Bloaters
Bloaters represent the final stage of the infection. They are enormous, heavily armored with fungal plates, and incredibly resilient. Bloaters primarily attack with projectiles of fungal spores and brute force. While they might engage in close-quarters combat, biting isn’t their primary mode of attack. They are essentially living fungal bombs, designed to spread the infection on a massive scale.
Shamblers (in The Last of Us Part II)
Shamblers are another late-stage infected type, found primarily in wet, humid environments. They are covered in pustules that release clouds of corrosive acid. Their primary method of attack is through these acid clouds and close-range explosions. Biting is not a characteristic behavior of Shamblers.
Rat King (in The Last of Us Part II)
The Rat King is a rare and horrifying amalgamation of multiple infected, fused together into a single massive creature. It is composed of multiple Clickers, Stalkers, and even a Bloater. Its size and strength make it an incredibly dangerous enemy. The Rat King likely retains the biting and attacking behaviors of its constituent infected, making it a formidable vector for the Cordyceps. Without spoiling, we know that the rat king is the fifth stage of infection and is extremely rare. First introduced in the sequel game, The Last of Us II, the rat king is an anomaly composed of stalkers, clickers, and a bloater.
Are the Infected “Hungry” in the Traditional Sense?
While the infected engage in behavior that resembles feeding, it’s crucial to understand that their actions aren’t driven by traditional hunger. They don’t need to eat to survive in the same way a human does. The Cordyceps fungus provides the necessary energy and nutrients for the host to continue functioning, albeit in a twisted and horrifying manner.
Think of it like this: the infected are essentially biological puppets, controlled by the fungus. The fungus dictates their behavior, prioritizing the spread of the infection above all else. Attacking and biting are simply tools used by the fungus to achieve its goal. While the infected may consume flesh during an attack, it’s incidental to the primary objective of spreading the Cordyceps.
The Ethical Implications
The nature of the infected in The Last of Us raises interesting ethical questions. Are they still human? Do they deserve any empathy? The fact that they are still alive, albeit controlled by a fungus, complicates the moral calculus.
The game forces players to confront these uncomfortable questions, making them grapple with the consequences of their actions. Is it justifiable to kill the infected to protect the uninfected? Or is there a moral imperative to find a cure and restore them to their former selves?
FAQs: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Infected
1. What comes out of the zombies’ mouths in The Last of Us?
The tendrils protruding from the mouths of the infected are fungal growths associated with the Cordyceps infection. As the fungus progresses, it manifests as sponge-like masses inside the bodies and tendrils grow from various orifices, including the mouth.
2. Are Last of Us infected still human?
The infected in The Last of Us never truly die. The Cordyceps fungus invades and takes over control of their still-living bodies. Whether or not they are still human is a philosophical question with no easy answer. They are biologically alive but controlled by the fungus.
3. Do The Last of Us infected decompose?
Even after an infected body dies, the fungus continues to grow and spread spores. Therefore, it’s best to burn the bodies of the infected to prevent further spread.
4. How likely is The Last of Us to happen in real life?
While a Last of Us-style apocalypse is unlikely, it is not entirely impossible. Experts suggest that a mind-controlling fungal pandemic isn’t an imminent threat, but the rise of antifungal drug resistance is a legitimate concern.
5. Can Clickers survive without food?
They are not undead or walking corpses. They are alive. However, the fungus seems to have modified them to survive without needing to eat.
6. Why are The Last of Us infected not zombies?
In The Last of Us, the infected never died and were not reborn. They are living hosts controlled by a parasitic fungus.
7. Why can’t Cordyceps infect humans in real life?
There are thousands of species of cordyceps, each designed to infect a specific species, and humans aren’t one of them. The human body’s immune system is more advanced than that of an ant and has a higher internal temperature, which would protect it from cordyceps infection.
8. Can Cordyceps jump to humans?
Cordyceps and Ophiocordyceps primarily affect insects. Fictional works have explored Cordyceps infections in humans, but this fungus is not likely to cause infection in humans in the near future.
9. What would happen if a human ate Cordyceps?
Cordyceps is a fungus often used in traditional medicine and as a dietary supplement for its potential health benefits. It is not considered poisonous. However, consuming large amounts of Cordyceps can have adverse effects such as headaches and allergies.
10. Is there really no cure for Cordyceps?
In The Last of Us universe, there are no treatments, preventatives, or cures for the Cordyceps infection.
11. Is Ellie the only one immune?
As far as viewers and characters are aware, Ellie is the only person who has managed to live a normal life with Cordyceps in her brain. So far, there are no other immune survivors in the world of The Last of Us.
12. Why is Ellie immune?
Ellie Is Immune In Last Of Us Because Anna Was Bitten During Childbirth. The Last of Us episode 9 opens with an original scene for HBO’s adaptation in which Anna, Ellie’s mother, is shown fleeing the infected in the midst of labor.
13. Can Ellie infect others?
Ellie Almost Certainly Cannot Infect Others In The Last Of Us. While the end result of what would occur from a group of people eating Ellie is unclear, there are some hints from The Last of Us Part II surrounding Ellie’s immunity and how it works.
14. Could The Last of Us ever happen?
Most of the science community is saying that a Cordyceps-related apocalypse is extremely unlikely for a multitude of reasons.
15. Does Joel find a cure?
Joel kills the doctors before they try to synthesize a cure from Ellie’s blood, meaning that nobody knows if a cure was actually possible in the HBO show.
Beyond Survival Horror: Exploring Complex Themes
The Last of Us uses the infected as a backdrop to explore deeper themes of love, loss, and the human condition. The game challenges players to consider what it means to be human in the face of unimaginable adversity. For educators and researchers interested in exploring the educational potential of games like The Last of Us, the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) offers valuable insights into the intersection of games and learning.
Conclusion: Infection is the Goal
In conclusion, while the infected in The Last of Us may engage in behavior that resembles eating, their actions are driven by the biological imperative to spread the Cordyceps fungus. Their attacks are primarily aimed at infecting new hosts, not satisfying hunger. The complex and nuanced depiction of the infected makes The Last of Us a compelling and thought-provoking exploration of survival, morality, and the limits of humanity. It is a testament to the power of video games to tell engaging stories and tackle complex ethical questions.
The infected are truly terrifying creatures. This horror game makes you question what you would do. They may not eat for survival like the living, but they eat for the spread of infection.