The Tragic Fate of the Little Girl in Bloodborne: A Deep Dive

The story of the little girl in Bloodborne is one of the most heart-wrenching and morally complex narratives in the game. Unfortunately, there is no happy ending for her. Regardless of the player’s choices, she is destined for a tragic fate, either being devoured by the Maneater Boar in the sewers or killed by her sister for her organs. Her story serves as a stark reminder of the bleak and unforgiving world of Yharnam, where innocence is quickly corrupted and hope is a fleeting illusion.

Understanding the Little Girl’s Questline

The little girl, found in a window near the Central Yharnam viaduct, is searching for her mother, who went out looking for her father, Father Gascoigne. She gives the player a Tiny Music Box, which can be used during the Gascoigne fight. The questline branches based on choices you make when interacting with her. There are essentially three paths, all leading to grim conclusions:

• Giving her the Brooch: If you give her the red brooch (found on her mother’s corpse), she realizes the truth about her mother’s fate. Overwhelmed by grief, she wanders off, and her red ribbon will appear in the sewers near the Maneater Boar, implying she was eaten by it.

• Sending her to Oedon Chapel: If you direct her to Oedon Chapel, thinking it a safe haven, she eventually meets the same fate as if you had given her the brooch and disappears, with her ribbon ending up in the sewers.

• Sending her to Iosefka’s Clinic: This option results in an arguably even worse outcome. If you send her to Iosefka’s Clinic (before defeating Rom, the Vacuous Spider), she will be experimented on and transformed into a Celestial Emissary, one of the Clinic’s grotesque inhabitants.

The Sister’s Sinister Role

A prevalent theory and, frankly, a more unsettling interpretation is that the “older sister” is responsible for the little girl’s death. The description of the Red Messenger Ribbon states: “The thick, pungent red was drawn from the organs of some unfortunate Victim.” This suggests that the older sister killed the younger one for her organs, then discarded the ribbon in the sewers to cover up her crime. This dark twist perfectly encapsulates the depravity and desperation that permeate Bloodborne‘s lore.

The Significance of Choice in Bloodborne

The little girl’s storyline is a prime example of Bloodborne‘s exploration of morality and the illusion of choice. Players are presented with seemingly compassionate options, but none guarantee a positive outcome. This mechanic forces players to confront the harsh realities of Yharnam, where good intentions often pave the road to tragedy. The inability to “save” the little girl highlights the futility of hope in a world consumed by the hunt and the influence of the Great Ones.

Reflecting on the Themes

The tragic narrative of the little girl delves into several key themes present in Bloodborne:

• Loss of Innocence: Her story vividly portrays the loss of innocence in a world where children are exposed to unimaginable horrors.

• Family Tragedy: The fractured family dynamic, marked by death, deception, and potentially even fratricide, underscores the destructive nature of the hunt and the beastly scourge.

• Moral Ambiguity: The player’s inability to prevent her tragic fate forces them to question the effectiveness of their actions and the true meaning of “help” in a world where everyone is struggling to survive.

• The Cruelty of the Hunt: Her fate is a direct result of the chaotic and violent environment created by the hunt, a system designed to combat beasts but often leading to the corruption and destruction of those it is meant to protect.

The little girl’s story, while brief, is a powerful and haunting element of Bloodborne. It serves as a constant reminder of the game’s overarching themes of despair, loss, and the corrupting influence of the world. It’s a narrative that sticks with players long after they’ve put down the controller, prompting reflection on the nature of good and evil, and the price of survival in a world consumed by darkness. The study of these themes can be further explored on sites like the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/, which analyzes the educational and social impacts of video games.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is there any way to save the little girl in Bloodborne?

Unfortunately, no. There is no ending to the little girl’s questline where she survives. All choices ultimately lead to her death, whether by the Maneater Boar, experimentation at Iosefka’s Clinic, or potentially even at the hands of her sister.

2. What happens if you give the little girl the brooch?

Giving her the red brooch confirms her mother’s death. Overwhelmed with grief, she leaves her home, and her ribbon is later found in the sewers near the Maneater Boar, implying she was eaten.

3. Where does the Red Messenger Ribbon come from?

The ribbon’s description states that the red color is drawn from the organs of an “unfortunate victim,” leading many to believe that the older sister killed the younger one for her organs.

4. Is the older sister actually trustworthy?

The game strongly implies that the older sister is not trustworthy. Her motivations are suspect, and the Red Messenger Ribbon’s description heavily suggests she is responsible for her sister’s death.

5. What happens if you send the little girl to Oedon Chapel?

Sending her to Oedon Chapel does not save her. She eventually disappears, and her ribbon appears in the sewers, implying the Maneater Boar killed her.

6. What happens if you send the little girl to Iosefka’s Clinic?

Sending her to Iosefka’s Clinic results in her transformation into a Celestial Emissary, a grotesque alien-like creature. This is arguably a fate worse than death.

7. Why is the little girl’s story so tragic?

Her story highlights the bleak and unforgiving nature of Bloodborne‘s world. It underscores the themes of loss, innocence corrupted, and the futility of hope in a world consumed by the hunt.

8. Is Father Gascoigne the girls’ biological father?

Yes, it is confirmed that Father Gascoigne is the biological father of the little girl and her sister.

9. What happened to Father Gascoigne’s wife, Viola?

The exact circumstances of Viola’s death are unclear. It’s implied she was killed either by Gascoigne himself after succumbing to the beastly scourge or by a mob of hunters.

10. What is the significance of the Tiny Music Box?

The Tiny Music Box is a memento from Gascoigne’s wife. It can be used during the fight against him to momentarily stun him, reminding him of his past and causing him pain.

11. Can you prevent Adella the Nun from killing Arianna?

To prevent Adella from killing Arianna, never accept Arianna’s blood while Adella is present. You can also leave Adella in the Hypogean Gaol or only take Adella’s Blood Vials.

12. What happens to Arianna’s baby?

After defeating Micolash, Host of the Nightmare, Arianna gives birth to a Celestial Child. This creature is non-hostile, and killing it grants the player One Third of Umbilical Cord, necessary for achieving certain endings.

13. What happens if you send the suspicious beggar to Oedon Chapel?

Sending the Suspicious Beggar to Oedon Chapel results in the death of all the NPCs there. The beggar is a Darkbeast in disguise, and he will kill everyone before leaving.

14. Where did Alfred go after giving him the unopened summons?

After giving Alfred the Unopened Summons, he moves to the connecting point between Cathedral Ward and the Forbidden Woods, which is his ticket straight to Castle Cainhurst.

15. What is considered the good ending in Bloodborne?

Bloodborne has multiple endings. If the player accepts Gehrman’s offer, the Hunter will wake up in Yharnam with the sun rising, ending the night of the hunt. However, this ending is often considered less desirable because it allows the cycle to continue.