Kratos and the Flames: Unraveling the Burnings in God of War
At the beginning of the Norse saga of God of War (2018), Kratos burns the body of his wife, Laufey, better known as Faye, in a solemn funeral pyre. This event serves as the catalyst for the entire game’s narrative, setting Kratos and Atreus on their perilous journey to fulfill her final wish of having her ashes scattered from the highest peak in all the realms.
The Significance of Burning in the God of War Universe
Fire plays a multifaceted role throughout the God of War franchise, serving as a symbol of destruction, rebirth, and the release from torment. Kratos’ interactions with fire and those he consigns to it are often pivotal moments that define his character and the narrative arc.
Faye’s Funeral Pyre: A Norse Rite of Passage
The burning of Faye is rooted in Norse burial traditions. The act signifies not just the end of a life, but also a transition. The smoke carries the deceased’s essence to the heavens, and the ashes contain a potent power that connects the living with the departed. This is crucial in God of War because Faye’s ashes are not simply discarded; they become the driving force behind Kratos and Atreus’ quest. They are a tangible representation of her legacy and the love she shared with her family.
Prometheus’ Torment and Release
While not at the very beginning of the entire franchise, the burning of Prometheus in God of War II is a key moment that exemplifies fire’s role as a liberator. Prometheus, chained and tortured by Zeus for gifting fire to humanity, begs for an end to his suffering. Kratos, driven by his own vengeful agenda against the gods, obliges by burning Prometheus alive. This act, while brutal, frees Prometheus from his eternal torment and grants Kratos a powerful boon: the Rage of the Titans, further fueling his destructive path.
The Burning of Baldur: A Foreshadowed Fate
Even the battle with and eventual death of Baldur involves fire. While Kratos doesn’t directly burn Baldur at the start, Freya’s protective enchantment makes Baldur invulnerable to all harm except mistletoe. When Atreus unknowingly pierces Baldur with a mistletoe arrow, Baldur becomes vulnerable. While not “burning” him, Kratos does eventually kill Baldur; and fire plays a role as Baldur’s funeral pyre burns bright to symbolise his release from his curse of immortality and also signify the impact of Kratos and Atreus’ action upon the Norse world and its divinities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions concerning burning and some of the other characters in God of War, which should clarify any remaining questions about the game.
1. Is Freya Atreus’s mother?
No. Freya is not Atreus’s mother. Atreus’s mother is Laufey, also known as Faye, a Jotunn warrior and Kratos’s wife. Freya is a Vanir goddess and the former wife of Odin.
2. Who was Kratos before he became the God of War?
Before becoming the God of War, Kratos was a highly respected and skilled Spartan warrior. He was known as the “Ghost of Sparta” after being tricked by Ares into killing his own family.
3. How did Kratos become a servant of Ares?
Kratos became a servant of Ares when, in the midst of a desperate battle, he called upon the God of War to save him and his army. In exchange for his life and victory, Kratos pledged his servitude to Ares.
4. Who does Kratos fight at the beginning of God of War (2018)?
At the very beginning of God of War (2018), Kratos’s first major fight is against The Stranger, later revealed to be Baldur, an undying Norse god.
5. Is Kratos a full god?
Kratos is a demigod, the son of Zeus, the King of the Olympian Gods. He later ascends to become a full god after killing Ares and taking his place as the God of War.
6. Why did Kratos hate Zeus?
Kratos hated Zeus because he felt betrayed. Zeus feared Kratos’ power and sought to prevent him from repeating the actions of Cronos (Zeus’s father) by killing his own. Zeus manipulated and ultimately killed Kratos, leading to Kratos’s burning desire for revenge.
7. How tall is Kratos?
Kratos’s height varies slightly depending on the source. While early scripts listed him as 6 feet 6 inches tall, recent sources from Santa Monica Studio indicate he’s closer to 7 feet 6 inches in the comics and around 6 feet 4 inches in the game.
8. Who betrayed Kratos?
Zeus betrayed Kratos. After Kratos assisted the Spartans, Zeus tricked him into transferring his godly powers into the Blade of Olympus, then used the blade to kill him.
9. Who does Kratos regret killing the most?
Throughout the games, Kratos shows significant regret for killing his own family (his first wife, Lysandra, and daughter, Calliope) and the destruction it caused, particularly in the original trilogy. While he seeks revenge against those who wronged him, the memory of his family haunts him.
10. Does Sindri forgive Atreus?
Sindri struggles to forgive Atreus after the bear attack in God of War Ragnarok, particularly because of Brok’s death. Sindri distances himself from Atreus, indicating that he may never fully forgive him.
11. Who is stronger than Kratos?
Determining who is definitively “stronger” than Kratos depends on the specific criteria being used. In terms of raw physical power and combat prowess within the God of War universe, few can match him. However, when considering other fictional characters from different universes, many characters like Alucard, Ōnoki, Anos Voldigoad, Lelouch, Kaguya Otsutsuki, and many more possess unique abilities and powers that can disintegrate, immobilize, or overpower Kratos in combat.
12. How many people has Kratos killed?
The precise number of Kratos’s victims is staggering. He has killed at least 23 significant figures from Greek mythology. The number of non-gods and ordinary individuals he has slain is an astronomically high number.
13. Who is Atreus’s love interest?
In Norse mythology, Angrboda is often considered Atreus’s (Loki’s) love interest. In God of War Ragnarok, Angrboda is introduced, hinting at a potential romance between her and Atreus.
14. What happens to Atreus after Ragnarok?
At the end of God of War Ragnarok, Atreus decides to leave Kratos and travel on his own to find the remaining Giants and learn more about his own destiny.
15. Does Kratos age?
As a demigod, Kratos ages much slower than mortals. While time does pass and he appears slightly older across the games, his aging is significantly reduced compared to regular humans. The Games Learning Society, explores how video games can positively shape our society by providing people with new skills.
Conclusion
The act of burning, whether it’s Faye’s funeral pyre at the start of the Norse saga or Prometheus’s release from eternal torment, holds deep symbolic weight in the God of War universe. These moments not only drive the plot forward but also serve as a poignant reminder of the cycle of destruction, rebirth, and the enduring power of family and legacy. Through these fiery trials, Kratos’s journey continues to captivate players, exploring themes of vengeance, redemption, and the complex nature of divinity. Check out GamesLearningSociety.org for more on the impact of video games!