Does Asriel Have a Human Soul? Unraveling the Mysteries of Undertale’s Prince

The question of whether Asriel Dreemurr possesses a human soul is multifaceted and doesn’t have a straightforward yes or no answer. The truth lies in the complexities of his transformations, the lore surrounding souls in Undertale, and the events that transpire throughout the game. While Asriel himself is a monster (a Boss Monster, to be exact), he does interact with and utilize human souls at various points in his existence, most notably when he absorbs the soul of Chara, the first human child, and later, the six human souls to become Asriel Dreemurr, God of Hyperdeath. This is not the same as having a human soul permanently residing within him as his own.

Asriel doesn’t inherently have a human soul by birth or innate monster physiology. However, through specific actions and circumstances, he can temporarily wield the power and properties of human souls. When Asriel absorbs Chara’s soul, he doesn’t become human. He retains his monster form, though empowered by the soul. When he absorbs the six human souls, he gains immense power and transforms into the God of Hyperdeath, showcasing the immense power surge given to him. After the events of the Pacifist ending, he reverts to his original form and loses the capability of having these souls again. Therefore, Asriel interacts with human souls and wields their power, but he does not fundamentally possess a human soul as an inherent part of his being.

Unpacking the Soul Mechanics of Undertale

To truly understand Asriel’s relationship with human souls, we must first delve into the mechanics of souls in Undertale.

• Monster Souls vs. Human Souls: One of the core distinctions in Undertale is between monster and human souls. Monster souls are fleeting and vanish shortly after death, turning into dust. Human souls, on the other hand, are persistent and remain after death. This persistence is crucial to the plot and the ability of characters like Flowey and Asriel to exist.
• Absorption: Both monsters and humans can absorb souls. When a monster absorbs a human soul, they gain immense power, far exceeding their normal capabilities. The most prominent example is Asriel absorbing Chara’s soul and, later, the six other human souls.
• SOUL Traits: Human souls are associated with specific traits like Determination, Justice, Kindness, Bravery, Patience, Integrity, and Perseverance. These traits not only define the soul’s bearer but also contribute to their power and abilities. Camila Cuevas, creator of Glitchtale, posited the existence of the Rainbow Soul. This soul is a mixture of the traits mentioned before.

Flowey: A Soulless Vessel

Asriel’s transformation into Flowey is critical to understanding the soul dynamic. After Asriel died, his dust spread across Asgore’s garden. Alphys, in her experiments with Determination, injected Determination into a golden flower in the garden where Asriel’s dust landed. This inadvertently brought Asriel back to “life,” but without his soul. Flowey’s lack of a soul renders him incapable of feeling love, empathy, or remorse. This soulless existence drives his destructive actions throughout the game.

Asriel Dreemurr, God of Hyperdeath

When Frisk and their friends confront Asriel at the end of the Pacifist Route, he absorbs the souls of all the monsters in the Underground, in addition to the six human souls. This transformation grants him the power of a god. In this form, he possesses immense power. He can manipulate reality, fire powerful attacks, and even break the barrier separating the Underground from the surface. However, this power is temporary, and through Frisk’s determination and compassion, Asriel is eventually freed from the influence of the souls and reverts to his original form.

An Expert’s Insight

From my perspective, the beauty of Undertale lies in its nuanced exploration of morality and the impact of choice. Asriel’s story is a poignant example of this. He is not inherently evil. His actions, whether as Flowey or the God of Hyperdeath, are driven by a combination of circumstance, the influence of souls, and the absence of his own soul. His ultimate redemption highlights the power of compassion and the potential for change, even in the most seemingly hopeless situations. It also serves as a reminder that even in games, profound lessons about empathy, forgiveness, and understanding can be learned. This is one of the reasons why the study of games and their impact on learning is so crucial. Organizations like the Games Learning Society work to explore these very connections. You can find more information at GamesLearningSociety.org.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Asriel and Souls

Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify Asriel’s relationship with souls:

1. What soul does Asriel have? Asriel, in his original form, possesses a monster soul. This soul is unique to Boss Monsters and allows him to temporarily retain his form after death, unlike other monsters. It allows him to experience love and empathy.
2. Is Flowey actually Asriel? Yes, Flowey is a soulless resurrection of Asriel. Alphys’s experiments with Determination brought him back to “life” as a flower, lacking the capacity for emotion.
3. Why did Asriel become Flowey? Asriel turned to dust after dying. The dust fell onto flowers in Asgore’s garden. Alphys injected Determination into one of these flowers, inadvertently reviving Asriel without his soul.
4. Did Asriel take Chara’s soul? Yes, Asriel absorbed Chara’s soul after Chara’s death. This allowed Asriel to cross the barrier and carry Chara’s body to their village.
5. How many souls does Asriel have in his God of Hyperdeath form? In his God of Hyperdeath form, Asriel possesses the six human souls and the souls of all the monsters in the Underground.
6. Why is Asriel so powerful? Asriel’s power stems from his ability to absorb souls. When he has multiple souls, especially human souls, his power increases exponentially.
7. Is Asriel a human? No, Asriel is a Boss Monster, a type of monster with unique characteristics, including the ability to retain their form longer after death.
8. Is Chara pure evil? Chara’s morality is ambiguous. While some interpretations portray them as malevolent, others view them as a product of their environment and experiences. Their actions are often influenced by the player’s choices in the Genocide Route.
9. Why did Asriel turn into Flowey? Asriel’s transformation into Flowey was the result of Alphys’s experimentation with Determination on a flower that contained Asriel’s dust. The flower was brought to life without a soul, resulting in Flowey.
10. Why is Flowey scared of Frisk? Flowey becomes terrified of Frisk, especially on the Genocide Route, because Frisk’s actions remind him of Chara’s influence and the destructive potential within them.
11. Is there a purple soul in Undertale? Yes, the Purple Soul represents Perseverance. You encounter it during the fight with Muffet.
12. Is Asriel an Angel? The name Asriel is associated with the Angel of Death in some traditions, but in Undertale, Asriel is a Boss Monster with goat-like features.
13. Why does Asriel have a rainbow soul? This detail comes primarily from the Glitchtale series by Camila Cuevas. In that series, the Rainbow Soul is created by combining the traits of multiple human souls, allowing Asriel to maintain his form.
14. Who is the strongest Asriel? Asriel in his God of Hyperdeath form is the strongest version of the character, possessing the power of multiple human and monster souls.
15. Why did Asriel become evil? After being resurrected as Flowey without a soul, Asriel loses the ability to feel empathy and love, which leads to his destructive and amoral behavior. He is not inherently evil, but his soulless existence drives his actions.